Weird and Unique August Holidays in the U.S. (2025)
One more month of weird and wonderful holidays has passed, and you know what that means: Another whole month to celebrate new wacky, bizarre, heartwarming, and unique holidays!
Did you know that every day has many unofficial holidays attached to it? Some are huge bummers. Others are a bit too obscure or silly. And a few are just a bit…yikes. August holidays are particularly eclectic, which means you’re in for a bit of a (rollercoaster) ride this month!
Here, you can find a list of odd August holidays, along with explanations about the events, their subjects, and more. There’s also a downloadable and printable calendar of each holiday!
August 1: National Girlfriends Day
Starting off our list of unique holidays in August is National Girlfriends Day! This isn’t about romance; it’s a day about celebrating friendships between people who identify as women. Mistress Susan of Savionaire founded the holiday in July of 2003, and it has been officially celebrated on August 1st since 2005. This appreciation day gives women an “excuse” to take a break from the grind and spend some time with their girls.
Celebration Ideas:
Return to an old favorite spot. As life gets crazier, the favorite places we used to hang out with our friends tend to be forgotten. Head to one of those old haunts with your girlfriends!
Get some drinks. Whether a cocktail or coffee, at home or not, grabbing drinks is a great way to catch up with friends.
Have a slumber party. I stole this idea from Mistress Susan herself! She says, “A favorite is getting together to have a luxury slumber party. Slumber parties are not just for little girls.”
August 2: National Coloring Book Day (10th Anniversary!)
This creative August holiday is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year! Dover Publications founded National Coloring Book Day in 2015 to encourage people to engage in this creative and relaxing hobby. But coloring books aren’t just fun; they can be good for your health. Even the Mayo Clinic says coloring can promote mindfulness, relieve stress, and help you feel okay with not being perfect. So, don’t worry about coloring in the lines!
When you think of coloring books, you might think of the ones you did as a kid. And those are great! But you can find coloring books covering anything from TV shows to curse words to flowers!
Celebration Ideas:
Get – and use – a coloring book. You can find basic ones intended for kids at places like Dollar Tree, or you can do some shopping around for one that strikes your fancy.
Browse an art supply store. Whether it’s Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, or a local shop, looking for art supplies can bring inspiration and be a fun way to pass the time.
Have a coloring party. Invite some friends over for a few drinks, coloring, and catching up.
August 3: National Grab Some Nuts Day
Get your mind out of the gutter! While a lot of holidays throughout the year celebrate specific types of nuts, National Grab Some Nuts Day is a bit of a "choose your own adventure.”
And did you know that nuts, like a lot of other plants, have seasons in which they’re best? On this nutty August holiday, consider almonds or peanuts if you want nuts that are in season!
Celebration Ideas:
Check out a new type of nut butter.
Try an ingredient substitution for peanut and tree nut allergies.
August 4: National Oyster Day
Whether you view them as food, makers of pearls, animals to leave alone, or part of one of the most traumatizing scenes in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, oysters deserve some respect on this bizarre August observation!
Humans have been consuming oysters for over 2,000 years, and pearls have been coveted for as long as people can remember. A versatile food, they can be eaten smoked, cooked, or even raw—the latter of which is a unique experience, to say the least! And fun fact: Ostrea edulis—a type of oyster—goes through “sequential hermaphroditism,” meaning they change between being male and female based on the seasons or water temperature.
Celebration Ideas:
Try oysters. If you’re a first timer, follow your heart! If you’re not, try eating them in a new way.
Create homemade jewelry. Lots of beads look like pearls!
Make an oyster recipe. If you’re feeling brave!
August 5: National Work Like a Dog Day
The opposite of the Leave the Office Early Day (celebrated in June), this is a day to buckle down and get things done. National Work Like a Dog Day is also meant to give people who work extra hard every day a pat on the back. However, now that we are more aware of the dangers of overworking, we need to be careful about encouraging people to work, work, work all the time. Thanks to this new understanding, this obscure August holiday also celebrates working dogs!
While service dogs may be the first to come to mind, brave and empathetic pups also work in search and rescue, the armed forces, on farms, in stressful places (e.g., hospitals) and situations (e.g., after natural disasters) to bring comfort, and more.
