Fun + notable dates in 2019

If you’re responsible for keeping your organization’s communications fresh but struggling to bring new ideas to your campaigns, promotions, or partnership themes, this calendar may provide some helpful inspiration.

Psst… find the updated calendars for 2020 and 2021 here!

Much of the important work to improve our communities deals with confronting serious topics, initiating difficult conversations, and having the courage and patience to commit to the work for long time periods–often generations–before meaningful change can be measured or proven.

That doesn’t mean we can’t occasionally infuse a little fun, or take a lighter approach to how we broach these topics and connect with community. This calendar is intended for nothing more than to inspire some new ideas as you begin brainstorming upcoming events and building your 2019 communications plan. You may find one or two items in this list that align perfectly with your mission, or you may find several dozen–just remember to be thoughtful in selecting those that will be a good fit for your organization’s public voice and persona.

» Click here to download a print-friendly PDF version.

2019 Calendar of fun + notable holidays

Inspiration for campaigns, promotions, and partnerships in the coming year.

JANUARY

• National Mentoring Month
• 01: New Year’s Day
• 14: Dress Up Your Pet Day
• 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
• 16: National Religious Freedom Day
• 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• 21: World Religion Day 
• 22: National Hugging Day
• 22: Community Manager Appreciation Day
• 27: Chocolate Cake Day

FEBRUARY

• Random Acts of Kindness Week* (18-22)
• 02: World Wetlands Day 
• 02: Groundhog Day
• 03: Superbowl Sunday* (1st Sunday)
• 04: World Cancer Day 
• 05: Chinese New Year*
• 05: Safer Internet Day
• 09: National Pizza Day
• 13: World Radio Day 
• 14: Valentine’s Day 
• 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day (USA)
• 18: President’s Day* (3rd Monday of February)
• 18: World Whale Day 
• 20: World Day of Social Justice
• 22: Digital Learning Day 
• 27: International Polar Bear Day 
• 27: World Spay Day 
• 28: Rare Disease Day 

MARCH

• 03: World Wildlife Day 
• 05: National Pancake Day
• 06: Dentist’s Day
• 08: World Kidney Day 
• 08: International Women’s Day 
• 14: National Pi Day
• 17: St Patrick’s Day
• 20: First Day of Spring
• 20: International Day of Happiness
• 21: Int’l Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination
• 21: International Day of Forests 
• 21: World Down Syndrome Day 
• 21: World Poetry Day 
• 22: World Water Day 
• 23: National Puppy Day
• 24: World Tuberculosis Day 
• 24: Earth Hour
• 25: Waffle Day
• 26: Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day†
• 30: National Doctors Day
• 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility

APRIL

• National Volunteer Week (7-13)
• National Poetry Month
• 01: April Fool’s Day
• 02: Equal Pay Day
• 02: World Autism Awareness Day 
• 04: Hug a Newsman Day
• 07: World Health Day 
• 10: National Siblings Day
• 12: International Day for Street Children 
• 14: World Dolphin Day 
• 15: World Art Day 
• 16: National Stress Awareness Day
• 18: National High Five Day
• 19: Good Friday*
• 21: Easter Sunday*
• 22: Earth Day 
• 23: World Book Day
• 23: National Picnic Day
• 25: World Penguin Day 
• 30: International Jazz Day 

MAY

• 01: International Workers’ Day 
• 03: World Press Freedom Day 
• 04: Join Hands Day* (1st Saturday)
• 04: Star Wars Day
• 05: Cinco de Mayo
• 05: National Day of Prayer
• 07: National Teacher’s Day
• 08: World Ovarian Cancer Day
• 10: World Lupus Day 
• 12: International Nurses Day
• 12: World Migratory Bird Day 
• 12: World Fair Trade Day 
• 12: Mother’s Day* (2nd Sunday)
• 15: International Day of Families
• 15: National Chocolate Chip Day
• 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia 
• 18: International Museum Day
• 18: Endangered Species Day 
• 22: International Day for Biological Diversity 
• 23: World Turtle Day 
• 25: African Liberation Day
• 27: Memorial Day* (last Monday)

