Tonight marks Philly’s last 6 p.m. sunset of the year, signaling the countdown to the end of daylight savings.
At 6:01 p.m. tonight, the sun will set as we are halfway through Autumn and winter is on the horizon.
Last 6 p.m. sunset
As we say goodbye to 6 p.m. sunsets, we will soon be saying goodbye to daylight savings time which will officially end November, 3rd, 2024. As the clock shifts back, Philadelphians will gain an extra hour of sleep, but this also means evening light will vanish earlier. Indeed, sunsets will start to fall closer to 5 p.m. or even earlier as winter approaches.
Specifically, daylight savings was established to make better use of dating during the longer days of summer (spring forward, fall back). In fact, the concept was invented by one very famous Philadelphian, Benjamin Franklin.
With the end of DST, it is the official start of what many consider to be the winter season for light, bringing forth shorter days and longer, darker nights.
With the last 6 p.m. sunset, and only days from the end of daylight savings, longer, darker nights will become the norm in Philly. Moreover, this change will also impact many things including community patterns, everyday routines, and of course outdoor activities.
Tonight, the sun will officially set for the last time until spring 2025 at 6:01 pm ET.
Still plenty to do
Undeniably, for many people the earlier sunset can have an impact on mood. However, there’s still plenty to do in Philly and ways to positively adapt with the change.
Philadelphia is home to plenty of outdoor night markets like Christmas Village in love park, Winterfest on the waterfront, as well as the first outdoor food truck marketplace.
Additionally, Philly offers many great indoor activities like candlelight concerts, big-name musical concerts, and sports games.
So, take a moment tonight to appreciate the 6 p.m. sunset, as it’s the last one you’ll see until spring.
Starting next week, the landscape of light in Philly will shift to a more wintery rhythm, with the sun sinking earlier and the city adapting once again to darker, cooler days ahead.