Wacky and Unique U.S. Holidays in July (2025)
Every day of the year is unique—even if it doesn’t always feel like it! That’s because each day is home to at least one wild, wacky, or whimsical holiday.
July is heavy on food holidays, so be sure you bring your appetite.
Let’s find 31 reasons to celebrate!
July 1: International Joke Day
Every July 1st, people around the world celebrate International Joke Day. You know the phrase “laughter is the best medicine?” Science backs this up! According to the Mayo Clinic, laughing can relieve stress, help your immune system, and relieve pain, among many other benefits.
Celebration Ideas:
Look up some jokes to tell. You can find lists of jokes all over the internet.
Watch a comedy special. Netflix has a ton!
Go to a comedy club. Local comedians could use your support.
July 2: World UFO Day
On June 4, 1947, a pilot named Kenneth Arnold saw nine inexplicable objects flying at least 1200 mph over Washington State. Only eight days later, on July 2, something fell to the earth in Roswell, NM. Though the military initially said it was a “flying disc,” they later stated it was a weather balloon. In 1994, the government said it was a part of Project Mogul, a top-secret effort to locate Soviet nuclear bomb tests.
However, not everyone is convinced. And, Roswell embraces this part of its history—it’s even home to The International UFO Museum and Research Center!
Celebration Ideas:
Go to a planetarium: Learn about astronomy!
Watch a movie about aliens. From Lilo and Stitch to Alien, there’s something for everyone!
Make alien-themed food. What’s life without a bit of whimsy?
July 3: Stay Out of the Sun Day
Though sunlight is an excellent source of vitamin D—one of the nutrients people often lack—it’s essential to not overdo it! This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go outside on Stay Out of the Sun Day; instead, take reasonable precautions to protect your skin. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and hang out in the shade rather than full sun.
Celebration Ideas:
Make your own parasol. Transportable shade is great for those times you can’t avoid the sun.
Go to the movies. That’s basically the opposite of being in the sun!
Head to the gym. Going for a walk is excellent for your health, but doing so in the sunlight every day could harm your skin. (Though if you don’t have a gym membership, dress appropriately and wear sunscreen on your walks!)
July 4: National Comic Sans Day
The most controversial font gets celebrated on National Comic Sans Day! In 1994, Microsoft typographic engineer Vincent Connare created Comic Sans. He later said, “My original idea was it was going to be used for kids. It wasn’t made for everybody to like it.” To achieve the goal of a more fun and approachable font, he turned to the speech bubbles in comic books!
Some, including the British Dyslexia Association, argue that Comic Sans and other sans serif fonts may be easier for those with dyslexia to read. It could also benefit those learning to write, as its lowercase “a” looks like the one most people use when writing by hand.
Celebration Ideas:
Read a comic book. After all, they inspired Comic Sans!
Write a letter or journal entry. Since this font looks similar to handwriting, it’s a great day to put your thoughts on paper.
Try to not roll your eyes if you see Comic Sans in the wild.
July 5: Hop-a-Park Day
Hop-a-Park-Day encourages people to head to the park. It doesn’t matter if you go to a local park, state park, national park, or other outdoor space; just head out and enjoy nature!
But take a hint from Stay out of the Sun Day and put on some sunscreen.
Celebration Ideas:
Visit a botanical garden or arboretum.
Head to a local park or green space.
Donate to an organization that’s protecting our parks.
July 6: Fried Chicken Day
No one knows how Fried Chicken Day came to be, but one of the most popular dishes in America is worth celebrating! References to fried birds can be found as far back as ancient Rome. However, this dish has been popular worldwide for as long as anyone can remember.
Celebration Ideas:
Make a fried chicken dish. It doesn’t have to be “regular” fried chicken, though it certainly can be.
Visit a local restaurant that serves fried chicken.
Try vegetarian fried “chicken.” You could find some version of this in your local grocery store’s frozen section.
July 7: World Chocolate Day
World Chocolate Day is a great day to indulge in your favorite chocolate treat! Though we take this food for granted, cacao trees—which grow cocoa beans—are difficult plants. Not only do they take years to mature, but the vast majority of their beans aren’t usable. Plus, about 40% of cocoa crops are lost to diseases and pests each year! So, Mars, the maker of M&Ms and other candies, collaborates with UC Davis to help ensure chocolate sticks around for a long, long time.
