Fun + notable dates (2020-21)

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. In 2019, this was one of the most popular posts on the blog. Since I’m just getting around to updating it for 2020, I’ve extended this edition through 2021—including downloadable PDFs to keep at your fingertips!

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 communications plan or content calendar. 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, Jan.-Dec. 2020
» Click here to download a print-friendly PDF version, Jan.-Dec. 2021 – REVISED Dec. 30, 2020!

Calendar of fun + notable holidays (June 2020 – December 2021)

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

JUNE 2020

• Pride Month
• 05: National Donut/Doughnut Day* (1st Friday)
• 05: World Environment 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: Native American Citizenship Day
• 15: Nature Photography Day
• 20: World Refugee Day 
• 20: First Day of Summer* (Northern Hemisphere)
• 21: Father’s Day (3rd Sunday)
• 21: International Day of Yoga 
• 21: National Selfie Day
• 22: World Rainforest Day 
• 30: Social Media Day

JULY 2020

• 04: Independence Day
• 07: Global Forgiveness Day
• 11: World Population Day
• 14: Shark Awareness Day
• 17: World Emoji Day
• 18: Nelson Mandela International Day 
• 19: National Ice Cream Day* (Third Sunday)
• 26: Parent’s Day*
• 28: World Hepatitis Day 
• 29: Global Tiger Day 
• 30: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 
• 30: International Day of Friendship

AUGUST 2020

• 01: Campfire Day* (1st Saturday)
• 02: National Friendship Day* (1st Sunday)
• 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 
• 17: National Nonprofit Day
• 19: World Humanitarian Day 
• 21: Statehood Day*† (3rd Friday)
• 21: Senior Citizens Day
• 24: National Waffle Day
• 26: International Dog Day 

SEPTEMBER 2020

• 04: World Sexual Health Day
• 05: International Bacon Day*
• 05: International Day of Charity 
• 05: International Bacon Day
• 07: Labor Day* (1st Monday)
• 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* (Northern Hemisphere)
• 22: World Rhino Day 
• 26: National Hunting & Fishing Day* (4th Saturday)
• 27: World Rivers Day* (4th Sunday) 
• 29: National Coffee Day

OCTOBER 2020

• National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
• Pro Bono Week* (last week of October)
• 01: International Coffee Day
• 01: World Vegetarian Day
• 03: Be the Change Day* (1st Saturday)
• 04: National Taco Day
• 04: World Animal Day
• 05: World Habitat Day* (1st Monday)
• 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: Indigenous Peoples Day* (2nd Monday)
• 12: World Arthritis Day
• 16: Boss’s Day
• 16: World Food Day 
• 16: Global Cat Day 
• 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 
• 24: Make A Difference Day* (4th Saturday)
• 29: World Internet Day 
• 31: Halloween

NOVEMBER 2020

• 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: National Philanthropy Day
• 16: International Day for Tolerance
• 19: World Philosophy Day* (3rd Thursday)
• 19: World Toilet Day 
• 20: Universal Children’s Day 
• 21: National Adoption Day*
• 21: National Family Volunteer Day* (Saturday before Thanksgiving)
• 25: Int’l Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women
• 26: Thanksgiving* (USA; 4th Thursday)
• 27: Black Friday* (the Friday after Thanksgiving)
• 28: Small Business Saturday* (Sat. after Thanksgiving)
• 30: Cyber Monday* (the Monday after Thanksgiving)

DECEMBER 2020

• 01: World AIDS Day
• 01: 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 
• 10: Hanukkah* (10-18)
• 11: International Mountain Day 
• 18: International Migrants Day 
• 18: Bake Cookies Day
• 21: First Day of Winter* (Northern Hemisphere)
• 21: Crossword Puzzle Day
• 23: Festivus
• 25: Christmas Day
• 28: Card Playing Day
• 30: Bacon Day

» Click here to download a print-friendly PDF version, Jan.-Dec. 2020
» Click here to download a print-friendly PDF version, Jan.-Dec. 2021 – REVISED Dec. 30, 2020!

