July Holidays to Celebrate

Sunshine, fireworks, and backyard BBQs aren’t the only things heating up July—this month is also packed with some of the quirkiest and fun “National Days” you’ve probably never heard of. From honoring the humble hot dog to celebrating the joy of mechanical pencils, July’s offbeat holidays are are sure to bring summer fun and smiles!

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Below you’ll find a bunch of fun ideas to go along with the quirky July holidays to celebrate—perfect for sprinkling a little extra joy into your summer! Pick a few favorites or choose one each week to add to your activity calendar or jar (if you keep one). Be sure to download the free planning page for July halfway down my homepage! Cue the confetti, let’s go!

July Holidays – Week 1

• 7/1 National U.S. Postage Stamp Day – Sometimes the smallest things tell the biggest stories! Did you know the first U.S. postage stamps were issued in 1847—and featured Benjamin Franklin and George Washington? Here’s a fun table question: What do you think deserves to be on a postage stamp today? A person? An invention? A favorite animal? Design your own stamp or discover which U.S. stamp became the most famous in history.
• 7/2 Made in America Day – Take a quick scavenger hunt around your home! How many items can you find that were made in the USA? Then compare them to products made around the world. It’s a fun way to talk about manufacturing, jobs, and how everyday items make their way to our homes. To learn more about how the world works, check out The Everyday Journeys of Ordinary Things.
• 7/3 International Drop a Rock Day – For the last eleven years, thousands of people around the world go on a rock hunt while thousands more make what is being searched for. Both makers and searchers have one thing in common — they have fun and share kindness. Check out Rock Painting 101 for ideas and tips for your own rock creations!
• 7/4 Independence Day – This Fourth of July is extra special—it’s the beginning of America’s 250th birthday celebration! On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, setting the stage for the birth of a new nation. Over the next year, communities across the country will commemorate this milestone with special events, exhibits, and celebrations leading up to the 250th anniversary. History isn’t just something we study – it’s something we’re part of!

July Holidays – Week 2

• 7/5 Mechanical Pencil Day – A mechanical pencil may seem ordinary, but it’s actually a clever little engineering marvel! Take one apart (carefully) and see how the lead advances without sharpening. Then ask your kids: Would you rather live in a world with no pencils or no pens? You might be surprised by the debate!
• 7/6 National Air Traffic Control Day – Every day, thousands of airplanes safely take off, land, and crisscross the skies thanks to air traffic controllers. Head outside for a few minutes and see how many planes you can spot overhead, then pull up a flight tracker to discover where they’re coming from and where they’re headed. It’s a fun way to explore geography, aviation, and the teamwork that keeps us all moving safely.
• 7/7 World Chocolate Day – Now this is a day worth celebrating every day! Enjoy your favorite chocolate treat while learning where it comes from, or compare milk, dark, and white chocolate to discover what makes each one different.
• 7/8 National Freezer Pop Day – Nothing says summer like a freezer pop! Make your own using fruit juice, lemonade, or even yogurt. Then experiment: Which liquids freeze the fastest? A tasty science lesson is hard to beat.
• 7/9 National Sugar Cookie Day – Sugar cookies might feel like a simple modern treat, but they actually have a long history that stretches back to 18th-century European baking traditions. German settlers in Pennsylvania are often credited with popularizing the early American version, which became known as the “Nazareth cookie.” These cookies were originally cut into simple shapes and were sometimes made for holidays, celebrations, or special gatherings—long before they became the colorful, frosted designs we know today.
• 7/10 Blueberry Picking Day – Whether you visit a local berry farm or grab a carton from the grocery store, blueberries are packed with flavor and nutrition. See how many ways you can enjoy them today—fresh, frozen, in smoothies, or sprinkled on pancakes.
• 7/11 National Blueberry Muffin Day – Yesterday you picked the blueberries…today, put them to good use! Bake a batch of blueberry muffins together and let everyone rate them on taste, texture, and appearance like judges on a baking show.

