10 Things Every Kansan Feels When August Ends

What’s going on my friends! Hey, so now that all the kiddos are back in school and September is just a wink away, it’s time to chat about a major upcoming event: the end of summer in Kansas.

If you’ve lived in our beautiful Sunflower State for long, you’re going to understand exactly what I mean by that!

You see… late August in Kansas, well, it just hits different. The cicadas are starting to come out and annoy the hell out of everyone, but at least we’re seeing less wasps, flies, and mosquitos! The sun is starting to set a bit faster, which means you’re running out of time to look out your window at MIDNIGHT to see a beautiful Kansas sunset.

Football is coming (‘nuff said)…

Homecomings are coming…

Pumpkins are coming…

Parades and fairs are coming…

FALL IS COMING!!!!

Yes, I know, it’s still August which means the freaking heat and humidity are still brutal, like being caught between a Roswell and Miami sandwich. But despite this, you can finally start to feel the welcomed shift to the cooler side of life, that is finally noticeable in the damp but crisp morning air.

The good thing is that all of these occurrences mean one thing: summer in Kansas is winding down, FINALLY! AND THANKFULLY! (SORRY IF YOU’RE A SUMMER AND LOVER OF THE HEAT!!!!)

So, heck yes to school starting back (sorry kiddos), bonfires reeving up, spirit nights and local fairs popping up all over the state. Oh ya, did I mention that Friday night FOOTBALL is about to kick off across the state, from Dodge City to Pittsburg. And just because we aren’t Texas or Nebraska, don’t for one second think that we don’t get amped up about local Kansas football! We take it very seriously!

(GAMES START THURSDAY AUGUST 28th, 2025, check here for more information)

See, for us Kansans, the end of August isn’t just a date on the calendar, t’s a whole damn mood.

Here are the 10 things every Kansan feels when August ends:

1. The Last Blast of Heat

Kansas summer doesn’t go quietly. Like many things or people in Kansas, it goes above and beyond and is stupid relentless. Hell, just when you think cooler weather is on the way, the sun comes back swinging with knock out triple-digit temps.

That’s right fellow Kansans, late August heat waves hit like a final boss in an EPIC video game: intense, relentless, and impossible to ignore. So whether it’s taking a swim at the Splash Cove in Wichita, or catching an outdoor movie in Downtown Hutchinson, the heat around these parts will DEMAND that you soak up every last moment before fall. It might actually force you to!

2. Cicadas on Full Blast

If there’s a soundtrack to Kansas in August, it’s the endless buzz of cicadas echoing through the trees like a poorly tuned emo band. That constant drone is nature’s reminder that summer is gasping its last humid breaths. Just walk through any park in Topeka or take a stroll along any Flint Hills trail, and you’ll hear the cicadas creating an almost hypnotic rhythm, making every evening feel like a soundtrack to late summer memories.

Don’t forget to get out to the Red Hills to see the tarantula migration!! It will change your life… for worse or better, who knows… hahahhaah.

3. County Fairs and Carnival Food

From funnel cakes in Hutchinson, to demolition derbies in smaller counties like Marion or Saline, late August is the tail end of fair season.

Get on out to Hutch to ride the ferris wheel at the Kansas State Fair. Just don’t do it after eating too many fried Oreos or massive corn dogs.

And while you’re there, try to catch an awesome concert or ride on a tractor pull. But it’s not just Hutchinson that’ll be thumping, there will be lots of county Fair’s happening all throughout the state.

So get out and experience these awesome August delights that define the tastes, smells, and sights of Kansas life at the end of summer.

4. Friday Night Lights Return

There’s a special kind of magic when Kansas football kicks off. Whether cheering on local high school teams in Dodge City, Conway Springs, Andale, Wichita…

or

supporting the big dogs like K-State and KU, the end of August fills stadiums with excitement and energy. Tailgating, marching bands and pep rallies bring communities together like nothing else in the Kansas lifestyle.

5. Back-to-School Nostalgia

Even for adults, late August in Kansas triggers memories of sharpened pencils, buzzing school buses, and freshly printed schedules. Visiting Lawrence or Manhattan, you can feel the mix of excitement and nerves in the air as students return to campus, reminding everyone of the cyclical rhythm that marks the true end of summer. For us in our 40s, the beginning of school truly represents the circle of life.

6. Sunflowers Stealing the Show

August is peak Kansas sunflowers season. Fields around Lindsborg, Salina, and the Smoky Hills glow gold, offering some of the state’s most iconic photo opportunities. Driving past these endless blooms feels like Kansas’ final gift before the arrival of cooler weather, and festivals like the Chapman Sunflower Festival celebrate this natural splendor in full swing.

7. Storms with a Hint of Change

Kansas in August can still produce fierce thunderstorms, but there’s a subtle shift: the lightning seems sharper, but the wind and the rain feel colder, almost as if the weather knows that fall is on its way. It even smells different. Catching a storm over the Flint Hills or near El Dorado Lake becomes a dramatic reminder of the seasonal transition. Just last night for example…

it was 98 degrees before an early evening thunderstorm dropped the temperatures into the mid 70s. It can be a lovely and peaceful reprieve!

8. Saying Goodbye to the Lake

Late August weekends are the last hurrah at Cheney, Milford, or Wilson Lake. Boating, fishing, and BBQs take on a bittersweet quality. The golden sunsets over the water hit harder because you know that cooler days are around the corner, and lake season is drawing to a close.

9. The Harvest Mindset

For farmers, August signals crunch time. Corn and wheat fields begin changing color, combines are prepped, and the buzz of harvest is in the air. Even non-farmers feel it. Whether we’re passing by rural roads near Abilene or enjoying the scenic drives along the Smoky Hills, you can see and smell the harvest energy seeping into the Kansas lifestyle.

10. That Strange Mix of Excitement and Sadness

The end of August is bittersweet. You’re ready for cooler air, Kansas football, and fall festivals, but you’ll miss the long nights, lake trips, and freedom of summer. Festivals like the Wichita Riverfest or Lindsborg’s Svensk Hyllningsfest hint at what’s next while honoring the end of Kansas summer. Only Kansans know that exact feeling of standing between two seasons.

Final Thoughts

When the end of summer in Kansas arrives, it’s not just a changing month, it’s a shift in energy. Sunflowers fade, cicadas quiet down, and before long, the leaves start turning. No matter where you live in the Sunflower State, these 10 feelings are the unspoken signals that summer is over, and a new Kansas lifestyle season is about to begin.

So get out and enjoy these sights before it’s too late!