Celebration Ideas:
Treat yourself to your favorite candy bar.
Bake something with a lot of chocolate.
Learn about cocoa production and issues surrounding it.
July 8: Be a Kid Again Day
Let’s be honest: Being an adult is exhausting a lot of the time. While being a kid isn’t always a walk in the park (except for on Hop-a-Park Day, of course), wouldn’t it be nice to feel like a typical kid from time to time? Today is a day to remember to shuck off those adult woes and norms—at least to a socially acceptable extent (don’t run around the neighborhood in your underwear)—and go have some fun. Can’t do it today? Celebrate over the weekend!
Celebration Ideas:
Remember you have free will. This TikTok trend is all about giving in to one of those random impulses we all get! Feel like suddenly doing a cartwheel? Running around pretending to be an airplane? Go for it!
Revisit a childhood hobby. Remember that one thing you always enjoyed growing up but haven’t done in a while? Do it! For me, this was making friendship bracelets. Maybe for you it’ll be a sport or belting along with 90s pop hits in your bedroom! (Also…anyone up for a friendship bracelet exchange?)
Put away the phone and go outside. Or if you can’t put away the phone, at least leave it in your pocket and only take it out if the babysitter calls. Just being outside without the distraction of social media or doomscrolling can bring back some childhood memories. Just wear that sunscreen and take your allergy meds!
July 9: Deadhead Day
On July 9, 1995, the Grateful Dead ended a tour at Chicago’s Soldier Field. One month later—to the day—Jerry Garcia passed away, making that July 9 performance the last they would play with him. Now, July 9 is Deadhead Day to celebrate the band’s most devoted fans. Deadheads created a community as far back as the 1970s, traveling to venues far and wide to see their band play whenever possible.
Celebration Ideas:
Listen to The Grateful Dead.
Check out the Grateful Dead subreddit. Learn what the band meant to so many people!
See a show by a tribute band.
July 10: Don’t Step on a Bee Day
Be kind to our bee buddies every day, but take special care of them on Don’t Step on a Bee Day. In 2025 alone, 60% to 70% of bee colonies are expected to be lost to pesticides, diseases, mites, and nutrition. And pollinators—including honey bees—are necessary for around 35% of all crops worldwide, including strawberries, macadamia nuts, coffee, and cocoa beans.
If you come across a beehive and need to have it removed, don’t try to get rid of it or scare them away—even if you’re allergic. Check out The American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) to find a beekeeper near you. They’ll come and remove the bees and bring them to a safe place where they can thrive.
Celebration Ideas:
Plant bee-friendly native flowers. Or if it’s a bit late in the season where you are, start planning a garden, even one that’s strictly comprised of potted plants on your porch, for next year.
Buy local honey. While studies on its effect on seasonal allergies are mixed (and very small), having a bit each day isn’t harmful for most people! However, you should never give a baby honey before they are 12 months old.
Learn about different types of bees. There are over 20,000 species of bees! Of those, “250 are bumblebees, 500-600 are stingless bees, and 7 are honeybees. The remainder are the solitary bees,” according to Best Bees. Not all bees sting. Some wasps look like bees, and wasps are much more aggressive. (Bees tend to be very gentle!)
July 11: French Fry Day
A perfect pairing with June’s celebration of ketchup, today celebrates another of America’s favorite foods: The French fry. National French Fry Day is a great day to treat yourself to this popular food, which may have actually originated in Belgium, not France. (Though they already have waffles going for them.)
Celebration Ideas:
Find local French fry deals. A lot of restaurants offer discounts on this day!
Determine what the best fast food fry is. Grab options from a variety of locations and compare!
Pair something unexpected with your fries. They seem to go with everything.
July 12: Paper Bag Day
Francis Wolle. William Goodale. Maragret E. Knight. What do these people have in common? They all contributed to the paper bags we know today! Wolle received a patent for the first paper bag machine in 1852, Goodale patented a bag in 1859 (on July 12!), and Knight designed the square, flat-bottomed shopping bag in 1870. Paper Bag Day celebrates all that this little invention has done for us during our school lunch periods, at the grocery store, and when giving gifts.
