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Summertime gift guide

Father Christmas sits on the beach with a tree and presents(Getty Images/moodboard RF/moodboard)

WASHINGTON — Stores slashing prices for midyear sales means now is the perfect time to indulge in a bit of shopping.

Whether you are planning a Christmas in July celebration including a gift exchange with loved ones or know someone who needs a midyear pick-me-up, here are some gift ideas for summer.

"Go ahead and check all the decorations that you're using year after year," said Electrical Safety Foundation International President Brett Brenner. "So, no breaks in the wires, no broken bulbs -- those types of things."
Christmas decor Now’s the time for some of the best deals on holiday decorations. Stores such as until the end of July on everything from Christmas lights to holiday inflatables. on Christmas decor, and is offering a flat $5 shipping fee on holiday purchases. If you’re a child at heart, or just heart animated characters, check out the on ornaments and collectibles. (Thinkstock)
Beach reads Bring back the paperback by giving the gift of a solid beach read. for your beach bag. If you’re looking for a specific type of literary adventure, Popsugar came up with the , PureWow recommends this  long after you return home from the beach and Vulture has a that are, well, timeless. (Thinkstock)
Beach bag with flip flops and a sun visor sitting on a pool deck
Tote stuffers Instead of stocking stuffers, try filling a tote bag with small surprises instead. Think of summer essentials anyone can use, such as sunblock, flip flops, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, sunglasses or coupons for ice cream or iced drinks. Stores such as Ìý´Ç°ù are one stop shops where customers can pick up everything from household essentials to beauty supplies. (Thinkstock)
Picnic basket with fruits wine and bread on the grass with book and hat
Picnic basket Switch out the holiday gift basket for a picnic basket that your recipient can use all summer long. Fill it with such as seasonal jams or fresh fruit and , or any of these  your recipient can grab on the go or take on a road trip. (Thinkstock)
picture of happy and smiling woman sitting near ventilator
Portable fan If you know someone who doesn’t have an air conditioner, a portable fan can help beat the heat. Some , and you can find a variety of , too. If you plan on a ceiling fan upgrade as a gift to your home,  and free shipping on some items. The on select items as well. (Thinkstock)
Virginia and Maryland are giving consumers a tax break on back-to-school shopping next month with separate sales tax-free events. (Thinkstock)
Back to school supplies If you have a friend heading back to school, get the best deals by shopping back-to-school sales. See what , or find out exactly what supplies your recipient needs by .Ìý on backpacks and clothing, on apparel and footwear and . (Thinkstock)
Summer concert season is just around the corner, and Live Nation is turning up the heat by offering fans concert tickets for around $20 starting 8 a.m. May 2. (Thinkstock)
Event tickets Give the gift of an experience (or memories, if you will) through concert, performance or amusement park tickets. Here’s a list of  See if you can catch some of these  Does your local county fair have an entrance fee? . And if all else fails,  on everything from riverboat cruises to golf lessons to sip and paint night experiences. (Thinkstock)
Staff at these Arlington, Virginia, bars will get patrons help if they hear a code word -- whether it's police or simply a cab home. (Thinkstock)
Bar experience If it requires too much effort and energy to head out to a bar when it’s so hot outside, bring the bar to you. Buy all the ingredients you need for ´Ç°ùÌýadult versions of these . Maybe you can ´Ç°ùÌý±ô±ð²¹°ù²Ô through the experience.ÌýPair your beverage of choice with a Ìý´Ç°ù maybe enjoy with a  for a full at-home bar experience. (Thinkstock)
Don't overlook the Prime Video benefit.  Among the thousands of movies and TV shows you get free access to, there are originals such as Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle. (Thinkstock)
Streaming service If you know someone who doesn’t have a Netflix account or a subscription to a streaming service, they might miss out on some of the . These provide more content than you could ever watch, perfect for wiling away the dog days of summer. (Thinkstock)
USA, Montana, Yellowstone National Park, Cameron
Fishing equipment You won’t be able to enjoy these if you don’t have the right equipment. (Although some locations rent out fishing supplies.) For Christmas in July, it’s not about caroling, decking the halls or drinking hot cocoa by the fire. Summertime is prime time to go fishing. But if fishing doesn’t hold much appeal, celebrate the season by , getting your fill of ´Ç°ùÌý. (Thinkstock)
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"Go ahead and check all the decorations that you're using year after year," said Electrical Safety Foundation International President Brett Brenner. "So, no breaks in the wires, no broken bulbs -- those types of things."
Beach bag with flip flops and a sun visor sitting on a pool deck
Picnic basket with fruits wine and bread on the grass with book and hat
picture of happy and smiling woman sitting near ventilator
Virginia and Maryland are giving consumers a tax break on back-to-school shopping next month with separate sales tax-free events. (Thinkstock)
Summer concert season is just around the corner, and Live Nation is turning up the heat by offering fans concert tickets for around $20 starting 8 a.m. May 2. (Thinkstock)
Staff at these Arlington, Virginia, bars will get patrons help if they hear a code word -- whether it's police or simply a cab home. (Thinkstock)
Don't overlook the Prime Video benefit.  Among the thousands of movies and TV shows you get free access to, there are originals such as Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle. (Thinkstock)
USA, Montana, Yellowstone National Park, Cameron

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