Every State's Best August Events

Downtown Russellville will play host to the always-fun Watermelon Festival on August 18-19, a small-town gathering home to much melon-themed fun and fantastic live music. Later in August, the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival (August 26-27) takes place in Eutaw, featuring crafters, dancers, musicians, artists, storytellers and food vendors coming together to celebrate the culture of this region of western Alabama. Those same dates will see the 20th Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival take place in Birmingham featuring performances from David Sanchez, Elnora Williams, Jose Carr and more.

Summer may be dwindling down, but in Alaska, the locals embrace the last days of the season with gusto. Join them at Salmonfest (August 4-6) in Ninilchik, which helps raise funds to protect the local waters and the fish that live within. This year's artists include Old Crow Medicine Show, Sierra Ferrell, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and many more. Other great events in the state include the 68th Annual Silver Salmon Derby in Seward (August 12-20) and the Alaska State Fair, the latter kicking off on August 18 and featuring the usual array of all-Alaskan fun rides, food, agricultural displays and live tunes from the likes of Blues Traveler, Yung Gravy, Noah Cyrus and more. 

Get an early start on the autumn food treats in Flagstaff at the Route 66 Chili Cook-Off (August 5-6), where a bevy of stellar bowls will be available for sampling. On that same weekend, Prescott will hold the Fine Art Festival—featuring over 100 art vendors and multiple art demonstrations—and later in the month, the city will host the annual Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering (August 10-12). Fantastic events later in the month include two in Flagstaff that will take place on August 26-27: The International Film Festival and the Annual Hopi Arts & Cultural Festival.  

In Little Rock, the Work of Art Music Festival will run through August 5, with a performance on the final evening by famed jazz guitarist Norman Brown. You'll have a "seed-spitting good time" (hey, it's their slogan) at the 47th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival (August 10-12), where visitors will experience a fair-like atmosphere and unique events like the Watermelon Olympics and Watermelon Idol talent contest. Later in the month, make for Mount Nebo State Park for the 76th Annual Mount Nebo Chicken Fry (August 19) and then head for Hot Springs to celebrate the 6th Annual Baseball Weekend, an event that pays tribute to the city's role in the creation of the "Spring Training" tradition.

The town will once again be painted a multitude of striking shades during the Eureka Street Art Festival (runs through August 5) and you can forget about cheese because chamber music is the best partner for wine this August at the Music in the Vineyards Festival in Napa Valley (runs through August 20). Elsewhere, the 60th Annual International Surfing Festival (August 2-6) will take place in Redondo Beach and feature an array of fun competitions by the sea and as always, Outside Lands (August 11-13) is bringing a stellar line-up to San Francisco, with this year's big names including Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, Odesza,  Lana Del Ray, The 1975 and many more. Last but not least, Old Spanish Fiesta Days returns to Santa Barbara (August 2-6) with its signature parade, rodeo, livestock show, rodeo, flamenco dancing and great Mexican-American food. 

The famed Vail Dance Festival will run through August 7—once again presenting world-class dance performances alongside a remarkable "only in Colorado" backdrop—while in Boulder, the annual Shakespeare Festival will be presenting the works of The Bard through August 13. In Telluride, the Telluride Jazz Festival will take place on August 11-13 and in the town of Palisade, the local peaches will be put on a pedestal during the Palisade Peach Festival (August 18-19).  

Head to Bushnell Park in Hartford on Monday nights through August 14 to experience the Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz event, which is a true rite of summer in these parts. This month also sees the Podunk Bluegrass Festival return (August 10-13) to Goshen, with artists like Steep Canyon Rangers, East Nash Grass, Kristy Cox & Grasstime with Jerry Salley and Authentic Unlimited all scheduled to perform. 

The beloved Rehoboth Beach Bandstand Summer Concert Series will continue on weekends all month long with artists ranging in genres from soul to British Invasion, surf and yacht rock. In the town of Wyoming, the Peach Festival (think crafts, food and a peach dessert contest) will take place on August 5. Elsewhere, the Riverfront Summer Concert Series will entertain the crowds in Wilmington on Thursday nights all month long and the Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville will host concerts from Jason Mraz, Dionne Warwick, Brandi Carlile, Lady A and more. 

