The 8 PM Sunsets Are Officially Over in Rochester

You likely didn't even notice it, but Rochester's sunset just did something for the last time of the season earlier this week-- and it won't happen again until next April.

As we all know, living here in Minnesota, you gotta get out there and enjoy the warm weather and daylight while you can. Because before you know it, Old Man Winter will be back at our doorsteps, bringing shorter days, colder temperatures, and precipitation you have to shovel off your driveway and sidewalks.

Sure Signs Summer Is Fading in Southeast Minnesota

There have been some telltale signs that it may already be Fall, Y'all here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. First, kids in Rochester Public Schools have already had their first day of class for the 2026-2027 school year-- or they will this week. Many other districts around southeast Minnesota will start next week.

Secondly, the Vikings have already played their first two preseason games, and will wrap up the 2026 preseason Friday night against the Broncos at Mile High Stadium in Denver. They open the regular season on Sunday, September 13th, hosting the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.

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And finally, the Minnesota State Fair-- a sure sign summer is almost over-- kicks off its 2026 edition on Thursday, August 27th, and will run for 12 days before ending on Sunday, September 7th, 2026.

ALSO INTERESTING: Major Detour on Hwy 52 Near Rochester Could Affect Your Trip Back From the State Fair This Weekend

Rochester's Last 8 PM Sunset of 2026

But here's another sign summer's getting ready to hit the road: Rochester has already seen its last 8 pm sunset of the year. While the amount of sunshine each day has been getting shorter since the summer solstice back in June, every sunset in Minnesota's Med City will now take place before 8 p.m. Time and Date reports that our last post-8 p.m. sunset happened Sunday, August 23rd, when the sun set at 8:01 p.m.

On Monday, August 24th, the sun set at 7:50 p.m. And the next time it will set after 8 p.m. here in Rochester won't happen for another 233 days! We'll all have to wait until April 14, 2027, for the next time we see the sun set after 8 p.m.

Rochester's Daylight Will Keep Shrinking Until December

The amount of daylight we see each day in the Med City will continue to shrink until the winter solstice, which is set to happen on December 21st, 2026. Time and Date says we'll see approximately 8 hours and 56 minutes of daylight that day-- about 6 hours and 36 minutes shorter than the summer solstice in June.