As a side note: If you see a service dog in public, leave it alone—you shouldn’t ever pet any dog without permission, but distracting a service dog could put someone in peril. They’re also allowed to be just about anywhere humans can go, like restaurants, the movies, live theatre, and the grocery store.
Celebration Ideas:
Give a hard worker their metaphorical “flowers.” Though literal flowers may also be appreciated!
Take your dog out for a fun day. If you have a dog, consider an extra-long walk, a trip to a coffee shop drive-thru for a pup cup, or the dog park.
Donate to a charity that helps people afford service dogs. Service dogs can cost upwards of $30,000, and insurance usually doesn’t cover getting one, even if they’re doctor-recommended.
August 6: National Root Beer Float Day
Legend says that the root beer float, originally called a “black cow,” was invented on August 18, 1893, by a Colorado man named Frank J. Wisner. He owned Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company (which is way too long a name!) and Cripple Creek Brewing and invented the drink while at a mining camp.
That seems specific, right? Suspiciously specific? The fact is…Wisner wasn’t in Colorado when the root beer float came to be. And that brewery doesn’t seem to have existed. And for the TKO, Wisner—who DID exist—was called a “flim flam man” by his own great-nephew. But the root beer float was available in Cripple Creek, CO, in 1885. You could walk into the Palace Pharmacy and get a float for a dime (about $3.31 right now—what a deal!)
No matter where the root beer float comes from, it’s worth celebrating on National Root Beer Float Day! This tasty August holiday reminds us that things that shouldn’t fit together—like soda and ice cream—are sometimes the perfect pairing.
Celebration Ideas:
Have an ice cream float party! I’m partial to orange soda floats.
Make homemade root beer.
Head to A&W. Known for their floats, go have a mug of root beer. Or maybe two or three.
August 7: National Lighthouse Day
So far, few of our unusual holidays have involved the government, and none have caused nearly three decades—or any amount, really—of attempts to get Congress to listen. Enter National Lighthouse Day, which was signed into public law by President Reagan in 1988. This historic holiday was officially celebrated on August 7, 1989, the 200th anniversary of Congress approving an act that supported lighthouses and other means of keeping the seas safe. Then… nothing.
Well, nothing official. The American Lighthouse Foundation has been trying to get Congress to put National Lighthouse Day on the calendar ever since, and the illuminating observance has been unofficially celebrated on August 7th every year since 1990.
Celebration Ideas:
Visit a lighthouse. You don’t have to live near the ocean!
Go on a boat ride.
Watch a movie set in a lighthouse.
August 8: National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day
Sure, everyone else may be talking about National Happiness Happens Day or National Dollar Day. But I bet a few folks would be more interested in this bizarre holiday! (Also, someone left a bunch of zucchini on our doorstep a year or two ago. Now I know why.)
Did you know that up to 10 pounds of zucchini can grow from just one plant? That’s a lot of squash! So, Tom Roy, who created observations like the July holiday “Hot Enough For Ya? Day,” came to the rescue! Since there’s so darn much zucchini, why not share the wealth…but in a goofy way? Perhaps one of the silliest August holidays, this long-named celebration can cause confusion and joy.
Celebration Ideas:
Sneak zucchini onto someone’s porch. “Porch” is used loosely here. For instance, do you live in an apartment? Set it outside their door or hang a bag on a doorknob.
Make a dessert with zucchini. Don’t knock it until you try it!
Hold a zucchini potluck. Since these squashes grow out of control, you better believe there are tons of zucchini recipes for all palates!
August 9: National Book Lovers Day
National Book Lovers Day encourages people to turn off the screen and pick up a book. However, there is no wrong way to read—so if an e-book or audiobook is more your speed, go for it! Studies often show that there is no significant difference in comprehension between reading and listening to books. It’s just up to you to pay attention! On this unofficial August holiday, all you need to do is take in a story.
If you don’t consider yourself a book lover, consider checking out creators who talk about types of books you haven’t read before. Perhaps something will strike your fancy, and you can become a book lover in time for next year’s literary celebration
Celebration Ideas:
Go to the library.
Visit a secondhand bookstore.