Start your month off in Miami at the International Dance Festival, which will bring together impressive companies from all over the world (runs through August 13). Down south, The Key West Lobsterfest will hold its usual array of crustacean-filled fun, tastings, concerts and bar crawls from August 10-13. in Fort Lauderdale, the Miami Beach Kizomba Festival (August 17-21) will showcase the dance, music and culture of multiple African nations and for a sweet finish to the month, head to St. Petersburg on August 26 for the 12th Annual Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest.

Savannah's Lake Mayer Park will once again play host to the scrumptious flavors of the Southeast Crab Feast on August 12, while over in Atlanta, BeREGGAE Music & Arts Festival (August 11-13) will provide a weekend full of great tunes and food, all for a good cause. Food lovers will want to make sure they're also in ATL for Black Restaurant Week, which will run August 6-20 and all those angling for a good old-fashioned fair should head to Hiawassee for the Georgia Mountain Fair on August 18-26.

Start your month off on the Big Island at the Mango Festival (August 5 at Hale Halawai Beach Park) before heading over to O'ahu for Duke's Oceanfest—the state's premier ocean sports festival—which returns on August 18-27.  At Oceanfest, you'll be able to celebrate the legacy of the "father of surfing" Duke Kahanamoku while participating in or watching a host of events on the shores of Waikiki. Also on O'ahu, the 19th Annual Korean Festival will take place in Honolulu on August 19, celebrating Korean culture through music, food, dance and the arts.

August in Idaho is synonymous with the Festival at Sandpoint and the ever-popular event comes to a crescendo this month with a series of great concerts (Michael Franti, Ashley McBryde and Reo Speedwagon) and a grand finale on August 6 featuring a screening of The Princess Bride accompanied by live music. Over in Boise, the always-fun Goathead Festival—a party dedicated to the city's vibrant cycling community—will take place on August 19 and in southern Idaho, the Sun Valley Music Festival returns through August 24, combining superb classical music alongside spectacular settings. 

River City Soul Fest returns to Peoria on August 5-6, featuring performances by Joe, Chicago Mass Choir and many more. The start of August is a wonderful time to be in Chicago as Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park on August 3-6 with headliners Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Odesza and Red Hot Chili Peppers plus dozens more acts. The park also plays host to the classical sounds of the Grant Park Music Festival through August 19, the same date as Floatzilla—a party dedicated to paddling—in Rockford.

Once again, Indianapolis will be the place to be for the all-American fun of the Indiana State Fair, which will run through August 20. In addition to a myriad of carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, rodeos, demolition derbies and more mouthwatering food items than you can scoop up on a fork, the fair will also feature free concerts from the likes of Keith Sweat, Clint Black, Gin Blossoms, Rob Base, Buddy Guy and more. Outside of Indy, Fort Wayne will be a fantastic spot to be this month as the city will celebrate Latino and Hispanic culture at the Fiesta Fort Wayne on August 12 and host the Taste of the Arts Festival on August 26.  

Head straight for Davenport for the Mississippi Valley Fair (August 1-6), which will celebrate its 104th edition with scores of family fun events, tasty food and concerts from acts like Limp Bizkit, Sam Hunt, Hardy, Lil' Jon and more. Down in Des Moines, the biggest event of the year will run August 10-20: The Iowa State Fair. There aren't enough superlatives to describe this iconic gathering, but let's just say that it's the best of the state distilled down into one awesome event. Insta-worthy fair food, awesome rides, agricultural events and concerts from the likes of Maren Morris, The Chicks, Black Keys, Eric Church and Ludacris highlight this year's happenings. Last but not least, the small town of Danbury will hold its annual Corn Days celebration on August 25-27.   

Start your month off down in Dodge City, where the West is still wild and Dodge City Days will run through August 6 with its usual array of rodeos, concerts, parades and lip-smackingly good food. In Liberal, the famous 5 State Fair will bring fun for the whole family to town on August 8-13. And in the town of Winfield, Duck Jam will return on August 17 with a performance by Good Morning Bedlam and Pretend Friend. Last but not least, the KC Pumpkin Patch in Olathe will host the KC Sunflower Fest (various dates August 11-27), offering up lots of fun in fields of snap-worthy sunflowers. 

