We’ve made it to the other side of summer: the cicadas are singing, the sun isn’t out until 9 p.m. anymore, and most of us have been to our fair share of street festivals, backyard barbecues, and summer-y get-togethers. Now is the time of the year to get out and make something of the last days in short sleeves before football season chains our loved ones and friends to the couch on weekends.
Find something new to do right here and now or save this list of August events for reading on the beach. Keep having a wonderful summer! Without further adieu, here’s the best of the best of what’s in store near AMLI apartments around the country.
Atlanta
Aug. 13-14: Piedmont Park Arts Festival
The eighth installment of this yearly arts festival takes over the largest park in Atlanta. Buy and browse the work of local artists and indulge in festival food, then maybe make the short walk over to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Aug. 19-21: Atlanta Tattoo Expo
No tattoos necessary! Check out ink work by some of the best tattoo artists and shops in Atlanta and Georgia at large.
Aug. 20: German Bierfest
Don your lederhosen and grab the nearest beer stein, Bierfest is here! Fill up on German food and drink while listening to German music and getting a dose of Teutonic culture.
Aug. 20: Rugged Maniac 5K Obstacle Course
Sick of your regular gym routine? Leap, crawl, and climb your way through a collection of obstacles sure to put your mind and body to the test.
Aug. 25-28: Free days at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park Service with free admission.
Austin
Aug. 13: Austin Ice Cream Festival
Talk about brain freeze! This all-ages, dog-friendly festival celebrates all things ice cream. Stop by the Fiesta Gardens for a scoop or two, watch the ice cream eating contest and more.
Aug. 21: The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
Break a sweat without a workout at the 26th annual hot sauce festival, one of the largest in the world of its kind.
Aug. 27: Austin Pride Festival & Parade
The Austin pride parade is one of the happiest times of year in the city. The parade is free and steps off at 8 p.m. from the Capitol. Find the festival at Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach in Town Lake Metropolitan Park.
Chicago
Aug. 5-7: Chicago Hot Dog Fest
Sample the best of the best selections of Chicago’s most iconic food at the Chicago History Museum in Lincoln Park.
Aug. 13-14: Northalsted Market Days
Roam around Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood for one of the summer’s street festivals. Drink, eat, repeat, and be merry!
Aug. 18-21: Festa Italiana
Explore Chicago’s Italian heritage with the food, culture, and music of this four-day festival in UIC area.
Aug. 18-21: Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
Catch up on your comics and all the nerdy, sci-fi, and zombie-related lore you can handle. Guests include David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), and Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead).
Aug. 20 & 21: Chicago Air and Water Show
If you don’t see it, you’ll certainly hear it. The Chicago Air and Water Show brings the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army and Navy parachute teams, and more to the lakefront.
Dallas
Aug. 1-31: Dallas Arboretum Dollar Days
Admission is just for the entire month of August at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Parking is .
Aug. 3-31: Whiskey & Movies
It’s not an August-only affair, but try sipping on half-priced whiskey and watch a classic movie every Wednesday at Granada Theater if you haven’t already. This month has Stand By Me, Trainspotting, Matilda, Annie Hall, and Amelie on the schedule.
Aug. 3-14: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
America’s most famous circus returns to the Dallas, promising “never-before-seen spectacles, original fast-paced performances and incredibly hilarious moments.”
Aug. 19: Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art
Every third Friday of the month, museum patrons are invited to enjoy concerts, performances, and exhibits after hours until midnight.
Aug. 20: Grand Prairie Hatch Chile Fest
Raw or roasted? Enjoy hatch chile peppers however you like at this 5th annual festival happening at the Grand Prairie Farmers Market.
Denver
Aug. 4-7: Denver Yoga Festival
Attend a host of workshops on technique and other topics by yoga experts from the area and beyond.
Aug. 5: Denver HAHO Market
Shop the wares offered up by local makers while chowing down on grub from food trucks and enjoying live music.
Aug. 12: Art & Ale Brew Festival
Drink up! This 13th annual event gathers the best minds in brewing and the restaurant scene for a night of food and drink in South Denver.
