Is “Gilmore Girls Summer” a thing? I think it should be! Although Gilmore Girls typically focuses on times of the year when Rory is in school, there are some really great episodes that give us a glimpse at Lorelai and Rory’s lives during the summer months. From town festivals to weddings, these episodes prove that Stars Hollow is just as charming during the summer as it is the rest of the year.
Take a break from the heat and watch (or rewatch) these episodes that are perfect for any and every lazy-hazy-crazy summer day.
The Best Summer Gilmore Girls Episodes:
"Sadie, Sadie"
(Season 2, Episode 1)
Season 2 starts at the very beginning of summer, picking up where season 1 left off. Lorelai is handing out the one thousand yellow daisies Max proposed with to the townspeople of Stars Hollow while trying to decide whether or not to say yes to his proposal.
Meanwhile, Lane is upset because she’s being sent to Korea for the summer by her parents. (Or for forever? She doesn’t quite know.) Just a typical summer day in Stars Hollow!
"Hammers and Veils"
(Season 2, Episode 2)
Rory starts a summer session at Chilton and worries she’s not doing enough extracurriculars to impress Harvard. Her solution is to begin packing her schedule with activities, starting with a Gilmore Girls version of a Habitat for Humanity building project.
Lorelai supports her newfound interest in construction by gluing rhinestones, bows, and feathers to a hammer for her to take to the work site, while Dean is a little less supportive of Rory’s busy schedule.
"Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days"
(Season 3, Episode 1)
Would it really be summer in Stars Hollow without some sort of heavily-themed town event organized by Taylor Doose? I don’t think so.
Rory is back from her summer internship in Washington D.C., and is just in time for the town’s first-ever End of Summer Madness Festival. There’s food, games, a band, and a healthy dose of drama concerning the Jess-Rory-Dean love triangle.
P.S. Good luck getting “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer” out of your head after this one!
"Ballroom and Biscotti"
(Season 4, Episode 1)
This is the perfect episode to watch as summer is winding down- when the days are getting shorter, the start of another school year is just around the corner, and you start to feel that end-of-summer nostalgia.
Rory and Lorelai had every intention of fully soaking up the last days of summer after getting back from their European backpacking trip. Then they realized they only have one day until Rory has to move in to her Yale dorm. It’s the very end of Rory’s “high school era” before she makes the leap to college life, which is both bittersweet and exciting.
"Last Week Fights, This Week Tights"
(Season 4, Episode 21)
It’s wedding season in Stars Hollow, and Liz and TJ’s wedding screams summer in the best way. The dresses, the flower crowns, the outdoor ceremony, and reception- every part of it really shows Stars Hollow at its summer best. Plus, any Luke and Lorelai fans will always love a rewatch of this episode!
"Raincoats and Recipes"
(Season 4, Episode 22)
This episode takes place near the beginning of summer, since Rory has just finished her spring semester at Yale. Lorelai is holding a mock grand opening at the brand-new Dragonfly Inn and has invited all our Stars Hollow favorites to attend. This is another pivotal episode (perhaps the most pivotal episode) for Luke and Lorelai!
BONUS! "Summer"
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
This list wouldn’t be complete without the revival episode literally titled “Summer”. Let me tell you, there is a LOT going on in this one! Rory is trying to save the Stars Hollow Gazette while figuring out her next move career-wise (and trying to avoid Stars Hollow’s Thirtysomething Gang). She’s also worried about Emily, who has taken to sleeping in and has moved a TV into her living room.
Meanwhile, Lorelai is serving on the advisory committee for the Stars Hollow musical, which is equal parts bizarre and just… really, really bad. There are also visits from April Nardini and Jess (!!!), a mother-daughter fight, and a glimpse at the Stars Hollow Municipal Pool (that I had no clue existed).
That's it for summer in Stars Hollow!
You can check out my other Gilmore guides for fall, winter, and spring. Or, check out this Gilmore Girls gift guide to pick out a little something for the Gilmore Girls fan in your life (or yourself- no judgment here!).
Pin the image below to come back to this list later!
Gilmore Girls
gift guide
Coffee Mugs
As Lorelai Gilmore once said, “I can’t stop drinking the coffee. I stop drinking the coffee, I stop doing the standing and the walking and the words putting into sentence doing.”
Last update on 2024-07-06 at 16:12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Stars Hollow Blanket
From Luke’s Diner to Doose’s Market to Lorelai’s house, all of your favorite Stars Hollow spots can be found on this blanket.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hallmark Gilmore Girls Stars Hollow Map Blanket, 50" x 60", Gift for Christmas, Birthdays, Mother's... |
$39.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-07-06 at 16:12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
It's a Lifestyle T-Shirt
Featuring our favorite mother-daughter duo, of course.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gilmore Girls It's A Lifestyle T-Shirt |
$22.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-07-06 at 16:12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