Kick off your Kentucky August in Covington—across the Ohio River from Cincinnati—at Glier's Goettafest on August 3-6, which will toast the region's favorite meaty specialty. Danville will celebrate its rich African American history at the Soul of 2nd Street Festival on August 4-5 while Newport will be the setting for the Great Inland Seafood Festival on August 10-13, an event that offers up the chance to sample sensational seafood, great brews and listen to solid tunes. Elsewhere, the Kentucky State Fair will bring food & music tents, talent shows, rides, a Main Street Kentucky attraction and much more to Louisville on August 10-17. 

Pay respect to the legend of Louis Armstrong during the Satchmo Summerfest in New Orleans, featuring two days of great jazz music and mouthwatering local food (August 4-5). Head to Delcambre during the middle of the month for the Delcambre Shrimp Festival (August 16-20) for a party dedicated to the region's shrimping heritage and the Gueydan Duck Festival (August 24-27) will toast the town's reputation as the "Duck Capital of America'' with live music, great food, duck calling contests and much more. 

One of the most beloved summer festivals on the Eastern Seaboard, the Maine Lobster Festival returns to Rockland with its signature five days of fun and feasting on fantastic lobster (August 2-6). Up north, the Bangor State Fair will take place on August 3-6 and feature the usual array of Mainer culinary delights, rides and entertainment. Finally, celebrate Maine's state fruit at the Blueberry Festival in Rangeley on August 17, where you'll be able to sample plenty of berry-filled foodie delights. 

Kick off your month in the cool small town of Berlin at the Peach Festival (August 5), then head to the Haitian Caribbean Festival in Baltimore on August 13 and if you're an EDM fan, then dance your way to Pimlico Race Course near Baltimore for the Moonrise Festival on August 12-13. Finish off your August with a trip back in time at the Maryland Renaissance Festival (located near Annapolis), which kicks off its 47th season on August 26. 

In Boston, the always-popular Shakespeare on the Common event will run through August 6 with performances under the stars of MacBeth. Also in Beantown, the 53rd Annual Chinatown August Moon Festival (August 13) will feature Chinese music, lion dancing, martial arts and arts & crafts. Later in the month, Provincetown will party during Carnival (August 12-19) and Boston Jazz Fest (August 25-26) will bring the sultry sounds of jazz to town. 

The Blue Water Sand Sculpture Festival will impress the crowds in Port Huron on August 4-6 and summer will also be celebrated with gusto through August 6 at the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, where the men and women of the Coast Guard are honored with days full of fun happenings (think cardboard boat races, concerts and tons of great food & drink). Other great events in "The Mitten" include the National Blueberry Festival in South Haven (August 10-13) and the Chalk Walk Art Festival in Bay City (August 12). 

Start your month off in Minneapolis at the 30th Annual Fringe Festival (August 3-13), which will once again present a solid line-up of shows. The big one is the Minnesota State Fair, which kicks off in St. Paul on August 24 (runs through Labor Day) and is set to delight the crowds with its usual array of mouthwatering food (be sure to try the brand-new Crispy Lutefisk Steam Buns or birthday cake mini-donuts), A-list concerts (The Chicks, Duran Duran, Yung Gravy and Boyz II Men and more) and fun for the whole family. Last but not least, the beloved Barnesville Potato Days festival will take place on August 25-26. 

It shouldn't be a surprise that a town called Water Valley would be famed for its Watermelon Carnival (think parades, fireworks and lots of melon-filled fun), and this year's event takes place on August 4-5. In Clarksdale, the annual Sunflower Blues & Gospel Festival will take the stage on August 11-13 and in the capital Jackson, the Mississippi Book Festival will take to the capitol building and surrounds on August 19 for a celebration of literature. 

Start your month off in Sikeston at the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo (August 9-13), where rodeo action combines with great live music for an unforgettable summer event. Springfield will once again rev up its engines for the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival (August 10-12), a gathering that features a parade, classic cars, a talent show and various Route 66 exhibits. There isn't a better combination of music and setting than the one offered at the Blues at the Arch Festival, which will see great blues music belted out under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis (August 11-13) and Festival of the Little Hills—one of the Midwest's premier arts & crafts festivals—returns to St. Charles on August 18-20. 