July Holidays – Week 3

• 7/12 Paper Bag Day – It’s easy to overlook everyday objects, but the paper bag has quite a story! Invented in the 1800’s and later redesigned with a flat bottom, it made carrying groceries and goods much easier—and it’s still a familiar sight today. Today’s conversation starter: When you’re shopping, is it better to choose paper, plastic, or a reusable bag? Spend a few minutes researching the pros and cons of each, then decide what makes the most sense for your family.
• 7/13 National French Fry Day – French fries have a surprisingly debated history—Belgium and France both claim them as their own! Try a “fry tasting” at home (crinkle, shoestring, waffle, baked vs. fried if you want to go all in) and vote on favorites.
• 7/14 Shark Awareness Day – Sharks aren’t just ocean “villains”—they’re essential for keeping marine ecosystems balanced. Pick one species (like hammerhead, great white, or whale shark) and learn one surprising fact about it.
• 7/15 National Gummi Worm Day -Who knew candy could teach science? Gummi worms are a fun reminder that chemistry is happening all around us—even in your favorite treats! From polymers and gelatin to the science behind texture and flavor, there’s more going on than meets the eye. If you’re looking for a sweet way to sneak science into your homeschool, Candy Experiments is one of my favorite resources, and explains scientific concepts through fun, hands-on experiments.
• 7/16 Guinea Pig Appreciation Day – I’ll admit it…I’ve entertained the idea of adding a guinea pig to our homeschool more than once! They seem like the perfect class pet—gentle, social, and always ready with an adorable squeak. However, I’ve managed to resist.
• 7/17 World Emoji Day – Emojis have definitely changed how we communicate! Check out this video for a brief history and explanation – and find out why the calendar emoji is what it is! Challenge: write a sentence using only emojis, then swap with someone else to “translate” it back into words.
• 7/18 National Sour Candy Day – Why do some people love sour while others avoid it completely? (I avoid it)! If you want a quick experiment today, try rating sour candies (or sour fruits like lemons or green apples) on a scale from “pleasant tang” to “instant reaction.”

July Holidays – Week 4

• 7/19 National Words with Friends Day – Words are powerful—and sometimes they’re just plain fun! Whether it’s Scrabble, Words with Friends, or a quick homemade word game, today is all about language play. Challenge idea: Give everyone the same 7 letters and see who can make the longest word…or the silliest one.
• 7/20 National Moon Day – Here’s a fun way to celebrate! Grab a box of MoonPies (or even a package of Oreos), download a free moon lesson for your elementary learners from Journey Homeschool Academy, and bring the learning to life with a Moon in My Room! We had one of these years ago, and it was one of those homeschool purchases that was actually worth it. Seeing the moon’s phases light up on your bedroom wall makes learning about our closest celestial neighbor so much more memorable.
• 7/21 National Junk Food Day – Today is a fun excuse to talk about balance—not just in diet, but in life. Junk food can be a treat, but it also opens the door to conversations about nutrition, energy, and how our bodies feel after different foods.
• 7/22 World Brain Day – One of my favorite daily habits is completing a quick brain workout with the Elevate app. It’s a fun way to challenge memory, reading, writing, math, and critical thinking—and I think your teens would enjoy it, too!
• 7/23 Hot Enough for Ya Day -No explanation needed for this one—it speaks for itself in the middle of summer!
• 7/24 Amelia Earhart Day – Amelia Earhart is remembered for her courage, determination, and love of adventure. She showed the world that curiosity and perseverance can take you to incredible places—even when the journey isn’t easy. If you’re looking for a great way to introduce her story to your homeschoolers, I highly recommend The Extraordinary Life of Amelia Earhart. It’s a wonderful addition to your history shelf!
• 7/25 National Carousel Day – Did you know that early 19th-century American physicians actually recommended riding carousels as a way to improve blood circulation? Talk about a fun prescription! Carousels have delighted riders for generations, and their history is full of fascinating stories, beautiful craftsmanship, and surprising facts.

July Holidays – Week 5

• 7/26 National Parent’s Day – Homeschooling has a way of reminding us that the days are long, but the years are short. Today is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the parents, grandparents, and caregivers who pour so much of themselves into raising the next generation.
• 7/27 National Sleepy Head Day – Need an excuse to sleep in? This quirky holiday has its roots in Finland, where National Sleepy Head Day grew out of a medieval tradition. According to custom, the last person out of bed was playfully dubbed the “sleepy head” and, in some celebrations, even tossed into the water to wash away the evil of laziness!
• 7/28 National Waterpark Day – From gravity-powered slides to wave pools and lazy rivers, waterparks are full of examples of physics in action. Which attraction do you think requires the most engineering to build?
• 7/29 International Tiger Day – If you could paint any animal in a Rousseau-style jungle, what would you choose? Create your own Henri Rousseau-inspired tiger collage today!
• 7/30 Paperback Book Day – Pick up a favorite paperback, visit your local library, or finally start the book that’s been sitting on your shelf! (I’ve got several!)
• 7/31 National Cotton Candy Day – Whether you indulge today or simply admire the process, it’s a fun reminder that science can be delicious!

July Birthdays

Birthdays are special and worth celebrating—even for people who lived long ago. This month brings a wide variety of notable figures, from the inventor of the Rubik’s Cube to the author of Harry Potter. Maybe you’ll curl up with Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea for a quick summer read, or introduce your kids to E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web for the first time. Summer is also a great time to take lots of photos, thanks to George Eastman, the inventor of the Kodak camera. I love the Who Was series and the Lives Of series for learning more about notable people from the past—and, of course, there’s always the local library!