Celebration Ideas:
Learn about other uses of paper bags. Did you know they can freshen up stale bread?
Start a compost bin. So long as they don’t have plastic lining, paper bags are compostable! Just be sure to compost paper bags correctly for the best results.
July 13: Embrace Your Geekness Day
Even though we typically say “geekiness,” that’s not a typo (though I have no idea why). Today is Embrace Your Geekness Day! The earliest known use of the word “geek” was in Capt. John Harland’s 1873 A Glossary of Words used in Swaledale, Yorkshire, which said, “Gawk, Geek, Gowk, or Gowky, a fool; a person uncultivated; a dupe.” The word “Geck,” which likely has the same origin, appears in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night as a term for a fool.
However, the U.S. took the word and made it a bummer at first, using it as a term for a carnival or circus performer who bit the heads off of live animals (???). Continuing the story of this word would take a very long time, so I suggest checking out what Britannica.com has to say about it. In recent years, it’s evolved from a more recent definition related to social awkwardness and limited interests (albeit paired with intelligence) to something to be proud of—you like something and aren’t afraid to show it!
Celebration Ideas:
Tell someone about your geeky interest. It doesn’t have to be stereotypically geeky! Sure, you could be a Buffy fan (like me), but you could also be a knitting geek or a car geek.
“Geek out” on social media. Every platform has people you can connect with over a shared interest.
Dig into something you’re curious about. We all have things we’re kind of curious about but haven’t taken the time to really discover. Use this opportunity. Who knows? It may be your new geeky interest!
July 14: Shark and Ray Awareness Day
Shark and Ray Awareness Day celebrates these creatures that are essential to our oceans’ ecosystems. Jaws, while a great movie, didn’t do the shark population (or the average Joe’s understanding of the animal) any favors. And rays may be scary at first glance. Today is a great day to learn more about them, including why we need to care about their survival.
Celebration Ideas:
Go to an aquarium. Many aquariums have both sharks and rays that you can see and learn about! The Association of Zoos & Aquariums keeps a list of accredited locations to consider.
Get ready for Shark Week. It’s July 20 – 26 in 2025, so clear your calendars 8 – 10 pm ET/PT.
Donate to a conservation charity.
July 15: National Gummi Worm Day
Not to be confused with National Gummi Bear Day (in April), National Gummy Worm Day is for this sweet or sour treat that can be enjoyed alone, with pudding for dirt and worms, or even in ice cream. That’s my personal favorite way to eat gummi worms!
Celebration Ideas:
Try a recipe with gummi worms. It’s not all dirt and worms!
July 16: National Hot Dog Day
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC), which may have my favorite website of all time, declared that July is National Hot Dog Month, and National Hot Dog Day is to be the third Wednesday of July each year. Though it’s likely one of the most American foods out there, chances are it came from Germany in the 1860s and was sold as “dachshund sausages” (hence “hot dogs”) by street vendors.
Celebration Ideas:
Try out a specific region or city’s preferred hot dog. I genuinely had no idea KC, my hometown, had one until now.
Roast hot dogs over a campfire. A fire pit also works.
Rent a hot dog costume and run around. Because why not?
July 17: World Emoji Day
July 17, 2025, is the 12th annual World Emoji Day! The calendar emoji displays July 17, which was the day on which iCal for Mac was announced in 2002. Emojipedia founder Jeremy Burge founded this holiday to allow us to celebrate the little icons that—if we’re honest—we all use all the time.
Celebration Ideas:
Vote in the 2025 Emoji Awards. You do need to get this done before the holiday!
Watch the Emoji Movie. Don’t consider this a recommendation. I’ve never seen it.
Use an emoji you’ve never used before. Just make sure it doesn’t secretly mean something unexpected first. No matter how much you enjoy eggplant as a food, you don’t want to use that emoji in that context. (And meanings change over time!)
July 18: National Caviar Day
These unfertilized sturgeon eggs preserved with salt are celebrated on National Caviar Day! Though this food is now considered fancy and is usually very expensive, that wasn’t always the case (just like lobster!). Caviar was once a free snack in early 1800s saloons in the U.S. After all, salt makes people thirstier! As the food got more popular, farming it had to be done more sustainably and carefully, possibly contributing to its heightened price.
