August has arrived, and whether we’d like to admit it or not, summer is beginning its slow fade to fall. The days are still long and warm, but we all know what’s waiting around the corner: back-to-school, football kickoff and, before long, pumpkin spice everything. Thankfully, there’s still plenty of summertime fun to be had before Labor Day rolls around.
From state fairs serving up outrageous fried food and star-studded concerts to cowboy poetry parties, world-class tennis tournaments and esteemed music festivals, August is packed with memorable events from coast to coast. Odds are, something fun is happening near you.
So before you stash away the swimsuits and start thinking about autumn colors, scroll down to discover an August event that will help you make the absolute most of summer's last gasp.
Coast Guard Festival - Grand Haven, Michigan
They’ll once again be saluting the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard at the Coast Guard Festival (runs through August 2), an excellent way to start your eighth month. Annually honoring the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard, the festival will feature a packed schedule of happenings that includes everything from quirky cardboard boat races and live concerts (tribute acts dedicated to Ozzy Osbourne, Morgan Wallen, Bob Seger and more) to parades and plenty of great food and drink.
Fresh Lobster at the Maine Lobster Festival (Photo via Maine Lobster Festival)
Maine Lobster Festival - Rockland, Maine
One of the most cherished annual events on the East Coast, the Maine Lobster Festival (runs through August 2) makes for the perfect way to start your month. This celebration is heavy on crustaceans (think heaps of fresh lobster alongside local craft beer), but you’ll also find great live music, fun carnival rides, cooking competitions and the delightfully offbeat lobster crate race. Throw in Rockland's charming waterfront setting, and you've got the recipe for a perfect late summer getaway.
Salmonfest - Ninilchik, Alaska
It’s always a blast at Salmonfest (runs through August 2) in the handsome coastal town of Ninilchik, but this year they’re celebrating their 15th anniversary, so expect even more fun for a good cause. This uniquel shindig celebrates the state's wild salmon and the waters they call home with three days of live entertainment and local food, with the 2026 lineup featuring Trampled By Turtles, Guster, Goth Babe, Molly Tuttle and many more.
Jon Bastiste and Stay Human perform at the Newport Jazz Festival. (Photo via digboston / Flickr)
Newport Jazz Festival - Newport, Rhode Island
The final of our four August openers, this festival is known as the "granddaddy of them all," and it returns to Rhode Island (runs through August 2) to fill the coastal city with wonderful music. Widely regarded as America's premier jazz festival, the event has expanded over the years, with this year's lineup featuring artists like Thundercat, Lake Street Drive, Corey Wong, Herbie Hancock, Flea and the Honora Band, Arlo Parks and many more.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally - Sturgis, South Dakota
The Black Hills will once again be alive with the roar of motorcycles during the 86th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (runs through August 9), when riders from around the nation (and world!) descend on South Dakota for an epic rally. Expect breathtaking rides through the Black Hills, wild & woolly pub events, custom bike shows and tattoo contests, with live music keeping the party roaring well into the wee hours. This year's lineup includes David Lee Roth, Blackberry Smoke, Megadeth, Sammy Hagar & Friends, Waka Flocka Flame, Yungblud, Buckcherry and many more.
Classic cards cruise through Reno during Hot August Nights (Photo via Reno Tahoe Territory / Flickr)
Hot August Nights - Reno, Nevada
Reno will turn back the clock in style during the 40th anniversary edition of Hot August Nights (runs through August 9), the nation's largest nostalgic car show. Expect to see vintage cars lining the streets while retro rock 'n' roll shows, classic car auctions, show-and-shines, cruises and plenty of 1950s fun transform the Biggest Little City into one big party.
The Cincinnati Open - Cincinnati, Ohio
The Queen City will once again be the scene for the Cincinnati Open (August 11-23), America's biggest summer hardcourt tournament outside of the U.S. Open. Every August, the sport's biggest names stop by Cincy as they fine-tune their games ahead of the season's final Grand Slam, making for two weeks of top-notch tennis and a terrific atmosphere around the grounds. Catch the world's best players before they head to New York; you’ll be glad you did.
A slice of the fun at the Hope Watermelon Festival (Photo via Mike Ross / Wikimedia Commons)
Hope Watermelon Festival - Hope, Arkansas
Get ready for another weekend of melon slicin' and seed spittin' at the 50th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival (August 6-8), where small-town Arkansas charm is served up with a generous helping of everybody’s favorite red summer fruit. Part fruit festival and part concert series, this quirky celebration features crowd favorites like the wacky Watermelon Olympics, the entertaining-as-all-get-out Watermelon Idol talent show and the traditional Watermelon Festival Parade.
Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Music Rendezvous - Lewistown, Montana
If you ever wanted to really, really be a cowboy for the weekend, then make your way to the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Music Rendezvous (August 6-9), as it’s about as close as you can get without picking up saddle sores. This special event brings together poets, storytellers and musicians who celebrate cowboy life and the wide-open landscapes that define Montana and the West. Whether you're listening to heartfelt ballads, tales from the range, or upbeat Western music, you’re in for a treat.
Maryland Renaissance Festival. (Photo by Patrick Clarke)
Maryland Renaissance Festival - Crownsville, Maryland
The Maryland Renaissance Festival celebrates its 50th season (select weekends from August 29 through October 25) this year and is sure to get you in the spirit of medieval times. Held outside Annapolis, this always-fun event transforms the grounds into a bustling 16th-century English village filled with knights, jousting tournaments, jesters, artisans and everything in between. Whether you're there for the history or to slap a turkey leg and a mug of mead on the ‘Gram, it's one of the country's best Renaissance festivals and a fun way to end your month.
Crowds at the Iowa State Fair. (Photo via Fairfield1854 / Wikimedia Commons)
The Iowa State Fair - Des Moines, Iowa
Every year, the Iowa State Fair (August 13-23) ends summer with a bang, and this year will be no exception. Expect all the over-the-top fair food your social media feed can handle (Butter Dipped Ice Cream Cone and Porky Parm Gnocchi are just two of the dozens of fun items available), alongside thrilling fair rides, classic agricultural exhibits and plenty of family-friendly diversions. The grandstand concert lineup is stacked with talent, with performances from the likes of Hardy, Rod Stewart, Red Clay Strays, Lainey Wilson, Riley Green and more.
Washington State International Kite Festival - Long Beach Peninsula, Washington
Head to Washington's scenic Long Beach Peninsula this month for the annual Washington State International Kite Festival (August 17-23), North America's largest (and longest-running!) kite festival. Known as the "Kite Capital of the U.S.," this stretch of coastline provides the perfect backdrop as thousands of colorful kites fill the skies above its 28 miles of shoreline. Visitors can watch world-class kite fliers in action, explore the World's Kite Museum and even launch a kite of their own.
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