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What Are the National Days in August? – Get Our List to Find Out!

This handy list of national days in August will give you a quick look at the month to find out how to celebrate your favorite national days with recipes, crafts ideas, and outdoor activities. 

Each time I cover a new and fun national day about August on the blog, I add new links to the list below, to gives you more ideas for ways to celebrate these days.

Unfamiliar with the national days?  Head on over to the national day guide. It has loads of information that tells you why we celebrate these special days.

August is the month for outdoor activities, as well as back to school preparation. It is also a month filled with special national days to celebrate.

Back to school bus with words National Days in August.

Learn more about the month of August

The month of August is known for many things and is often called “the dog days of summer.”

August is the eighth month of the year in our calendar.  In the Northern Hemisphere, it is getting close to the end of summer.

However, in the Southern hemisphere, during August, spring is approaching.

August was named after Augustus Caesar in 8 B. C.

Before this date, it was called Sextilla which means 6. This is because it was the 6th month on the Roman Calendar.

August monthly observances

August is National Back to School Month, which is apt, since many children will head back to school at the end of the month.

But it is also a time to catch up on some last out door activities. It is National Family Fun Month, National Golf Month and National Motorsports Awareness Month.

Syringe and needle with words Austus is National Immunization Awareness Month.

On the medical front, August is National Immunization Awareness Month, Medic Alert Awareness Month, National Wellness Month, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month, National Eye Exam Month and Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month.

In addition to these activities, there are many others to enjoy. This is the full list of the other National Monthly observances:

  • International Peace Month
  • National Brownies at Brunch Month
  • Get ready for Kindergarten Month
  • Black Business Month
  • National Catfish Month
  • National Peach Month
  • National Crayon Collection Month
  • Happiness Happens Month
  • National Sandwich Month
  • National Water Quality Month
  • Romance Awareness Month
  • National Goat Cheese Month
  • National Panini Month

But don’t stop with just these activities, with all these fun and offbeat holidays, there is more than just finishing up summer to celebrate this month.

Fun facts about August

The month of August has arrived, so let’s catch up with a few facts about the eighth month of the year.Peridot, gladiola, Anne Frank house, Leo zodiac sign with words August fun facts.

  • The birthstones for the month of August are peridot and sardonyx.
  • Flowers that honor the month are the gladiolus and the poppy.
  • If you follow the signs of the Zodiac, August 1 to 22 is associated with Leo and August 23 to 31 with Virgo.
  • Thomas Edison invented the phonograph on 12th August in 1877.
  • On August 1, 1944, Anne Frank wrote her last entry in her famous diary. 

Historically notable days in August

Historically, the month of August has many days of note. Check out these special events from days in our past.

Black and white photo of Hiroshima atomic bomb dome.

  • On August 1 in 1838, slavery was abolished in Jamaica.
  • In Philadelphia, on August 1, 1776, most of the 55 members of the Continental Congress signed a parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence.
  • Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, with three ships – the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.
  • Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • Barack Obama, 44th President of the U.S. was born on August 4, 1961.
  • Marilyn Monroe died at the age of 36 from an overdose of sleeping pills on August 5, 1962.
  • On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima by the American B-29 bomber Enola Gay.
  • Mata Hari – famous international spy, was born in the Netherlands on August 7, 1876.
  • On August 9, 1974, U.S. president Richard M. Nixon resigned his presidency due to the Watergate scandal. He was the only president to do so.
  • The Klondike Gold Rush started after gold was discovered on August 16, 1896 in Rabbit Creek, a tributary of the Klondike River in Alaska.
  • On August 17, 1786 Davy Crockett was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee.
  • Bill Clinton, 42nd U.S. president was born in Hope, Arkansas on August 19, 1946.
  • On August 29, 1991, the Soviet Communist Party was suspended, ending 75 years of their rule over Soviet Russia.
  • Britain’s Princess Diana died at the age of 36 from injuries suffered in a high-speed car crash.

Famous people with birthdays in August

Who doesn’t love celebrating their birthdays? Even celebrities are know to throw a bash. These famous people have birthdays in August. Does one of them match yours?

Image of Alfred Hitchcock with words Happy Birthday, August 13.

