Before the summer comes to an end, here are some Japanese festivals that take place in August :

The Nebuta Festival (ねぶた祭り) is a large lantern float festival that is said to have originated from a fedual lord’s desire to make his army seem larger and intimidating

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEfq47cx4Ls

Yoshida No Hi Matsuri (吉田の火祭り) is known for its bonfires and marks the end of the Fuji Mt. climing season

Hanagasa Matsuri (花笠まつり) is a flower hat festival where participants dance with red flowered hats