JANUARY 2021

• National Mentoring Month
• 01: New Year’s Day
• 14: Dress Up Your Pet Day
• 16: National Religious Freedom Day
• 17: World Religion Day* (3rd Sunday)
• 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day* (3rd Monday)
• 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service*
• 21: National Hugging Day
• 25: Community Manager Appreciation Day* (4th Monday)
• 27: Chocolate Cake Day

FEBRUARY 2021

• Random Acts of Kindness Week* (11-17)
• 02: World Wetlands Day 
• 02: Groundhog Day
• 04: World Cancer Day 
• 07: Superbowl Sunday* (1st Sunday)
• 09: Safer Internet Day*
• 09: National Pizza Day
• 12: Chinese New Year*
• 13: World Radio Day 
• 14: Valentine’s Day 
• 15: President’s Day* (3rd Monday)
• 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day (USA)
• 20: World Whale Day* (3rd Saturday)
• 20: World Day of Social Justice
• 23: World Spay Day* (4th Tuesday)
• 25: Digital Learning Day*
• 27: International Polar Bear Day 
• 28: Rare Disease Day 

MARCH 2021

• 03: World Wildlife Day 
• 05: National Employee Appreciation Day
• 06: Dentist’s Day
• 08: International Women’s Day 
• 11: World Kidney Day* (2nd Thursday)
• 14: National Pi Day
• 16: National Pancake Day*
• 17: St. Patrick’s Day
• 20: First Day of Spring* (Northern Hemisphere)
• 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 
• 25: International Waffle Day
• 26: Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day †
• 27: Earth Hour*
• 30: National Doctors’ Day
• 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility

APRIL 2021

• National Poetry Month
• National Volunteer Week* (18-24)
• Equal Pay Day* (TBD)
• 01: April Fool’s Day
• 02: Good Friday*
• 02: World Autism Awareness Day 
• 04: Easter Sunday*
• 04: Hug a Newsman Day
• 07: World Health Day 
• 10: National Siblings Day
• 12: International Day for Street Children 
• 14: World Dolphin Day 
• 15: Microvolunteering Day
• 15: World Art Day 
• 15: National High Five Day* (3rd Thursday)
• 16: National Stress Awareness Day
• 21: Administrative Professionals Day
• 22: Earth Day 
• 23: World Book Day
• 23: National Picnic Day
• 25: World Penguin Day 
• 30: International Jazz Day 

MAY 2021

• National Small Business Week* (2-8)
• 01: International Workers’ Day 
• 01: May Day
• 01: Join Hands Day* (1st Saturday)
• 03: World Press Freedom Day 
• 04: National Teacher’s Day*
• 04: Star Wars Day
• 05: Cinco de Mayo
• 05: National Day of Prayer
• 08: World Ovarian Cancer Day
• 08: World Fair Trade Day* (2nd Saturday)
• 08: World Migratory Bird Day* (2nd Saturday)
• 09: Mother’s Day* (2nd Sunday)
• 10: World Lupus Day 
• 12: International Nurses Day
• 15: International Day of Families
• 15: National Chocolate Chip Day
• 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia 
• 18: International Museum Day
• 21: Endangered Species Day* (3rd Friday)
• 22: International Day for Biological Diversity 
• 23: World Turtle Day 
• 25: African Liberation Day
• 31: Memorial Day* (last Monday)

JUNE 2021

• Pride Month
• National Pollinators Week* (21-27)
• 04: National Donut/Doughnut Day* (1st Friday)
• 05: World Environment 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: Native American Citizenship Day
• 15: Nature Photography Day
• 19: Juneteenth
• 19: World Albatross Day
• 20: Father’s Day* (3rd Sunday)
• 20: World Refugee Day 
• 20: International Surfing Day
• 21: International Day of Yoga 
• 21: First Day of Summer* (Northern Hemisphere)
• 21: National Selfie Day
• 22: World Rainforest Day 
• 25: National Take Your Dog to Work Day*
• 27: National Sunglasses Day
• 30: Social Media Day