  • August 2 – Peter O’Toole
  • August 3 – Martin Sheen
  • August 4 – Billy Bob Thornton
  • August 7 – Charlize Theron
  • August 8 – Neil Armstrong
  • August 9 – Whitney Houston
  • August 12 – Cecil B. Demille
  • August 13 – Alfred Hitchcock
  • August 15 – Jennifer Lawrence
  • August 17 – Robert DeNiro
  • August 19 – Orville Wright
  • August 21 – Wilt Chamberlain
  • August 25 – Sean Connery
  • August 26 – Mother Teresa
  • August 28 – Leo Tolstoy
  • August 29 – Michael Jackson
  • August 30 – Warren Buffett

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List of the national days in August

The list below breaks down the national days of August, day by day. Some of these days have links to pages on my site where you can find more information about that interesting national day.

Even though the outdoor summer days are prominent in August, there are many other ways to celebrate, as well.

From National Girlfriends Day on August 1, to National Lighthouse Day on the 7th, this month is full of fun.

Mahjong tiles and watermelon halves.

August 1

  • National Girlfriends Day
  • National Minority Donor Awareness Day
  • Respect for Parents Day
  • National Mahjong Day
  • National Raspberry Cream Pie Day
  • National Planner Day
  • International Albariño Day
  • Homemade Pie Day
  • Play Ball Day
  • Rounds Resounding Day
  • Woman Astronomers Day
  • Spiderman Day
  • World Lung Cancer Day
  • World Wide Web Day
  • Yorkshire Day

August 2

  • National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
  • National Coloring Book Day
  • National CAD Day
  • Dinosaurs Day

August 3

  • National Grab Some Nuts Day
  • National Georgia Day
  • National Watermelon Day
  • Airplane Crop Duster Day

August 4

  • National Coast Guard Day
  • National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
  • National White Wine Day
  • Hooray for Kids Day
  • Single Working Woman Day

August 5

  • National Oyster Day
  • National Underwear Day
  • National Work Like A Dog Day
  • Green Pepper Day
  • International Traffic Light Day

August 6

  • National Fresh Breath Day
  • National Wiggle Your Toes Day
  • National Gossip Day
  • National Root Beer Float Day
  • Corporate Baby Name Day
  • Hiroshima Day

August 7

  • National Lighthouse Day
  • National Raspberries N’ Cream Day
  • National Sea Serpent Day
  • Purple Heart Day
  • Beach Party Day
  • Professional Speakers Day
  • Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day

Lion, smores, bowling and baseball images.

More August national days to celebrate

We are only one week into the month and have already had over 45 national days to honor. Next week has even more fun days to come.

Check out these national days!

August 8

  • National CBD Day 
  • National Sneak Some Zucchini Into Your Neighbor’s Porch Day
  • National Dollar Day
  • National Zucchini Day
  • National Happiness Happens Day
  • National Frozen Custard Day
  • International Cat Day
  • The Day to Create

August 9

  • National Rice Pudding Day
  • National Book Lovers Day – Also first Saturday in November
  • National Holding Hand Day
  • National Veep Day
  • National Polka Day
  • International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

August 10

  • National Lazy Day
  • National S’mores Day
  • National Shapewear Day
  • National Connecticut Day
  • National Spoil Your Dog Day
  • National Duran Duran Appreciation Day
  • Smithsonian Day
  • World Lion Day

August 11

  • National Son’s and Daughter’s Day
  • National Presidential Joke Day
  • National Panini Day
  • National Raspberry Bombe Day (also known as National Raspberry Tart Day)
  • Annual Medical Check up Day
  • Play in the Sand Day
  • Presidential Joke Day
  • Ingersoll Day

August 12

  • National Middle Child Day
  • National Julienne Fries Day
  • National Vinyl Record Day
  • Baseball Fans Day
  • IBM PC Day
  • Truck Driver Day
  • International Youth Day
  • World Elephant Day

August 13

August 14

  • National V-J Day (unofficial, also September 2)
  • National Creamsicle Day
  • National Financial Awareness Day
  • National Navajo Code Talkers Day
  • National Wiffleball Day
  • Colorbook Day

August 15

  • National Leathercraft Day
  • National Lemon Meringue Pie Day
  • National Relaxation Day
  • National Failures Day
  • I Love Cowboys and Cowgirls Day
  • Julia Child’s Birthday

Here is another tweet about August national days to share on Twitter

Check out all the National Days to celebrate in August at Always The Holidays. #celebratenationaldays #nationaldays #augustnationaldays Click To Tweet

Additional national days of August that change each year

Some days of the year don’t have an exact date that they fall on in any given year.  These days depend on the calendar for the current year.