Get yourself to the Montana State Fair (runs through August 5) in Great Falls for days full of arts & crafts, horse racing, carnival rides and agricultural competitions and nights full of top-notch entertainment from the likes of The Commodores, Josh Turner and Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias.  Then, bounce to Billings and the Montana Fair (an unrelated event to the Montana State Fair, taking place on August 11-19) for lots of great family-friendly fun and concerts from Carly Pearce, Chevelle and Ludacris. For a celebration of all things Western lifestyle, head to the 38th Annual Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering (August 10-13) and Western Music Rendezvous in Lewiston. 

Everybody's favorite "smiley" summer drink will be celebrated once again in the town of Hastings at the 25th Annual Kool-Aid Days (August 18-20). That same weekend sees Omaha host the 17th Annual Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival (August 18-19) and the Omaha Greek Festival (August 18-20). End your summer with a bang at the Nebraska State Fair, which kicks off on August 25 in Grand Isle, bringing its usual array of all-American fun with a Cornhusker State twist to town. 

Once again, rock & roll and classic cars will take over Reno during Hot August Nights (August 1-6), a beloved summer tradition in the region. Elsewhere, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival will run through August 21 and the one-of-a-kind Burning Man happening commences on August 27. In Vegas, August will feature residencies from Kelly Clarkson, Adele, Maroon 5, Katy Perry and the B-52s.

The Journey to Jericho ATV Jamboree (August 4-5) returns to Berlin this summer, bringing with it the usual array of events like mud races, live music, demo rides, trail riding and an ATV parade. Blues fans will want to make a beeline for Thornton and the White Mountain Boogie N' Blues Festival on August 18-20, where artists like Nikki Hill, Tas Cru, Kat Riggins, Kenny Neal and many more are set to take the stage. Down on the coast, Hampton Beach will hold its annual Children's Week on August 14-18—featuring a fun array of kid-centric events like magic & puppet shows, storytellers, free ice cream, a parade and much more—while the 40th Annual Tommy Gallant Jazz Festival will take to the stage on August 26 in Portsmouth. 

Start August by sampling some mouthwatering seafood at the 28th Annual Clam Festival in Highlands (August 4-5), where in addition to the clam-tastic bites, visitors can expect another year of games, rides, food trucks and a special beer, wine & sangria garden. Elsewhere, the Sussex County Fairgrounds will play host to the New Jersey State Fair (August 4-12) and country music fans will want to head to Atlantic City for the Tidalwave Festival (August 11-13), with headliners Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn and scores more acts set to the take the stage. Finally, the Our Lady Star of the East 11th Annual Lebanese Festival (a celebration of all aspects of Lebanese culture) will take place in Pleasantville on August 18-20. 

In Gallup, the 101st Annual Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial (August 4-13) will showcase Native American & indigenous songs and dances alongside a host of cultural activities. In Santa Fe, the 101st Santa Fe Indian Market will take place on August 16-20, featuring Native arts and awarding the most excellent examples. Then, for the ultimate family-friendly experience, head down to Deming for the Great American Duck Races (August 24-27), which will see, well, races between ducks and lots of family-friendly fun. 

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop at the Hip Hop 50 Live Concert at Yankee Stadium on August 11 and then scoot to the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse which will kick off on August 23. The biggest annual party in the Empire State, it will feature the usual array of fair food, rides, exhibits and A-list concerts from the likes of Salt-N-Pepa, Lainey Wilson, Yung Gravy, Tyler Hubbard, Slick Rick and many more. End your month at the Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn on August 26-27—featuring Jazmine Sullivan, Flying Lotus and many more—or at the 177th Annual Dutchess Fair in Rhinebeck on August 22-27, an event full of Upstate-style fun.

There's no better way to start your August in the Tar Heel State than by swinging by Murfreesboro for the 38th Annual NC Watermelon Festival, which will once again be the place to be for wonderful food (naturally, plenty of watermelons will be available), great entertainment, fireworks and the Watermelon Festival Parade. On the Outer Banks, the Ocracoke Fig Festival will take place on August 4-5 and Nags Head will hold its annual Pirate Festival on August 9-10. Finally, Rocky Mount Reggae Fest returns for another year on August 18-19, featuring the legendary Beres Hammond and a host of others in addition to sensational food & drink.

The Home On The Range Champions Ride (August 5) will once again take place in Sentinel Butte, bringing together the best saddle bronc riders to compete for the championship. Elsewhere, the Fargo Food Truck Festival will delight the crowds on August 11-13, the Off The Charts Music Festival takes place in Cavalier on August 18-20 and Happy Harry's Hot Valley Nights returns to East Grand Forks on August 18-19 with sets from Dylan Scott, Tracy Lawrence, Tigirlily Gold and more.  

