July Holidays and Observances to Celebrate Year After Year
Updated: Jul. 03, 2024
Celebrate all July holidays, from National Shark Week and World UFO Day to World Chocolate Day and the 4th of July!
July boasts one of the most beloved federal holidays in the United States: the 4th of July ! This month is perfect for sharing patriotic quotes and songs, but it’s also packed with other fun July holidays and observances to keep you entertained.
Throughout July, you’ll find weekly celebrations like Shark Week, Clean Beaches Week and even Everybody Deserves a Massage Week (our personal favorite!). The month is also marked by special observances such as National Picnic Month and National Hot Dog Month, which are ideal for summer grilling. And that’s not all—there are plenty of daily July holidays to enjoy. Celebrate Harry Potter‘s birthday on July 31, rock out on National Rock Day on July 13 and tap into your inner child on Be a Kid Again Day, which coincides with National Ice Cream Sundae Day on July 8.
Overall, July is bursting with both well-known and quirky holidays. Keep reading to stay updated on all the July holidays and festivities!
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more holidays, fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long.
What are the popular July holidays?
Independence Day, widely known as the 4th of July, is the highlight of July’s federal holidays. It’s a time to celebrate freedom, unity and the birth of our nation, with festivities like fireworks, parades and barbecues bringing communities together.
Daily July holidays and observances in 2024
July 1
- American Zoo Day
- Early Bird Day
- International Chicken Wing Day
- International Joke Day
- International Reggae Day
- National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
- National Financial Freedom Day
- National Gingersnap Day
- National Postal Workers Day
- National Television Heritage Day
- National U.S. Postage Stamp Day
- Second Half of the Year Day
- The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
- ZIP Code Day
July 2
- Freedom From Fear of Speaking Day
- I Forgot Day
- Made In The USA Day
- National Disco Day
- National Report Military Fraud Day
- World Sports Journalists Day
- World UFO Day
July 3
- Air Conditioning Appreciation Day
- American Redneck Day
- Disobedience Day
- International Drop a Rock Day
- International Plastic Bag Free Day
- National Chocolate Wafer Day
- National Compliment Your Mirror Day
- National Eat Your Beans Day
- National Fried Clam Day
- National Independent Beer Run Day
- National Stay Out of the Sun Day
July 4
- Alice in Wonderland Day
- 4th of July /Independence Day
- Independence From Meat Day
- Indivisible Day
- Invisible Day
- National Barbecued Spareribs Day
- National Caesar Salad Day
- National Hillbilly Day
- Sidewalk Egg Frying Day
July 5
- Comic Sans Day
- Mechanical Pencil Day
- National Apple Turnover Day
- National Bikini Day
- National Graham Cracker Day
- National Hawaii Day
- National Workaholics Day
- Work Without Your Hands Day
July 6
- Hop A Park Day
- International Cherry Pit Spitting Day
- International Day of Cooperatives
- International Kissing Day
- National Air Traffic Control Day
- National Fried Chicken Day
- World Zoonoses Day
July 7
- Build A Scarecrow Day
- Global Forgiveness Day
- International Peace & Love Day
- National Day of Rock ‘n’ Roll
- National Dive Bar Day
- National Dora Day
- National Father-Daughter Take a Walk Day
- National Macaroni Day
- National Strawberry Sundae Day
- Tell the Truth Day
- World Chocolate Day
July 8
- Be a Kid Again Day
- International Town Criers Day
- National Blueberry Day
- National Freezer Pop Day
- National Ice Cream Sundae Day
- National Love Your Skin Day
- National Video Game Day
- Oneofusismissing Day
- SCUD Day (National Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama Day)
July 9
- National Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Omelet Day
- National Sugar Cookie Day
July 10
- Don’t Step On A Bee Day
- Global Energy Independence Day
- National Kitten Day
- National Piña Colada Day
- Teddy Bear Picnic Day
July 11
- All American Pet Photo Day
- Cheer Up the Lonely Day
- Free Slurpee Day
- International Essential Oils Day
- National 7-Eleven Day
- National Blueberry Muffin Day
- National Mojito Day
- National State Fair Food Day
- National Swimming Pool Day
- World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day
- World Population Day
July 12
- Amazon Prime Day
- Etch A Sketch Day
- Malala Day
- National Eat Your Jello Day
- National French Fry Day
- National Motorcycle Day
- National Pecan Pie Day
- National Simplicity Day
- New Conversations Day
- Paper Bag Day
- World Kebab Day
July 13
- Embrace Your Geekness Day
- Fool’s Paradise Day
- Gruntled Workers Day
- International Skinny Dip Day
- National Barbershop Music Appreciation Day
- National Rock Day
July 14
- Barn Day
- Bastille Day
- International Non-Binary Peoples Day
- National Be Nice to Bugs Day
- National Break Free From the Big Three Day
- National Mac and Cheese Day
- National Nude Day
- National Tape Measure Day
- Pandemonium Day