Aug. 25-Sept 5.: Colorado State Fair
You’re going, right? Catch rodeo performances, a demolition derby, monster trucks, a last man standing competition as well as live music from Foreigner, Travis Tritt, and Lee Brice.
Aug. 26: RiNo Music Festival
The Silversun Pickups headline this rock music festival with support from St. Lucia, 888, and Bishop Briggs.
Houston
Through Aug. 27: The Big Show
See an enormous collection of work by area artists within a 100-mile radius of Lawndale Art Center. Over 100 pieces are exhibited by 87 artists.
Aug. 1-Sept. 5: Houston Restaurant Weeks
Take a serious sampling of the city’s dining scene at a premium price. Almost every popular restaurant in the area has brunch, lunch, and dinner specials that showcase their specialties for just 0-5.
Aug. 5: Guns N’ Roses and Skrillex
One of the biggest names in EDM hits the stage on the same night as one of the biggest names in rock ‘n’ roll at NRG Stadium.
Aug. 14: Gwen Stefani
The former No Doubt singer performs in The Woodlands at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion as part of her This is What the Truth Feels Like Tour.
Aug. 20: Star Wars movie marathon
Alamo Drafthouse celebrates the most popular science fiction film series ever with a marathon of the original Star Wars trilogy at The Hobby Center.
Seattle
Aug. 4-7: Seattle Art Fair
For the second year, art galleries flock to Centurylink Field to show off the best and brightest in the Pacific Northwest and international art scenes, bringing together collectors, artists, and enthusiasts for a weekend jam packed with art.
Aug. 12: Sunset Supper at Pike Place Market
Hang out on the cobblestones by Pike Place Market while indulging in food and drink by chefs, breweries, and distilleries from the area. More than 80 different vendors are on-hand.
Aug. 12: South Lake Union Block Party
The largest celebration in the South Lake Union neighborhood is totally free to attend and features a lineup of stellar local bands, a best burger competition, and artists printing gigantic posters with a steam roller.
Aug. 20: Frogs & Dogs
Rogue Ales & Spirits hosts this eighth-annual event at their Issaquah Brewhouse featuring games and washes for dogs, beers by guest breweries (Rogue Root Beer and Citrus Cucumber Soda for the kids!), and free face painting.
Southern California
Through Aug. 28: Sawdust Art Festival
If you haven’t made it over to the Sawdust Art Festival yet, it’s now or never, because the yearly arts and crafts festival ends this month. Not only do attendees get to participate in dozens of classes, shop the wares, and enjoy live entertainment, but they are also able to celebrate the festival’s 50th year in business.
Through Aug. 15: OC Fair
The OC Fair is another one of those events with the last call coming soon. Still up and coming are performances by Train, The B-52’s, Ziggy Marley, a 5K fun run, and a motor home demolition derby. Oh, and don’t forget the daily pig races!
Aug. 5: Miranda Lambert
Lambert stops in Irvine as part of her Keeper of the Flame Tour with supporting acts Kip Moore and Brothers Osbourne.
Through Aug 25: Los Angeles Rams training camp
The Rams are back and training every day for the upcoming NFL season at Crawford Athletic Complex at UC Irvine.
South Florida
Aug. 4: Free night at the museum
Head on over to NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale for their monthly Free First Thursdays Starry Nights programs, offering free museum admission from 4-8pm, two-for-one specials on booze, light appetizers, and hands-on art projects for all ages.
Aug 4: Janet Jackson
The lauded Janet Jackson stops by the BB&T Center as part of her Unbreakable World Tour.
Aug. 9: The Moth
The renowned storytelling event has everyday people share tales that fall under the banner theme of “Heat” at the Olympia Theater.
Aug. 14: Animal Adoption Fair
Let a new friend into your family and home at this on-site adoption event.
Aug. 27-Sept. 11: International Ballet Festival of Miami
Over 20 different ballet companies from across the world descend on Miami to perform at various venues in Miami.
Aug. 30 and 31: Drake and Future
Drake and Future make a stop in Miami on their Summer Sixteen Tour for two nights at the American Airlines Arena.
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