Celebration Ideas:
Go to a National Caviar Day event. There are at least two official celebrations (Tiburon and San Francisco).
Try caviar. Though maybe split the cost with someone. It’s not cheap!
Get sushi. Can’t afford caviar? A lot of sushi has roe, which is a general term for fish eggs, and it’s often much cheaper than caviar!
July 19: Stick Out Your Tongue Day
In the U.S., sticking your tongue out at someone is often considered rude; today, though, that goes out the window! On Stick Out Your Tongue Day, you can, well, stick out your tongue to your heart’s content.
As with many gestures or phrases, different countries interpret sticking out one’s tongue differently. In Tibet, sticking out your tongue at someone is considered a sign of respect!
Celebration Ideas:
Get an ice cream cone. It’s one of the few foods that require you to stick out your tongue.
See if you can touch your nose with your tongue.
Teach a kid to stick their tongue out. Especially if they’re your niece or nephew. It’s super fun to mess with your siblings.
July 20: Fortune Cookie Day
Fortune cookies are a fixture at many Chinese restaurants. But what if I told you they didn’t originate in China? In the 1870s, confectionery shops in Japan carried “fortune crackers,” which were essentially fortune cookies but, well, crackers. The concept was brought to the U.S. by Japanese immigrants, but because of a truly shameful part of American history—the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans in 1941—it ended up being taken on by Chinese American bakers who made the recipe all their own.
Celebration Ideas:
Get Chinese food from a local restaurant.
Make fortune pancakes. These aren’t really a thing. My first-grade teacher tried to make fortune cookies with fortunes we wrote, and things went horribly wrong. Pancakes replaced the cookies.
July 21: National Junk Food Day
July is a food-heavy month! (Don’t worry; tomorrow balances out today just a bit.) National Junk Food Day is an excuse to find that non-nutritious treat and chow down. Since you already got to celebrate hot dogs, fried chicken, and French fries this month, maybe go for something different. May I suggest salt and vinegar chips?
I take no responsibility for stomach aches that may follow.
Celebration Ideas:
Learn to make your favorite junk food. I bet you can find a recipe that would let you make it healthier!
Try a junk food that sounds like a myth. I have had fried candy bars. 10/10.
Buy some Tums or Pepto-Bismol. I don’t care if you’re 21 and still have that metabolism that lets you eat whatever. That will go away without warning. Without. Warning. You want to be prepared!
July 22: National Mango Day
Finally, something healthy! In fact, mangoes are almost unbelievably nutritious.
On National Mango Day, we celebrate one of the most popular fruits in the world. And with good reason! It can be prepared in a variety of ways or eaten raw, is very healthy, and plays a role in many cultures’ traditions. The paisley pattern is even based on its shape!
Though mangos are related to pistachios and cashews, mango allergies are very rare, even for those with tree nut allergies, so long as they don’t eat the seed. But you should always talk to your doctor before trying something you could have a reaction to.
Celebration Ideas:
Try a new mango recipe. Mango.org has you covered, whether you want a baked good, condiment, soup, or just about anything else!
Get Indian food. Be sure to order a mango lassi!
See if Chris Kattan’s Mango holds up. He’s an SNL character from the 90s. I make no promises about whether the character is still fun to watch. I’m a bit scared to try; could you report back to me?
July 23: Hot Enough for Ya? Day
As a Midwesterner, the two sounds most often heard in July are fireworks and “Hot enough for ya?” Ruth and Tom Roy founded this holiday more or less because they could. (They create their own holidays for their company, Wellcat Holidays and Herbs.) July is the hottest month, and if social media tells us anything, the ability to withstand different temperatures is nothing if not a competition.
So…hot enough for ya?
Celebration Ideas:
Throw a barbecue. This is the number one place to hear “Hot enough for ya?”
Use that parasol you made earlier this month. It’s a great way to stay cooler if a day is, in fact, hot enough for ya.
Go to the library. They tend to be pretty cool, and they could always use our support!
July 24: International Tequila Day
Did you know that tequila can only be made in and around Jalisco, Mexico? Amazing how a drink from such a specific location can be loved all around the world—and enough to have its own holiday! International Tequila Day is a day when you can enjoy tequila—or a tequila alternative—without a reason to celebrate anything else.
