All the Holidays and Observances in October
Even though it isn't until the last day of the month, Halloween seems to take the spotlight in October. Between the costume planning, the candy corn consumption (I treat myself to one bag each year), and the pumpkin carving, it's easy to forget there are other celebrations in October—but there are actually more than 100 other holidays during the month.
October is a time to celebrate cultures around the world, as we observe Filipino American History Month, Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, and Polish American Heritage Month. And of course, there are plenty of fun food-theme holidays, like International Coffee Day, National Pasta Day, and National Boston Cream Pie Day.
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With something new to observe each day, October is sure to be full of fun and meaningful celebrations.
Monthly Observances in October
ADHD Awareness Month
American Archives Month
American Pharmacist Month
Blind Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Eczema Awareness Month
Fair Trade Month
Health Literacy Month
Healthy Lung Month
International Walk to School Month
Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
Liver Cancer Awareness Month
National Apple Month
National Arts and Humanities Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Chiropractic Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
National Physical Therapy Month
National Pork Month
Polish American Heritage Month
Popcorn Poppin' Month
SIDS Awareness Month
Spina Bifida Awareness Month
World Menopause Month
Weekly Observances in October
National Newspaper Week (October 2-9)
Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 3-9)
National Fire Prevention Week (October 3-9)
Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week (October 4-9)
World Space Week (October 4-10)
National Primary Care Week (October 5-9)
National Physician Assistants Week (October 6-12)
Earth Science Week (October 10-16)
Emergency Nurses Week (October 10-16)
National School Lunch Week (October 10-16)
National Veterinary Technicians Week (October 11-17)
National Chemistry Week (October 17-23)
National Friends of Libraries Week (October 17-23)
National Pharmacy Week (October 17-23)
National School Bus Safety Week (October 17-23)
Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31)
Daily Holidays in October
Friday, October 1
International Day of Older Persons
International Coffee Day
International Music Day
Saturday, October 2
Feast of Guardian Angels Day
International Day of Non-Violence
National Body Language Day
World Farm Animals Day
World No Alcohol Day
Sunday, October 3
National Techies Day
Monday, October 4
Child Health Day
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
World Animal Day
World Architecture Day
World Day of Bullying Prevention/Blue Shirt Day
World Habitat Day
Tuesday, October 5
Astronomy Day
Wednesday, October 6
Coffee With a Cop Day
International Walk to School Day
Mad Hatter Day
National German-American Day
World Cerebral Palsy Day
Thursday, October 7
National Depression Screening Day
National Inner Beauty Day
World Sight Day
You Matter to Me Day
Friday, October 8
World Octopus Day
Saturday, October 9
Ada Lovelace Day
Leif Erikson Day
Universal Music Day
World Post Day
Sunday, October 10
World Mental Health Day
World Migratory Bird Day
World Homeless Day
Monday, October 11
Indigenous Peoples' Day
International Day of the Girl Child
National Coming Out Day
Native American Day
Tuesday, October 12
California Freethought Day
National Farmers Day
National Savings Day
World Arthritis Day
Wednesday, October 13
English Language Day
International Day of Disaster Reduction
International Day for Failure
National Fossil Day
National MBC Awareness Day
National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
U.S. Navy Birthday
Thursday, October 14
Friday, October 15
Global Handwashing Day
International Day of Rural Women
International Credit Union Day
National Boss Day
National Latinx Aids Awareness Day
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day
Blind Americans Equality Day
Saturday, October 16
National Feral Cat Day
World Food Day
World Spine Day
Sunday, October 17
Black Poetry Day
Home Movie Day
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
World Singing Day
Monday, October 18
Tuesday, October 19
Evaluate Your Life Day
World Pediatric Bone & Joint Day
Wednesday, October 20
International Chefs Day
International Sloth Day
World Statistics Day
World Osteoporosis Day
Thursday, October 21
Celebration of the Mind Day
Global Dignity Day
Reptile Awareness Day
Unity Day
Friday, October 22
International Stuttering Awareness Day
National Nut Day
Saturday, October 23
Mole Day
National Canning Day
National Pit Bull Awareness Day
Sunday, October 24
Mother-in-Law Day
National Bologna Day
United Nations Day
World Development Information Day
World Polio Day
Monday, October 25
International Artist's Day
Tuesday, October 26
Intersex Awareness Day
Wednesday, October 27
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
Navy Day
Thursday, October 28
International Animation Day
Friday, October 29
International Internet Day
World Psoriasis Day
World Stroke Day
Saturday, October 30
Mischief Night
Sunday, October 31
National Magic Day
World Savings Day
World Cities Day
National Knock Knock Jokes Day