JUNE

• 01: National Donut Day
• 02: Native American Citizenship Day
• 05: World Environment Day 
• 07: National Doughnut Day
• 08: World Oceans Day 
• 11: King Kamehameha I Day†
• 12: World Day Against Child Labor 
• 14: World Blood Donor Day 
• 14: Flag Day (USA)
• 15: Nature Photography Day
• 16: Father’s Day (3rd Sunday)
• 20: World Refugee Day 
• 21: International Day of Yoga 
• 21: First Day of Summer
• 21: National Selfie Day
• 22: World Rainforest Day 
• 23: Gay Pride Day 
• 30: Social Media Day

JULY

• 04: Independence Day
• 11: World Population Day
• 14: Shark Awareness Day
• 17: World Emoji Day
• 18: Nelson Mandela International Day 
• 21: National Ice Cream Day
• 28: Parent’s Day
• 28: World Hepatitis Day 
• 29: Global Tiger Day 
• 30: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 
• 30: International Day of Friendship

AUGUST

• 04: International Day of Friendship* (1st Sunday)
• 04: Campfire Day
• 08: International Cat Day 
• 09: Int’ Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 
• 09: National Book Lovers Day
• 10: World Lion Day
• 12: International Youth Day 
• 12: Middle Child Day
• 12: World Elephant Day 
• 16: Statehood Day*† (3rd Friday)
• 17: National Nonprofit Day
• 19: World Humanitarian Day 
• 21: Senior Citizens Day
• 26: International Dog Day 
• 27: Global Forgiveness Day
• 31: International Bacon Day

SEPTEMBER

• 02: Labor Day* (1st Monday)
• 04: World Sexual Health Day
• 05: International Day of Charity 
• 05: International Bacon Day
• 08: International Literacy Day 
• 10: World Suicide Prevention Day 
• 11: National Day of Service and Remembrance
• 12: National Video Games Day
• 13: Positive Thinking Day
• 15: International Day of Democracy 
• 19: International Talk Like a Pirate Day
• 21: International Day of Peace 
• 21: World Gratitude Day
• 22: First Day of Fall
• 22: World Rhino Day 
• 23: World Rivers Day 
• 28: National Hunting & Fishing Day (4th Saturday)
• 29: International Coffee Day

OCTOBER

• Cyber Security Month
• National Pro Bono Week (last week of October)
• 01: World Vegetarian Day
• 02: World Habitat Day
• 04: National Taco Day
• 04: World Animal Day
• 04: Be the Change Day
• 05: World Teachers Day
• 06: World Cerebral Palsy Day
• 10: World Mental Health Day
• 11: International Day of the Girl
• 11: National Coming Out Day
• 12: World Arthritis Day
• 14: Indigenous Peoples Day
• 16: Bosses Day
• 16: World Food Day 
• 16: Global Cat Day 
• 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 
• 26: Make A Difference Day* (4th Saturday)
• 29: World Internet Day 
• 31: Halloween

NOVEMBER

• 01: World Vegan Day
• 02: All Soul’s Day / Day of the Dead
• 03: Sandwich Day
• 05: International Volunteer Managers Day
• 08: S.T.E.M/S.T.E.A.M Day
• 11: Veterans’ Day
• 13: World Kindness Day 
• 14: World Diabetes Day 
• 15: World Philosophy Day 
• 15: National Philanthropy Day
• 16: International Day for Tolerance
• 17: National Adoption Day
• 19: World Toilet Day 
• 20: Universal Children’s Day 
• 23: National Family Volunteer Day* (Saturday before Thanksgiving)
• 25: Int’l Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women
• 28: Thanksgiving* (USA; 4th Thursday)
• 29: Black Friday* (the Friday after Thanksgiving)
• 30: Small Business Saturday* (Sat. after Thanksgiving)

DECEMBER

• 01: World AIDS Day
• 02: Cyber Monday* (the Monday after Thanksgiving)
• 03: Giving Tuesday* (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving)
• 03: International Day of People with Disabilities 
• 04: National Cookie Day
• 05: International Volunteer Day 
• 05: World Soil Day 
• 07: Letter Writing Day
• 09: International Anti-Corruption Day 
• 10: Human Rights Day 
• 11: International Mountain Day 
• 18: International Migrants Day 
• 18: Bake Cookies Day
• 21: First Day of Winter
• 21: Crossword Puzzle Day
• 22: Hanukkah* (22-30)
• 23: Festivus
• 25: Christmas Day
• 28: Card Playing Day

» Click here to download a print-friendly PDF version.

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* date(s) vary by calendar year
† holiday recognized in the state of Hawai‘i