Sometimes functions are easier to use in conditional statements if converted to variables.
$excerpt = get_the_excerpt(); $date = get_the_date( 'F j, Y', $post_id ); //post date $url = get_template_directory_uri(); $link = get_the_permalink(); $title = get_the_title (); $startdate = DateTime::createFromFormat('Ymd', get_field('evstart_date')); //ACF custom field
then used in template:
echo $startdate->format('l, F j, Y');