- Shark Awareness Day
July 15
- Celebration of the Horse Day
- Developmental Disability Professionals Day
- Global Hug Your Kids Day
- National Be A Dork Day
- National Get Out of the Dog House Day
- National Give Something Away Day
- National Gummi Worm Day
- National I Love Horses Day
- National Pet Fire Safety Day
- National Tapioca Pudding Day
- Orange Chicken Day
July 16
- Ashura begins at sundown
- Fresh Spinach Day
- Guinea Pig Appreciation Day
- National Cherry Day
- National Corn Fritters Day
- National Wedding Invitation Day
- World Snake Day
July 17
- National Hot Dog Day
- National Lottery Day
- National Peach Ice Cream Day
- National Tattoo Day
- Take Your Poet to Work Day
- World Day for International Justice
- World Emoji Day
July 18
- National Caviar Day
- National Sour Candy Day
- Nelson Mandela Day
- World Listening Day
July 19
- Flight Attendant Safety Professionals’ Day
- International Retainer Day
- National Daiquiri Day
- National Football Day
- National Urban Beekeeping Day
- Stick Out Your Tongue Day
July 20
- Moon Day
- National Fortune Cookie Day
- National Ugly Truck Contest Day
- Space Exploration Day
- Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day
- Women’s Union Establishment Day
- World Jump Day
July 21
- Invite an Alien to Live with You Day
- Lake Superior Day
- Legal Drinking Age Day
- National Be Someone Day
- National Craft for your Local Shelters Day
- National Ice Cream Day
- National Junk Food Day
- No Pet Store Puppies Day
July 22
- Mango Day
- National Hammock Day
- World Brain Day
July 23
- Hot Enough For Ya Day
- National Gorgeous Grandma Day
- National Sprinkle Day
- National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
- National Women Touched By Addiction Day
- Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day
July 24
- Amelia Earhart Day
- International Self-Care Day
- National Cousins Day
- National Drive-Thru Day
- National Tequila Day
- Tell An Old Joke Day
July 25
- Carousel Day
- Earth Overshoot Day
- International Red Shoe Day
- National Chili Dog Day
- National Hire a Veteran Day
- National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
- National Intern Day
- National Merry-Go-Round Day
- National Refreshment Day
- National Thread the Needle Day
- National Wine and Cheese Day
- Puerto Rico Constitution Day
- World Drowning Prevention Day
July 26
- Auntie’s Day
- National All or Nothing Day
- National Aunt and Uncle Day
- National Disability Independence Day
- National Dog Photography Day
- National Talk in an Elevator Day
- One Voice Day
- World Mangrove Day
- World Tofu Day
July 27
- Bagpipe Appreciation Day
- Barbie-in-a-Blender Day
- National Black Women’s Equal Pay Day
- National Chicken Finger Day
- National Creme Brûlée Day
- National Day of the Cowboy
- National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
- National Love Is Kind Day
- National Scotch Day
- National Sleepy Head Day
- Take Your Houseplant For A Walk Day
- Take Your Pants for a Walk Day
- Walk on Stilts Day
July 28
- National Milk Chocolate Day
- National Parents’ Day
- National Soccer Day
- National Tree Day
- National Waterpark Day
- World Hepatitis Day
- World Nature Conservation Day
July 29
- International Tiger Day
- National Lasagna Day
- National Lipstick Day
- National Wing Day
- Rain Day
July 30
- International Day of Friendship
- National Cheesecake Day
- National Father-in-Law Day
- National Support Public Education Day
- National Whistleblower Day
- Paperback Book Day
- Share a Hug Day
- World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
- World Snorkeling Day
July 31
- Harry Potter‘s Birthday Day
- Lifeguard Appreciation Day
- National Avocado Day
- National Jump for Jelly Beans Day
- National Mutt Day
- National Raspberry Cake Day
- Shredded Wheat Day
- World Ranger Day
Weekly July holidays
- Be Nice to New Jersey Week (July 7-13)
- Capture The Sunset Week (July 21-27)
- Clean Beaches Week (July 1-7)
- Coral Reef Awareness Week (July 15-21)
- Everybody Deserves a Massage Week (July 14-20)
- Hepatitis Awareness Week (July 26-Aug. 1)
- National Marijuana Facts Week (July 4-10)
- National Moth Week (July 20-28)
- National Zookeeper Week (July 21-27)
- Shark Week (July 21-28)
Monthly July observances
- Cell Phone Courtesy Month
- Family Golf Month
- International Alopecia Month for Women
- Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
- National Anti-Boredom Month
- National Blueberry Month
- National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month
- National Deli Salad Month
- National Family Reunion Month
- National Grilling Month
- National Hot Dog Month
- National Ice Cream Month
- National Make a Difference to Children Month
- National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
- National Parks and Recreation Month
- National Picnic Month
- National Vacation Rental Month
- National Watermelon Month
- Sarcoma Awareness Month
- Social Wellness Month
- Women’s Motorcycle Month
- Worldwide Bereaved Parents Awareness Month
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experience where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