Have a story time. As a former teacher, I can tell you: They’re not just for little kids!
August 10: National S’mores Day
The wider world was introduced to the s’more in 1927, when the Girl Scouts published a recipe for “Some more” in “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.” The true origin of the treat, though, is a bit murky. And the recipe in that book may have been – gasp! – stolen from another book from the Campfire marshmallow grand several years earlier. They called it the “Graham Cracker Sandwich,” which isn’t as catchy.
You don’t need an actual campfire to make s’mores. Growing up, I made them in my family’s fireplace. Fire pits can also be great for this. No matter how you go about it, celebrating this sweet August holiday is worth every delicious bite.
Celebration Ideas:
Go camping.
Try stroopwafels. They’re good on their own, but you can give them a creative s’mores twist!
Make s’mores. I like to use peanut butter cups instead of chocolate bars.
August 11: Global Kinetic Sand Day
Global Kinetic Sand Day has been around since 2020, when we were all looking for something creative and new. As I look around my desk, I can see not one but THREE containers of Kinetic Sand. This squeezable sand combines the fun of the beach and clay at a fraction of the mess. Plus, I’ve found that it’s nice to fidget with when I have a bit of writer’s block. (Hopefully, this unexpected August holiday will remind me to use my sand!)
But Kinetic Sand isn’t just for adults! It may help children develop social, emotional, and fine motor skills. Many find playing with it relaxing, kids often interact while playing with it, and making shapes and structures out of it requires little hands to do a lot of work.
Celebration Ideas:
Make things out of Kinetic Sand. You can even have a competition!
Revisit a childhood favorite fidget. I don’t know why, but Kinetic Sand gives me Silly Putty vibes.
Go to the beach. If you have a beach nearby, go hang out on the sand and soak up some Vitamin D!
August 12: National Vinyl Record Day
Not to be confused with April’s Record Store Day, National Vinyl Record Day has been around since 2002. Toward the end of the previous year and partly inspired by September 11th, a man named Gary Freiberg came up with this groovy August holiday. He wrote to the Board of Supervisors for San Louis Obispo County about the good that music can do. And the Board declared August 12 to be Vinyl Record Day in their area!
Gary believes that a lot of our audio history is at risk of being lost if we don’t take better care of it. In an interview with Goldmine Magazine, he says …only 5% of all recordings have gone from analog vinyl over to a digital format…. So, for our audio history, to preserve our past for future generations, I think it is very important to raise awareness of the need for the public to preserve and care for their record collections, the recordings and cover art of our audio heritage.”
Vinyl Record Day was once a nonprofit, but no longer. The website still exists, but it has been overtaken by an unrelated for-profit company.
Celebration Ideas:
Make an oldies playlist. I mean pre-1990s because that’s when vinyl was still king.
Listen to a vinyl. They’re making a comeback! Whether you like James Taylor or Taylor Swift, you can find their albums on vinyl.
Visit a local music store.
August 13: International Prosecco Day
National Prosecco Day was invented by Riondo Prosecco, a renowned prosecco company. Though prosecco isn’t the same thing as champagne (which appears to be celebrated in both October and December, so stay tuned), a lot of people pop a bottle to commemorate special events all the same. In fact, prosecco has long been a symbol of celebration in Italy! This obscure August holiday is a great day to celebrate the very idea of celebration.
Celebration Ideas:
Get fancy! Nothing elevates a meal or visit with friends like a glass of bubbly wine.
Have a dinner party.
Make prosecco cocktails.
August 14: National Creamsicle Day
On this cool August holiday, Good Humor invites “those who like ice cream bars, ice pops and other dairy desserts” and those who “usually indulge in more premium ice cream bars” to enjoy a bit of childhood.
After all, this is a classic ice cream truck treat—and you won’t have to run after a vehicle playing (creepy) music with cash in hand to get it.
Speaking of, creamsicles are the favorite ice cream truck treat in seven states, tied with strawberry shortcake and beaten out by lemon ice.
Celebration Ideas:
Create a dessert using Creamsicles. Good Humor, which makes the real deal, recommends a Creamsicle Board.
Have some orange sorbet. It's not the same, but it's an excellent option for those who aren't into dairy.
