Things To Do in St. Charles, MN This August
Gold fields, gladiolus blooms, and one last splash before Gladiolus Days ties a ribbon on summer.
August in St. Charles runs at two speeds — the easy hum of Farmers Market Thursdays and library story hours, then a full nine-day stretch of pageants, tractors, and a street dance that closes out Gladiolus Days. Below is what’s actually on the calendar this month, listed in order, plus a handful of local parks, restaurants, and community spots worth building a visit around.
August 2026 Event Calendar
Listed in date order. Times and locations come from the organizers — always smart to double-check before you head out.
Coffee & Conversation
Free coffee and hot chocolate every Monday morning at the library — no agenda beyond good conversation with the neighbors.
Learn more →National Night Out with Munchkin the Miniature Horse
The Lions Club, Police Department, and Fire Department team up with the library for St. Charles’ annual National Night Out. Munchkin, a therapy miniature horse from Raising Hope Ranch, headlines Horse Trivia Bingo — bring a chair or blanket for seating.
Learn more →Story Time
A standing weekly story time for the library’s youngest patrons, running every Wednesday through the month.
Learn more →St. Charles Farmers Market
Local produce, baked goods, and crafts set up right on the City Hall lawn every Thursday evening through the market season.
Learn more →Author Talk: Ratliner with Heidi Bacon
Heidi Bacon discusses the family history and World War II events behind her fact-based novel Ratliner, along with current efforts to recover items stolen during that era. A book signing follows.
Learn more →City Council Meeting
Regular St. Charles City Council meeting, open to the public in the Council Chambers.
Learn more →Let’s Chat About Gardens
Master Gardener Maria Baer leads this month’s session on harvesting, preserving, and getting a jump on fall gardening.
Learn more →Last Splash: Aquatic Center Closing Day
The 181-foot water slide, drop slide, diving board, and lap lanes close out the 2026 season today — a last chance to get in the pool before it wraps up for the year (dates subject to change for weather).
Learn more →Gladiolus Days Kicks Off: Scholarship Pageant
St. Charles’ nine-day festival opens with the Scholarship Pageant. Gladiolus Days honors the late Carl Fischer, the world’s leading gladiolus hybridizer and founder of Noweta Gardens right here in St. Charles.
Full schedule →Gladiolus Days: Community Treasure Hunt
A town-wide treasure hunt for all ages, part of the Gladiolus Days week.
Full schedule →Gladiolus Days: Golf & Library Events
A festival golf outing plus special library programming. The City Council also meets tonight, 6:00–8:00 PM at City Hall.
Full schedule →Gladiolus Days: What’s on Wednesday
A midweek slate of festival activities — check the official schedule for the day’s lineup.
Full schedule →Gladiolus Days: Comedy Show
An evening of stand-up comedy, part of this year’s Gladiolus Days lineup.
Full schedule →Gladiolus Days: Tractor Parade, Live Music & Tractor Show Opens
The antique tractor parade and evening music kick off, and the Gladiolus Days Tractor Show opens for the weekend — 150-plus tractors, a working sawmill demo, model train displays, an 1860s baseball game, a petting zoo, and flat-track motorcycle racing, with free parking. Runs Friday through Sunday.
Full schedule →Gladiolus Days: Tournaments & Street Dance
The co-ed sandlot volleyball tournament plays all day (3 men and 3 women per team, high school graduates only), and the festival closes out the night with a street dance downtown.
Full schedule →Gladiolus Days Grand Parade
The festival’s centerpiece and the jewel of Gladiolus Days — floats from around the region roll through downtown St. Charles, with plenty of candy for the kids. This is the one to build your whole weekend around.
Full schedule →
Beyond the Calendar
A few local standbys worth working into your August, any day of the week.
Parks & Outdoors
Jessens Park
30 acres on the southeast side of town, home to the city’s only dog park (a Lions Club partnership), a spring-fed pond stocked with sunnies and bluegill, an 18-hole disc golf course through the woods, and a pavilion.
More on area parks →City Park
St. Charles’ largest park at 31 acres, right on Highway 14. Four sand volleyball courts, two softball fields, a climbing wall, playgrounds, and river-side trails, with a skate park next door at Kaehler’s Field.
More on area parks →Whitewater State Park
A short drive from downtown, this 2,700-acre bluff-country park has a sandy swimming beach, spring-fed trout streams, and hiking ranging from an easy two-mile loop to blufftop overlooks on the four-mile Dakota Trail.
Plan a visit →Local Flavor
Del’s Cafe
A classic small-town diner at 1012 Whitewater Ave, known for eggs benedict, daily specials, and homemade pie.
Visit website →Jimmy’s Pizza
Build-your-own or specialty pies at 1123 Whitewater Ave — the taco pizza and chicken bacon ranch are local favorites.
View menu →St. Charles Bakery
Family-run since 1976 at 1200 Whitewater Ave and locally famous for their Long Johns. Everything’s made from scratch, but the shop tends to sell out by early afternoon, so get there early.
Follow on Facebook →Good Sport Liquor Bar & Grill
Casual American sports-bar fare in the heart of downtown at 149 E 6th St.
Get directions →Faith & Community
St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church
Sunday worship at 9:00 AM, with Sunday School and Bible study following at 10:15 AM, at 555 E 12th St.
Visit website →Library Seed Library & Community Garden
Beyond the August programs above, the library runs a seed library and a plot in the city’s Community Garden with Master Gardener Maria Baer — produce grown there goes to the Hometown Resource Center.
Learn more →Schools & Youth
Gladiolus Days Road Race
Hosted by the St. Charles Cross Country Team during Gladiolus Days week, with youth, adult, and family registration options through Community Education.
Register →Fall Sports & Community Education
August is when fall activities ramp up. Check the district’s Athletics page for fall practice dates and Community Education for youth and adult enrichment classes.
Athletics →