Changeable national days in the first half of August

  • American Family Day – (1st Sunday)
  • National Friendship Day – (1st Sunday)
  • National Doll Day – (1st Sunday)
  • National Sisters Day – (1st Sunday)
  • National Kids Day – (1st Sunday)
  • International Forgiveness Day – (1st Sunday)
  • Assistance Dog Day – (Monday of 1st full week)
  • National Night Out Day – (1st Tuesday)
  • National IPA Day – (1st Thursday)
  • International Beer Day – (1st Friday)
  • National Disc Golf Day  – (1st Saturday)
  • National Jamaican Patty Day – (1st Saturday)
  • National Mustard Day – (1st Saturday)
  • Mead Day – (1st Saturday)
  • Taxpayer Appreciation Day – (1st Saturday)
  • Gay Uncles Day – (2nd Sunday)
  • Victory Day – (2nd Monday)
  • National Kool Aid Day – (2nd Friday)
  • National Model Aviation Day – (2nd Saturday)
  • National Bowling Day – (2nd Saturday)
  • National Garage Sale Day – (2nd Saturday)
  • Celebrate your lakes Day – (2nd Saturday)
  • National Spirit of ’45 Day – (2nd Sunday)

Hands holding IPA glasses and mustard jar and seeds with words Tasty National Days in August.

More national days of August that change each year

These days of the year don’t fall on the same date each year, although most of them happen on the same day of the week.

Changeable national days in the second half of August

  • Stay Home with your Kids Day – (3rd Monday)
  • National Medical Dosimetrist Day – (3rd Wednesday)
  • World Honey Bee Day – (3rd Saturday)
  • International Homeless Animal’s Day – (3rd Saturday)
  • World Honeybee Day – (3rd Saturday)
  • Sacrifice our Needs for Other’s Wants Sunday – (last Sunday)
  • Motorist Consideration Day – (last Monday)
  • Touch a Heart Day – (last Tuesday)
  • Willing to Lend a Hand Wednesday – (last Wednesday)
  • Forgive your Foe Friday – (last Friday)
  • Speak Kind Words Saturday – (last Saturday)
  • Pony Express Day – (last Saturday)
  • International Cabernet Day – (Thursday before Labor Day)
  • National College Colors Day – (Friday before Labor Day)
  • International Bacon Day – (Saturday before Labor Day)
  • Franchise Appreciation Day – (Saturday before Labor Day)

There are so many more national days in August to enjoy

Here we are at the half way mark. Has your favorite national day been listed yet? Don’t give up. We have lots more fun in store.

Soft serve ice cream, roller coaster and black cat with words Celebrating the National Days in August.

How about National Soft Serve Day or National Roller Coaster Day? Both are still to come!

August 16

  • National Airborne Day
  • National Rum Day
  • National Tell a Joke Day
  • National Roller Coaster Day
  • National Men’s Grooming Day
  • National Bratwurst Day
  • True Love Forever Day

August 17

  • National I LOVE My Feet Day!
  • National Thrift Shop Day
  • Black Cat Appreciation Day
  • National Nonprofit Day
  • National Massachusetts Day
  • National #2 Pencil Day
  • National Vanilla Custard Day
  • Baby Boomers Recognition Day
  • Balloon Airmail Day

August 18

  • National Ice Cream Pie Day
  • National Fajita Day
  • National Pinot Noir Day
  • National Bad Poetry Day
  • National Mail Order Catalog Day
  • Serendipity Day
  • Helium Discovery Day
  • Never Give Up Day

August 19

  • National Aviation Day
  • National Soft Ice Cream Day
  • National Hot and Spicy Food Day
  • National Potato Day
  • National Sand Castle and Sculpture Day
  • International Bow Day
  • Cupcake Day
  • International Orangutan Day
  • ‘Black Cow’ Root Beer Float Day
  • World Humanitarian Day

August 20

  • National Radio Day
  • National Bacon Lover’s Day
  • National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day
  • World Mosquito Day

August 21

  • National Brazilian Blowout Day
  • National Spumoni Day
  • National Senior Citizens Day

August 22

  • National Surgical Oncologist Day
  • National Bao Day
  • National Eat a Peach Day
  • National Be an Angel Day
  • Never Bean Better Day
  • National Tooth Fairy Day
  • National Pecan Torte Day
  • Black Woman’s Equal Pay Day

August 23

  • National Ride The Wind Day
  • National Sponge Cake Day
  • Hug Your Sweetheart Day
  • Buttered Corn Day

Waffles with fixins and dog in car collage.

The final week of national days in August

There is just one more week to come. Perhaps your favorite day will happen this week. We celebrate National Waffle Day and National Chop Suey Day and so many more!

