It feels like we blinked and the long, lazy summer evenings slipped through our fingers. Not too long ago, we were basking in those endless golden hours, sipping iced drinks on rooftops and watching the sky turn watercolor pink well past 8 PM. Now, the sun has officially decided to clock out earlier.
On Sunday, August 10th, New York City said goodbye to its last 8:00 PM sunset of 2025. Sunrise that day hit at 6:01 AM, giving us nearly 14 full hours of daylight, a perfect excuse to drag yourself out of bed early and soak it all in. From here on out, the days will shrink ever so slightly, and we’ll start noticing that familiar autumn creep toward earlier and earlier evenings.
A Little Melodrama Never Hurt Anyone
We know this isn’t the end of the world. But the shift hits hard for those who thrive on warm light and long days. The sun dipping below the horizon at 7:59 PM feels like a tiny betrayal after months of later sunsets. And while some are more than ready to say goodbye to the summer heat, still, something about watching the evening light fade earlier feels like a reminder that unless you live in Puerto Rico, Cuba, or the Dominican Republic, summer isn’t here forever, no matter how much we’d like it to be.
The Good News: We’re Not in the Dark Yet
Before you start panic-buying pumpkin spice everything, here’s some perspective. According to Secret NYC, sunsets will stay after 7:30 PM for most of August. In fact, you won’t see a sub-7:30 sunset until August 31st, when the sun dips at about 7:29 PM. That means we’ve still got plenty of evenings where you can leave work, grab dinner outdoors, and walk home in the glow of a summer sky.
We also have a solid five months before we hit the winter solstice on December 21st, 2025, when daylight is at its shortest. So while yes, the earlier sunsets have begun, we’re far from those 4:30 PM evenings that make you feel like it’s bedtime by 6.
Making the Most of the Remaining Light
Think of this as your gentle nudge to savor what’s left. Plan a sunset picnic in the park. Meet friends for a late evening stroll along the water. Find a rooftop and watch the skyline shimmer under the fading light. These days feel fleeting now, but they will keep you warm in your memory when you’re trudging through a snowstorm in February.
Because here’s the thing: summer light is magical, not just because of how long it lasts, but also because of how it makes us feel. It slows us down, invites us to linger, and makes the city sparkle in a way that feels different from the rest of the year.
So yes, the 8 PM sunsets are gone. But the season isn’t over yet. And if we play our cards right, we can ride this wave of warmth, color, and late-evening joy for a little longer.
The clock may be ticking on long days, but the magic is still here; you must catch it.