Mohawk Valley Almanac August 2024
August followed closely by September’s Labor Day is the last hurrah of summer. Colleges and universities begin classes prior to Labor Day, while most public and private schools in this part of the country begin just after Labor Day.
The weather is generally warm to hot, and ideal for camping, boating, and other water sports and outdoor activities. There are numerous state parks and other camping sites within a 1-3 hour drive from Utica. This is especially true in the Adirondack Mountains to the north and the Finger Lakes to the West.
In the home garden, many local vegetables are at their peak: squash, peppers, beans, tomatoes and broccoli, and others. Apples, pears are coming into season. For those without a garden, many farmers markets are available in the region. This includes Clinton Green on Thursdays, Hamilton Green on Saturdays, and Union Station in Utica on Saturdays. These and many other weekly markets offer a wide variety of locally and regionally grown produce, as well as breads, honey, meats, soaps and beauty supplies, and arts and crafts. This money goes into the local economy vs. a corporate headquarters from a larger city outside the area.
Holidays and Observations for August 2024
August 1 Colorado Day
August 3` Ernie Pyle Day (New Mexico)
August 4 Coast Guard Day
August 14 Atlantic Charter Day
August 16 Bennington Battle Day (Vermont)
August 19 National Aviation Day; Admission Day (Hawaii)
August 26 Women’s Equality Day
The sunsets are earlier than in May to July. By the end of the month, sunset is an hour ealier than on June 21, the summer solstice. By the end of the month with an earlier sunset, nights are sometimes cooler a sweatshirt or light jacket necessary.
The are no federal holidays in August. The most important day of recognition is Women’s Equality Day. This commemorates the ratification of the t9th Amendment which gave women the right to vote in 1920. This was first noted as a proclamation day by Congress in 1973. With the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade which allowed abortion in most cases, the opposition to restricting such rights will be a major political issue in the Presidential Election. This will only increase in importance with the candidacy of Kamela Harris for President. Chances are this will become an even more important day for activists to rally behind.
One of the most important historical events in early American History is celebrated at the Oriskany Monument, site of the Battle of Oriskany in 1777. The commemoration of this pivotal battle of the Revolutionary War of nearly 250 years ago takes place at the 1883 Oriskany Monument on August 6 at 7 P.M.
There are several regional festivals and observational activities, many of them annual. These festivals range from county fairs to arts and music festivals, celebrating history to antiques and sporting events. A partial listing of these events celebrated during late summer is below, while specific dates are uncertain.
August early Durant Days Raquette Lake, Boat Parade at 7 P.M
August 6 245th Oriskany Battlefield Anniversary Commemoration, 7:00 – 8:00 P.M.
August 5-11 Canal Celebration, Little Falls
August mid Chenango County Fair August, Norwich
August mid National Moto Cross Day Unadilla
August mid Madison Bouckville Antique Week, NYS Route 20
August mid-late Herkimer County Fair, Frankfort
August late Chenango Blues Festival, Norwich
August 27 Clinton Arts Festival Saturday, Clinton
In the Night Skies August 2024
On August 1, between 4:30 and 5:00 A.M. in the east to the right of the Crescent Moon is a conjunction with Jupiter to the lower left, Taurus Star Aldebaran to the lower right and Mars at the upper apex. Mars and Jupiter draw closer together reaching a close conjunction August 13-16.
Likely the best meteor shower of the year, the Perseid Meteor Shower peaks on the 11th and 12th, with the moon setting prior to midnight when the peak hours of meteors begin. On August 27, a conjunction with occurs with Jupiter to the lower right of the crescent Moon in the pre-dawn hours of 4:30-5:30 P.M.
Moon Phases for August
August 4 New Moon Moonrise 5:44 A.M., NE Moonset 8:23 P.M., NW
August 12 First Quarter Moonrise 1:09 P.M., SE Moonset 11:04 P.M., SW
August 19 Full Moon Moonrise 7:48 P.M., SE Moonset 5:40 A.M., SW
Known mainly as Full Sturgeon, but also Full Corn and Full Black Cherries Moon
August 26 Last Quarter Moonrise 10:50 P.M., NE Moonset 1:39 P.M., NW
Rising and Setting Time of Sun, Moon and Visible Planets on
Cross Quarter Day Lammas, August 1, 2024
Sunrise Rises 6:12 A.M. Sets 7:55 P.M. Daylight 11 Hours and 43 minutes
Waning Crescent Moon Rises 12:32 A.M., NE Sets 4:44 P.M., NW
Mercury Sets 9:09 P.M., W
Venus Sets 9:11 P.M.
Mars Rises 1:16 A.M., NE
Jupiter Rises 1:41 A.M., NE
Saturn Rises 10:03 P.M., E