August 15: National Lemon Meringue Pie Day
Choosing this unique holiday over the other August 15th options is a bit selfish; lemon meringue pie is a top-five dessert for me, and I think it’s underrated. It’s time everyone celebrated it! The Ebenezer Maxwell (what a name!) Maxwell Mansion says that lemon meringue pie was invented by Elizabeth Goodfellow, who ran the first cooking school in America during the Victorian era. She had a lemon pudding, she had a meringue, and one day she did us all a favor and combined them.
Maybe we should rename this day after her. She doesn’t seem to have a holiday…
Celebration Ideas:
Make a lemon meringue pie recipe.
Make lemon pudding. Meringue is hard.
Get some treats from a local cooking school.
August 16: National Roller Coaster Day
The history of rollercoasters is full of twists and turns. These rides have been around since at least the 1700s, though they looked VERY different then! In St. Petersburg, Russia, people slid down an icy ramp with colored lanterns alongside it. Catherine the Great wanted to enjoy this all year, so she had wheels put on her imperial sleigh.
Let’s fast forward. After years of gravity and human power, roller coasters became more like what we imagine today, right before the Great Depression, when they stopped being a reasonable luxury for a while. Walt Disney brought them back in 1959 via the Matterhorn. This thrilling August holiday comes near the end of most schools’ summer breaks, and enjoying a ride could be a great way to wrap things up before classes begin.
Celebration Ideas:
Go to an amusement park.
(Carefully) drive down a winding road.
Watch a movie that takes you on an emotional roller coaster.
August 17: Black Cat Appreciation Day
Despite having the most common coat color and possibly being more disease-resistant, black cats are still the least likely to be adopted. While a lot has changed since the 13th century, it seems our belief in superstitions related to these felines has not, at least on a subconscious level. Now is the time to change that! This August holiday reminds us that all cats are, at their core, the best cat—no matter the color.
Celebration Ideas:
Adopt a black cat.
Visit a cat café.
Watch a show or movie featuring a black cat. What about Melissa Joan Hart’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch?
August 18: Bad Poetry Day
As long as there has been poetry, there have been bad poets. Or good poets who write a few stinkers. On Bad Poetry Day, everyone has a chance to embrace their inner wordsmith without worry about being any good.
An August affair allows ado about awkward authors and awful aesthetes, apparently.
Celebration Ideas:
Write some bad poetry.
Look up some of the worst poetry in history. Bonus points for dramatic readings.
Listen to terrible songs. There’s a whole episode of Glee you can watch about this, if you want to…
August 19: National Potato Day
Potatoes seem to affect every month’s list of wacky holidays; August is no different. They were first harvested in Peru thousands of years ago! And they haven’t just been handy as a food. Ancient Incan civilizations used potato cook times to measure time in general. Marie Antoinette used potato blossoms as hair accessories.
On National Potato Day—not to be confused with the October holiday called…um…National Potato Day—we get to pay tribute to America’s favorite vegetable.
Celebration Ideas:
Clean out your pantry. I don’t know about you, but I’ve found potatoes growing new potatoes in my pantry on a few occasions…
Make a potato recipe. If you go for fries, maybe it's a great time to make your own ketchup like you did back in June!
Mail someone a potato. Yes, a single potato. You don’t even need a box.
August 20: National Radio Day
When you think of the radio, you may think of a 20th-century invention. But the radio owes its existence to Guglielmo Marconi, who attempted short broadcasts in the 1800s, then took it a step (or thousand) further by sending the first transatlantic broadcast signal. In 1906, physicist Reginald Fessenden created something more akin to what we would think of as a radio.
(The radio has a long, important history, so rather than trying to simplify it here, I recommend checking out Britannica’s article about the radio.)
Though podcasts and streaming have largely replaced traditional radio for many of us, this nostalgic August holiday gives us a chance to honor their radio roots.
Celebration Ideas:
Listen to your car radio. NPR is still doing some great stuff!
Watch a radio movie.
Grab a radio at a thrift store. I have a combo radio, tape, and CD player. It's been a surprisingly valuable investment!
