DUNCAN — Autumn is fast approaching, but before summer is gone, one holiday still remains — Labor Day.

Jessika McDonnell, Duncan Convention and Visitors Bureau director, said, “People will go out and do things because they have an extra day off.”

McDonnell said Labor Day gives people an opportunity to go to the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center and the four Duncan lakes. She said she expected some people to come to Duncan to visit family members during the long weekend.

“I’m sure people will be spending a lot of time with their families,” she said.

Heritage Center Coordinator Cova Williams said Labor Day always brings more people to the museum.

“It’s usually a pretty good day for us,” Williams said. “The kids are out of school.

“It’s a slow time for us. It’s before the school program. And we don’t really have any field trips, yet.”

She said the heritage center had almost 70 people visit on Labor Day in 2006. In the days surrounding the holiday, only a handful of people went to the museum.

In 2005, about 90 people went to the heritage center on Labor Day.

“Our numbers go up,” Williams said.

In addition to the increase in people who go to the museum, McDonnell said people would probably choose some outdoor activities, as well. She said she thought many residents would go out to the lake or go golfing to spend the holiday.

“Lots of people go out to the lakes,” she said.

Duncan Public Works Director Scott Vaughn said people will be making their way to the four Duncan lakes throughout the weekend.

“I imagine we’ll have a good crowd,” Vaughn said.

The lakes may be more heavily populated this Labor Day than last year, he said, because of higher lake levels.

“All of our lakes are at or above normal,” he said.

When the lakes are full, more people are attracted to them, he said.

Fuller lakes benefit fishermen, and increases the number of boats and skiers on the lakes, he said.

“When the levels are back to normal, people are able to do things they like to do,” Vaughn said.

Higher water levels also improve the aesthetic appeal of the lakes, he said.

“They look like they’re supposed to,” he said.

Something else that might contribute to more people being at the lakes is sunny weather.

“The weather forecast looks promising,” Vaughn said.

Despite clear weather, people will still need to be careful on the roads.

According to a press release from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 10 people were killed and 309 people were seriously injured in traffic accidents in Oklahoma during the Labor Day weekend last year.