Celebration Ideas:
Head to a local Mexican restaurant and have a margarita (or at least some queso).
Try a fun tequila and food pairing. That fried chicken recipe you made earlier this month could be one! (This month’s holidays really do work well together.)
July 25: National Wine and Cheese Day
Speaking of pairings, today is National Wine and Cheese Day! Wine and cheese pairings have been around for hundreds of years, possibly since monks who made both cheese and wine started trying out different combinations in the Middle Ages. Now, you can find wine and cheese together at all sorts of events, from official wine and cheese nights to even some movie theaters!
Celebration Ideas:
Find a local wine or cheese spot and give it a try.
Try a non-alcoholic wine, vegan cheese, or both!
July 26: National Day of the Cowboy
Every fourth Saturday in July is National Day of the Cowboy! Founded in 2004, this holiday celebrates the role cowboys (and cowgirls) played in United States history. Though cowboys had long been in Texas in some form—starting with Mexican vaqueros—things really took off after the Civil War when people in the South began to sell beef to those in the North. At least 25% of cowboys were Black, and while there weren’t outstanding records kept regarding women in the field, plenty of cowgirls made their mark on the field.
Celebration Ideas:
Watch a Western.
Get some barbecue.
Visit a cowboy-related museum. The National Day of the Cowboy website keeps a list of them!
July 27: Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day
Brought to you by the makers of Hot Enough For Ya? Day, Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day lets you expand your plants’ horizons. So few get to see the world beyond your four walls. Don’t your succulents deserve that? Plus, plants respond to environmental cues—maybe a walk is the key to a happier, healthier, greener plant!
Celebration Ideas:
Arrange a houseplant walk with your neighbors. Things are more fun in groups!
Get your houseplant a buddy. It’s nice to have a friend.
Buy a fake plant if you need to. Some of us just don’t have green thumbs. Doesn’t mean we should miss out!
July 28: National Waterpark Day
National Waterpark Day is a great excuse to head to your nearest waterpark—indoor or outdoor—and spend a day having fun in the waves. Many waterparks nationwide have special deals on this day and the surrounding weekend, so there’s no better time.
Celebration Ideas:
Go to a waterpark.
Play with water toys in your own yard. A sprinkler, water table, or slip n’ slide could all work!
Head to the pool. And go down the slide if it has one!
July 29: National Lipstick Day
National Lipstick Day is about more than a simple cosmetic. It was invented around 3500 BCE and was so popular in Ur and Egypt that people were buried with pots of it. But then its popularity and respect flip-flopped over the following centuries. It was sometimes even banned because it somehow implied women were trying to trick men into being attracted to them. In the 20th century, American suffragettes used lipstick to show they were independent, and its political and social implications continue to this day.
Celebration Ideas:
Find a makeup store that’s having a sale.
Ask a makeup salesperson to help you find your perfect color. It’s surprisingly hard!
Have a popsicle. Remember how those used to stain your lips?
July 30: National Cheesecake Day
National Cheesecake Day started in 1985—the same year The Golden Girls premiered. (Coincidence?) Like so many other important inventions, cheesecakes have been around since at least ancient Greece. It’s taken many forms over the years, and different countries still have unique takes on the dessert. Now, cheesecakes are topped with all sorts of fruits, candies, and more—the possibilities are endless!
Celebration Ideas:
Watch The Golden Girls. If you’re a first-timer, you’re in for a treat!
Head to a local bakery for cheesecake.
Learn to make cheesecake. There are no-bake cheesecake options, too!
July 31: Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day
Uncommon Instruments Awareness Day celebrates the instruments that you’re not likely to see at any symphony or concert. Ever since people began creating instruments, they’ve been experimenting with different options. You might find people who have found their calling in playing ancient instruments, like the Cithara, in those that seem like magic, like the theremin, and everything in between.
Celebration Ideas:
Watch this video of someone playing a flamethrower organ.
Improvise instruments out of household objects, just like you did as a kid.
Read this article by Encore Tours, which offers its own celebration suggestions! You can also discover a variety of uncommon instruments—maybe one will inspire you!