August 21: National Spumoni Day
I had no idea what spumoni is—other than a funny word—until writing this. Now, I want to go find some! It’s an ice cream (or gelato) treat that reflects the red, green, and white Italian flag. Spumoni flavors are typically cherry, pistachio, and vanilla, though chocolate sometimes replaces vanilla. However, it can be any mix of three ice cream flavors.
This random August holiday is a great excuse to mix things up!
Celebration Ideas:
Get some spumoni.
Try a new combination of three ice cream flavors.
Go to a local Italian restaurant or bakery.
August 22: National Tooth Fairy Day
The Tooth Fairy is celebrated in August and February—maybe because the Tooth Fairy is so busy! Kids lose teeth every day, so she must travel around the world all the time. That amount of work deserves magical holidays in August AND in February!
And the fairy’s job has lasted a very long time. You can find records of the Norse tradition “tand fe`" (“tooth fee”) as far back as the 13th century! The first lost tooth was a symbol of good luck, and youngsters got a bit of money for that chomper.
Then, in 1908, the Chicago Tribune suggested bringing the tooth fairy into American homes by having this visitor offer a nickel per lost tooth to make the process a little less scary.
In 2023, the average tooth cost the fairy $6.23—a bit more than the quarter I used to get!
Celebration Ideas:
Make a dentist appointment. It doesn’t sound very celebratory, but the Tooth Fairy doesn’t come more than once for the same tooth.
Decorate a tooth fairy box. Sometimes the…fairy…isn’t the sneakiest. If you have a kid of tooth-losing age, maybe a little box to set next to their bed could make it easier for…the fairy…to get in without waking your child.
Watch a tooth fairy movie. I just learned that there’s a Tooth Fairy horror movie collection. I can’t vouch for them, but I’m going to watch.
August 23: National Cuban Sandwich Day
In the 1800s, people used to travel from Cuba to Key West regularly, both for work and for pleasure. Since sandwiches travel well, those were often brought along. And by the 1860s, Tampa was all in on the Cuban sandwich.
But wait! 100 years later, Miami got hold of the sandwich, and there’s been a friendly rivalry between the two cities ever since.
The most significant difference between the two cities’ sandwiches is that the Tampa version has salami as a nod to the Italian population, while Miami's does not. And on National Cuban Sandwich Day, give both a try!
A little sandwich with a cross-cultural history and a joking rivalry? That’s worth celebrating on this unique August holiday!
Celebration Ideas:
Find Cuban sandwiches at a local sandwich shop.
Start your own friendly rivalry. What it’s about is up to you and your rival!
August 24: National Waffle Day
France’s Charles IX. Thomas Jefferson. Leslie Knope. What do they have in common?
Waffles. And this unexpected August holiday allows all of us to share in that rich history.
In the 14th century, wafers—similar to the modern waffle—were so popular in Europe that King Charles required wafer vendors to be at least eight feet apart. Thomas Jefferson brought a long-handled waffle iron and recipes from France to the U.S. in the late 1700s. And Leslie Knope wanted to make sure that we all know waffles are in the top three things of value in a person’s life. (The others are work and friends.)
With a history going back even farther, to ancient Greece, we should appreciate waffles more. What better way than by celebrating National Waffle Day?
Celebration Ideas:
Watch Parks and Rec. You don’t need a holiday in August or any other month for this.
Try new waffle toppings.
Make and compare pancakes and waffles.
August 25: National Secondhand Wardrobe Day
Have you been looking around and thinking, "Is it 2025 or 2001?" You're not alone! But it's also not surprising because fashion is cyclical, with looks coming back in vogue about every 20 years. But unlike the 70s and early 80s looks that returned in the late 90s and early 2000s, chances are more actual items from 20 years ago. Twenty years ago, people weren’t getting custom clothing as much as they had two decades earlier.
However, that also means fast fashion was in full swing. The good news is that authentic clothing from the early 2000s may be in thrift stores. The bad news is that more clothing is ending up in dumpsters. So, buying things secondhand allows your fits to be authentic and more environmentally friendly.
Celebration Ideas:
Head to a thrift store.
Donate old clothing.
Dig through your mom’s basement to see if your 90s clothes are still in a box.