Why wait for St. Patrick's Day to celebrate Irish culture? Head to Dublin, Ohio on August 4-6 for a three-day extravaganza of Irish music, dance and spirits. Or, spend those days seeing doubles in Twinsburg at the annual Twins Day celebration, which is the largest gathering of twins in the world. Elsewhere, The Western & Southern Open—the biggest tennis summer ticket in America not named the U.S. Open—takes place in Cincinnati on August 12-20, Columbus plays host to the Festival Latino on August 12-13 and in Cleveland, August 26 is the date for the Lakewood Wing Crawl. 

First and foremost, no summer in Oklahoma City is complete without a visit to Prix de West—America's premier Western art exhibition—at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (runs through August 6). In Tulsa, the Greenwood Film Festival (August 2-6) will present through-provoking & empowering films while Edmond will host its VIBES monthly art experience on August 3. Later in the month, make for Muskogee to watch colorful balloons float overhead at the Oklahoma Festival of Ballooning (August 25-26). 

Start your August with some seriously good jazz at the Vanport Jazz Festival (August 4-5) in Portland—featuring performances by Goapele, Julian Vaughn, Adam Hawley and more—then head out to Happy Valley for the Pickathon (August 3-6) for a gathering like no other that combines music, literature, culture, comedy, drinks and wellness. Later in the month, Rose City hosts Portland Hip Hop Week (August 20-26) and the Oregon State Fair kicks off in Salem (August 25 - September 4), bringing its usual array of quintessential "fair fun" in addition to concerts from the likes of Colbie Callait, Justin Moore, Bush, Elle King and a special "I Love the 90s" show featuring Vanilla Ice, Rob Base, Color Me Badd, Tone Loc and Young MC. 

There's no better way to begin the month than by attending the BlackStar Film Festival (August 2-6) in Philadelphia, an event that will once again shine a light on film from the African diaspora and world societies of color. August in the Keystone State means Musikfest (August 3-13) and this concert event in Bethlehem is back and better than ever with performances by Maren Morris, AJR, Train, Dan + Shay, Keith Sweat & Monica and many more. Elsewhere, Barrel & Flow Fest (the first festival dedicated to black brewers) takes place in Pittsburgh on August 12 and last but not least, baseball fans will want to make a beeline for South Williamsport for the Little League World Series (August 16-27). 

This year, August will be all about the state's favorite music gathering: The Newport Jazz Festival (August 4-6). This year's performers include names like Herbie Hancock, Diana Krall, Jon Batiste, Kamasi Washington,  Thundercat and dozens more. Elsewhere in the Ocean State, the Charlestown Seafood Festival will treat taste buds on August 4-6 and Providence will play host to the Dominican Festival & Parade of Rhode Island on August 13. Back in Newport, the 40th Annual Black Ships Festival (August 11-13) will toast the friendship and cultural ties between the U.S. and Japan through arts, culture and lots of great food. 

In Greenville, the South Carolina New Play Festival returns for a second year on August 10-13, celebrating all aspects of theater. Beer From Here local beer fest returns to the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston on August 18 and the next day sees the Southeast Crab Feast arrive in town. Last but not least, South Carolina Black Pride will take place in Columbia on August 24-27 and the Upper South Carolina State Fair kicks off in Greenville on August 31. 

Let's just get the big one out of the way first: the Black Hills will once again be alive with the rumble of motorcycles during the 83rd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August 4-13). In addition to organized rides, pub crawls, bike shows and tattoo contests, the festival will host great live music from acts like ZZ Top, Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Limp Bizkit, Lita Ford and more. Elsewhere, Clark will hold its annual Potato Days Festival on August 4-6 and the Corn Palace Festival will bring a state fair-type atmosphere to Mitchell on August 23-27, with the official South Dakota State Fair kicking off in Huron on August 31.

Start your month off in Nashville at the Tennessee International Indie Film Festival (August 1-6) and if you’re a fan of The King, then make your way to Memphis for Elvis Week at Graceland (August 9-17), which will see a return of the concerts, film screenings, conversations and candlelight vigils that make the event so special. Head for Murfreesboro on August 12 for the sweet return of the Peach Cobbler Festival and circle back to Nashville on August 19 for the Black Arts Bash at Cheekwood, which will feature dance, music, visual art, spoken word and more.