JULY 2021

• National Ice Cream Month
• National Zookeeper Week* (18-24)
• 04: Independence Day
• 07: Global Forgiveness Day
• 11: World Population Day
• 14: Shark Awareness Day
• 17: World Emoji Day
• 18: Nelson Mandela International Day 
• 18: National Ice Cream Day*
• 20: National Lollipop Day
• 25: Parent’s Day*
• 28: World Hepatitis Day 
• 29: Global Tiger Day 
• 29: National Intern Day*
• 30: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 
• 30: International Day of Friendship

AUGUST 2021

• National Black Business Month
• 01: National Friendship Day* (1st Sunday)
• 07: Campfire Day* (1st Saturday)
• 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 
• 17: National Nonprofit Day
• 19: World Humanitarian Day 
• 20: Statehood Day*† (3rd Friday)
• 21: Senior Citizens Day
• 24: National Waffle Day
• 26: International Dog Day 

SEPTEMBER 2021

• National Preparedness Month
• National Payroll Week* (6-10)
• 04: World Sexual Health Day
• 04: International Bacon Day*
• 05: International Day of Charity 
• 06: Labor Day* (1st Monday)
• 08: International Literacy Day 
• 10: World Suicide Prevention Day 
• 11: National Day of Service and Remembrance
• 12: Grandparents Day
• 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* (Northern Hemisphere)
• 22: World Rhino Day 
• 25: National Hunting & Fishing Day* (4th Saturday)
• 26: World Rivers Day* (4th Sunday) 
• 29: National Coffee Day

OCTOBER 2021

• National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
• Pro Bono Week* (24-30)
• 01: International Coffee Day
• 01: World Vegetarian Day
• 02: Be the Change Day* (1st Saturday)
• 04: World Habitat Day* (1st Monday)
• 04: National Taco Day
• 04: World Animal 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
• 11: Indigenous Peoples Day* (2nd Monday)
• 12: World Arthritis Day
• 16: Boss’s Day
• 16: World Food Day 
• 16: Global Cat Day 
• 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 
• 23: Make A Difference Day* (4th Saturday)
• 29: World Internet Day 
• 31: Halloween

NOVEMBER 2021

• National Adoption Awareness Month
• National Caregivers Appreciation Month
• National Veterans Small Business Week* (1-5)
• 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
• 11: Singles Day
• 13: World Kindness Day 
• 14: World Diabetes Day 
• 15: National Philanthropy Day
• 16: International Day for Tolerance
• 18: World Philosophy Day* (3rd Thursday)
• 19: World Toilet Day 
• 20: National Adoption Day*
• 20: Universal Children’s Day 
• 20: National Family Volunteer Day* (Saturday before Thanksgiving)
• 21: World Fisheries Day
• 25: Int’l Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women
• 25: Thanksgiving* (USA; 4th Thursday)
• 26: Black Friday* (the Friday after Thanksgiving)
• 27: Small Business Saturday* (Sat. after Thanksgiving)
• 28: Hanukkah* (28-05 Dec)
• 29: Cyber Monday* (the Monday after Thanksgiving)
• 30: Giving Tuesday* (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving)

DECEMBER 2021

• National Write a Business Plan Month
• 01: World AIDS Day
• 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* (Northern Hemisphere)
• 21: Crossword Puzzle Day
• 23: Festivus
• 25: Christmas Day
• 28: Card Playing Day
• 30: Bacon Day

» Click here to download a print-friendly PDF version, Jan.-Dec. 2020
» Click here to download a print-friendly PDF version, Jan.-Dec. 2021 – REVISED Dec. 30, 2020!

If you have an addition or correction to share, or if you found this post helpful, please be sure to comment below!

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