August 26: National Toilet Paper Day
IF we learned one thing in 2020—although we should have learned a lot—it is that we really, really care about toilet paper. But we should have learned that long before. In 1973, Johnny Carson made a joke about a toilet paper shortage, and people lost their minds!
Toilet paper rolls play essential roles in hygiene and disease prevention, and we should know by now not to take them for granted! And that’s why National Toilet Paper Day exists.
Celebration Ideas:
Stock up on toilet paper. You never want to discover you’ve run out at the wrong time! Just don’t hoard it, okay?
Find novelty toilet paper.
Clean your bathroom. Your toilet paper deserves a nice home until…
August 27: National Just Because Day
A lot of sources say that in the 1950s…or was it 1960s?... that Joseph J. Goodwin of Los Gatos, CA, created Just Because Day…or is it Because Day?...as a family celebration during which they did things just because they felt like it. Some sources say this was all caused by a radio that Goodwin gave his wife “just because.” But all of the sources cite each other, so who knows where this all really started?
Regardless of the why and the how, National Just Because Day grants permission to do (fun and/or nice) things just because you feel like doing them!
Celebration Ideas:
Give someone a gift for no reason.
Skip down the street. Or something similarly silly, just because!
Do something you usually do as a celebration. Get some birthday cake or go to that fancy restaurant just because.
August 28: Power Rangers Day
On August 29, 1993, Americans got to meet five teenagers with attitude: The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. It was based on the Japanese Super Sentai series, which first aired in 1975. In fact, Power Rangers isn’t just based on Super Sentai; a lot of the footage was repurposed from its Japanese counterpart!
And for 30+ years, there have been shows, toys, comics, movies…there's always something going on in this universe. I know you, '90s kids, are just aching to hear “It’s Morphin’ Time!” again. Keep an eye out for another movie in late 2026 and, possibly, an upcoming new series on Disney+.
Celebration Ideas:
Watch Power Rangers. A lot of content – even full episodes! – can be found on the official Power Rangers YouTube Channel.
Attend a convention. Many of the Rangers go to comic cons across the country!
Take a martial arts class.
August 29: National Chop Suey Day
Next time you order Chinese takeout, be sure to thank chop suey. It’s one of the earliest popular Chinese-American dishes out there! While the origins of chop suey aren’t totally known, it likely came about when Cantonese immigrants used local ingredients to create something akin to the foods they were used to.
“Chop suey” means “assorted mix,” and it’s a mix of available foods stir-fried in sauce. By the 1920s, it was a popular dish nationwide. And because it became so ubiquitous, many Chinese restaurants don’t even make it now! National Chop Suey Day reminds us of one of the earlier ways Chinese and American food came together.
Celebration Ideas:
Make a chop suey recipe.
Go to a local Chinese restaurant.
Create an assorted mix of another type of food. Cereal? Candies?
August 30: Frankenstein Day
On August 30, 1797, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, later known as Mary Shelley, was born. And in May 1816—less than 19 years later—she began writing a book titled Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. This spooky August holiday commemorates the day our author was born.
If you haven’t read the book, don’t expect it to follow the version we all know. The monster is incredibly human, just like the reader is. Perhaps that’s what makes it truly scary.
Frankenstein Day celebrates a book encompassing morality, ethics, the possibilities of science, and much, much more. There’s a reason it’s one of the few horror novels many students read in school!
Celebration Ideas:
Read (or reread) Frankenstein. This may take a couple of days!
Watch a Frankenstein movie. I’m partial to Young Frankenstein.
Make something out of Legos. You’re basically creating something out of different parts!
August 31: National Eat Outside Day
We’re about three weeks away from the first day of fall, and depending on where you are, this could be one of the last summery days to dine al fresco. Rounding out our list of fun August holidays is National Eat Outside Day, and it’s a day to…well…eat outside.
But eating outside is about more than trying to get some fresh air while having a snack. It’s about community. From picnics, barbecues, cookouts, luaus…can you imagine doing those alone?
You may not need to be outside to share community, but this is a great day to do so!
Celebration Ideas:
Go on a picnic.
Cook something on the grill.
Take your lunch break outdoors.
Download a PDF Calendar of Unique August Holidays
Click the calendar image to download!
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