You have until August 5 to catch the live performances of TEXAS: The Outdoor Musical at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Get a head start on Halloween in Houston at the Houston Horror Film Festival (August 11-13) and head back to H-Town to celebrate Mexican culture at the Mariachi Festival (August 18-20). Elsewhere, The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo returns to Fort Worth to pay tribute to black cowboys (August 19) and Austin's favorite flying residents will be celebrated at Bat Fest on August 26, a party that will toast the world's largest urban bat colony with great food and live music from Alien Ant Farm, Lil Flip, DJ grip and more.  

A pie-eating contest, pancake breakfast, parade and much more are set to return to Garden City during Raspberry Days (August 3-5) while Snowbird Ski Resort will be cutting the ribbon on a new season of Oktoberfest celebrations on August 12 (various dates through October 15). In Moab, music will once again be in concert with the landscape during the remarkable Moab Music Festival, which will see classical concerts take place in stunning natural locations surrounding the town (August 21 - September 5).  

Start your month in southern Vermont at the Deerfield Valley Blueberry Festival, which will run through August 6. Elsewhere, the waters of Lake Champlain will come alive during the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival on August 6—featuring a range of fun on the water for a good cause— and at the Shelburne Museum near Burlington, the beloved Ben and Jerry’s Concerts on the Green continues its season with a solid roster of performers like Mt. Joy (August 8), Shakey Graves + Lucius (August 12) and Dispatch (August 18). Finally, the Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival will rock Manchester on August 17-20. 

The iconic Shenandoah Valley Music Festival continues its 60th birthday celebrations with two shows in August: Forever Motown (August 18) and Steep Canyon Rangers (August 19). If you've got a hankering for some good old-fashioned all-American fun, then head to the 74th Annual Prince William County Fair on August 11-19. Elsewhere in the Old Dominion, the 40th Annual Waterfront Jazz Festival will take place on August 18-19 (Gerald Albright and Dave Koz lead a solid roster of performers) in Norfolk and the Seawall Art Show returns to Portsmouth on August 26-27. 

You can't talk about August in the Evergreen State without a mention of Seafair in Seattle, which will feature Fleet Week (August 1-6) and the Boeing Seafair Air Show (August 4-6), but there's lots going on outside the city, too. Tacoma hosts the Native American Festival on August 12, The Whidbey Plein Air Paint Out art event takes place in Coupeville on August 15-18 and the Washington State International Kite Festival takes place in Long Beach on  August 21-27.

The town of Romney is the best place to be at the start of the month as the annual Peach Festival returns (August 6-8), bringing with it live music, games, arts & crafts, the Annual Peach Pageant, car & motorcycle shows and more peach ice cream than you can shake a scoop at. The treasured tradition that is the West Virginia State Fair returns August 10-19, with the usual array of sensational rides, great food, agricultural displays & contests and great live music from the likes of Yung Gravy, Nelly, Riley Green, Lainey Wilson and Ludacris. Finally, Mountaineer Brewfest returns to Wheeling with great beer for a good cause on August 19.

There may not be a better one-two summer punch than the Badger State's combination of Summerfest in July and the Wisconsin State Fair in August (runs August 3-13 in 2023). In addition to all the classic carnival rides, agricultural exhibits & competitions and out-of-this-world food (Bacon Cheddar Bubble Waffle & Apple Pie Fries are just two of the new items available this year), concerts will include Trace Adkins, Ludacris, Halestorm and Alabama. Other sensational events this month include the Sugar Maple Festival—an annual Americana music gathering in Madison— on August 4-5, Bluegrass in the Pines in Rosholt (August 24-26) and the always-fun Sweet Corn Festival in Sun Prairie (August 16-20).

Begin August with a swing by the 110th Annual Fremont County Fair in Roverton (runs through August 5), where you'll be able to experience a quintessential Wyoming good time. In Jackson Hole, the Grand Teton Music Festival will continue its 62nd season through August 19 with multiple evenings of superb classical music while the Cheyenne Arts Celebration will take over South Lions Park on August 12 for a day of music, art, food and more.