August 24

  • National Maryland Day
  • National Knife Day
  • National Peach Pie Day
  • National Waffle Day
  • Shooting Star Day
  • Pluto Demoted Day
  • International Strange Music Day
  • Can Opener Day

August 25

  • National Kiss and Make Up Day
  • National Secondhand Wardrobe Day
  • National Banana Split Day
  • National Park Service Founders Day
  • National Whiskey Sour Day

August 26

  • National Women’s Equality Day
  • National Cherry Popsicle Day
  • National Toilet Paper Day
  • National WebMistress Day
  • National Dog Day
  • Musical Yoga Day
  • Make your Own Luck Day

August 27

  • National Pots De Creme Day
  • National Petroleum Day
  • National Just Because Day
  • Kiss me Day
  • Tarzan Day

August 28

  • National Power Rangers Day 
  • National Bow Tie Day
  • National Cherry Turnovers Day
  • Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
  • Red Wine Day
  • Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day
  • Radio Commercial Day
  • International Read Comics in Public Day
  • Checkers over the Keyboard Day

August 29

  • National Chop Suey Day
  • National Lemon Juice Day
  • According to Hoyle Day
  • More Herbs, Less Salt Day

August 30

  • National Toasted Marshmallow Day
  • National Grief Awareness Day
  • National Beach Day
  • National Holistic Pets Day
  • Frankenstein Day
  • International Day of the Disappeared

August 31

  • National Diatomaceous Earth Day
  • National Trail Mix Day
  • National South Carolina Day
  • National Matchmaker Day
  • We Love Memoirs Day
  • Eat Outside Day
  • Love Litigating Lawyers Day

Just for the foodies!

If you are a lover of all things food, I have some special national day lists that you will enjoy.Pad with spices in spoons and words Food and drink national day lists.

Each month has its own list of foodie national days and each month celebrates different food holidays.

Here are some other national day food lists that feature only food holidays to honor with your favorite recipes:

National days word search printables

Are word puzzles your thing? Be sure to check out my monthly printable puzzles. Each one features several national days hidden in a custom word find puzzle.

August block calendar, flowers and clock.

For the national days word search printables for the other months, check out these pages:

Other word search puzzles to be updated soon. Stay tuned!

Monthly national day lists

There are over 2000 national days in the year and each month has over 150 special days to celebrate. Get all the monthly lists here:

Teal bokeh background with words National days of the year.

Which are your favorite national day in August?

Pin the list of national days in August for later

Would you like a reminder of these national days? Just pin this image to one of your boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Collage with figures of sports, animals and food with words Get the list of August National Days.

Print out a to do list of national days in August

Would you like to keep track of your favorite national days of August? Print out this to do list and fill in things to do your your favorite days. It will help you plan your food and activities all month long!

Beach scene with August to do list.

Print out the to-do list out here on your web browser, or use the card below to print out a slightly smaller version of the to do list.

Admin note: this post for the national days in August first appeared on the blog in April of 2018. I have updated the post to add all new photos, and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: 1 To Do List

August National Days To Do List

Daisies with words Hello August.

Print out this to do list and fill it in with your favorite national days in August. It's a great way to keep track and plan your menus and activities for the whole month.

Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Difficulty easy
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Heavy cardstock or printer paper

Tools

  • Computer printer
  • Pen or pencil

Instructions

  1. Add your heavy cardstock or printer paper into your Deskjet printer.
  2. Choose portrait layout and if possible "fit to page" in your settings.
  3. Print the to do list and fill in your favorite national days.
  4. Start planning!
  5. Using this print function on this card will print a planner that fills about 1/2 - 3/4 of an 8 x 11 sheet of paper.
  6. To fill the entire page, choose 125% or "fit to page" on your printer if you have this setting, You can also use the link above this card to print on your browser.

Notes

Beach scene with August to do list.

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Mike W.

Wednesday 14th of February 2024

The U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, not in 1942 as you stated in the Historical Events section.

Carol

Wednesday 14th of February 2024

Thank you for alerting me to my mistake. I have fixed the typo.

Bonnie Ehret

Wednesday 6th of July 2022

Where is your Monthly Printable Calendar?

Carol

Sunday 10th of July 2022

Hi Bonnie, Thank you for your question! We have discontinued our calendars, and will not be making them in the future. However, we do have a full list of the national days which you can find here. This page contains even more national days than our calendars previously had!

We have also started making free printable word searches featuring the national days of each month. You can find all the word search printables under the puzzles tab on the main menu bar.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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