August in the southwest metro doesn’t slow down — it kicks into high gear. Whether you’re looking for a community festival, a quiet afternoon at the Arboretum, or a reason to get the kids off their screens, there’s something happening close to home nearly every week this month. Here’s a rundown of the best events and activities near Chaska and Chanhassen in August 2026.
August 5 — Touch-a-Truck, Carver
Wednesday, August 5 · 6:00–8:00 PM · Carver Station, Carver · FREE
Kick off August with a free family event at Carver Station. Kids of all ages get up close with heavy equipment, fire trucks, police cars, and more. There’s also a bounce house and food trucks on-site. It fills up fast, so plan to arrive on the early side.
August 12–16 — Carver County Fair, Waconia
501 W. 3rd St., Waconia · carvercountyfair.com
One of the most-attended county fairs in Minnesota, the Carver County Fair returns to Waconia for its 114th year. Five full days of livestock shows, carnival rides, live entertainment, and local food. The 2026 entertainment lineup includes the ATV Big Air Tour on opening night (Wednesday, August 12), Motokazie on Thursday, the NTPA Tractor Pull on Friday evening, and the Demolition Derby on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 PM. The fair is about 15 minutes from Chaska and is genuinely worth building a day around.
August 14–16 — Art in the Garden, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska · arb.umn.edu · Included with admission
The Arboretum’s Art in the Garden weekend brings together local artists, artisan vendors, and culinary showcases across the grounds. Admission to the showcase is included with your regular Arboretum entry ($20–$25 for adults, free for members and kids 15 and under). The late-summer gardens are at their best this time of year, and the Art in the Garden crowd tends to be lively without being overwhelming.
Also at the Arboretum all summer: Music in the Garden runs Sundays 1:30–3:00 PM through October 25 (included with admission), and Tuesday Nights at the Farm at the Arb runs through September 1 — live music and wood-fired pizza at the farm, 5:00–8:00 PM. Both are reliably good.
August 20 — Touch-a-Truck, Chaska
Thursday, August 20 · 5:00–7:00 PM · Chaska High School · FREE
Chaska Parks & Recreation runs its own Touch-a-Truck event at Chaska High School on August 20. Kids sit in a fire truck, police squad car, and snowplow, while carnival games run courtesy of local Chaska community organizations. Ice cream and popcorn are provided while supplies last, and a Kids Dance DJ closes out the evening. Everything is free — a solid Thursday evening with the family.
August 22 — Minnesota Renaissance Festival Opens
August 22 – October 4, 2026 · Weekends · 12600 Renaissance Festival Blvd., Shakopee · renaissancefest.com
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival opens for its 2026 season on the last weekend of August and runs every weekend through early October in Shakopee — about 10 miles from Chaska. One of the largest Renaissance festivals in the country, it features jousting tournaments, period performers, artisan vendors, and an absolute mountain of turkey legs. If you prefer a more relaxed visit, a mid-September weekend tends to draw smaller crowds than opening weekend.
August 27 — Minnesota State Fair Opens
August 27 – September 7, 2026 · Falcon Heights · mnstatefair.org
The Great Minnesota Get-Together runs a full 12 days this year thanks to a late Labor Day. There are 36 new foods on the menu and nine brand-new vendors joining the fairgrounds. Highlights include Pickle Pie from Lulu’s Public House, Cracklin’ Corn Ribs from the Blue Barn, and an Hmong Corndog from Union Hmong Kitchen. We’ve put together a complete guide to every new food if you’re planning your route in advance.
All Summer: Chanhassen Summer Concert Series
Thursdays, 6:30–8:00 PM · Lake Ann Park, Chanhassen · FREE · chanhassenmn.gov/concert
The City of Chanhassen’s free outdoor concert series is temporarily at Lake Ann Park while Civic Campus construction continues. It’s a great venue — the Lake Ann concession stand extends watercraft rental hours on Thursday nights, so you can catch the music from a paddleboat. Check the city’s website for the current August lineup.
Heading to the State Fair? We put together a complete guide to all 36 new foods and 9 new vendors at the 2026 fair.
2026 State Fair: Every New Food You Need to Try →