August Holidays to Celebrate

August often means one thing: back to school. For some, it’s a total drag. For others, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! (It all depends on your perspective.) If you’re someone who dreads the daily grind of living on someone else’s schedule -as in public or private schools, check out my recent post, Thinking of Homeschooling – Are You Crazy?, and hop on the crazy train. Spoiler alert: before long, you might just realize that anything but home education is crazy.

Okay, okay—I’ll step off my soapbox now and get to the fun stuff: August holidays to celebrate! And let me tell you, there are some gems this month—coloring books, s’mores, sand, roller coasters, and even toilet paper! And don’t forget the notable people with birthdays this month who have made an impact.

Below, you’ll find a variety of ideas that pair perfectly with August’s quirky and meaningful holidays. Pick a few to celebrate each week, or go all in! They’re perfect for adding sparkle to the final stretch of summer. Don’t forget to download the free planning page for August halfway down my homepage! Cue the confetti, let’s go!

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August Holidays – Week 1

• 8/1 National Pinball Day – Did you know pinball was actually banned in the U.S. for nearly 40 years? It’s true—and there are plenty more fun facts to discover! If you get the opportunity to visit a pinball museum, go for it! We visited Roanoke Pinball Museum when our kids were teens, and it was such a cool experience!
• 8/1 National Water Balloon Day – Water balloons are fun, but messy! Now there are reusable water balloons? Count me in!
• 8/2 National Coloring Book Day – I have quite a collection of coloring books – I’m so glad they made a comeback in recent years! There are so many benefits in coloring from wee ones to adults! PaperPie has great quality ones for those wee ones and even adults!
• 8/2 National Sunflower Day – Check out all these fantastic sunflower art projects at Moms & Crafters!

August Holidays – Week 2

• 8/3 National Watermelon Day – Have you ever seen a watermelon explode? Give this experiment a try today! Physics, forces and flying fruit!
• 8/4 Hooray for Kids Day – Celebrate Hooray for Kids Day by soaking in the wonder, joy, and boundless energy the children in your life bring to the world!
• 8/7 National Lighthouse Day – I’ve had the opportunity to climb the steps of three lighthouses! There’s nothing like that strenuous trip up those spiral stairs to the stunning view that awaits at the top. If a lighthouse climb isn’t in the cards for you right now, don’t worry—a unit study is a fantastic way to explore the history, purpose, and beauty of lighthouses from home!
• 8/8 International Cat Day – A puur-fect opportunity to shower your cat with love and attention!
• 8/9 National Book Lover’s Day – “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss

August Holidays – Week 3

• 8/10 National S’mores Day – Enjoy the sweetness of summer any time of year with a flameless s’mores maker—no campfire required! Want to get the kiddos involved? Try putting together a s’mores charcuterie board. Yum!
• 8/10 Skyscraper Appreciation Day – The tallest skyscraper I’ve ever visited is the Willis Tower in Chicago—what a view! Take a look at the tallest skyscrapers around the world, and turn it into a fun geography activity by finding each one on the globe. It’s a great way to explore architecture and world landmarks at the same time!
• 8/11 Play in the Sand Day – From building castles with moats to practicing handwriting using a stick or seashell, sand is the ultimate sensory tool! (Just don’t tell my husband—he loathes sand.) No beach nearby? No problem! Kinetic Sand is a fantastic indoor alternative that offers all the fun less mess.
• 8/11 National Sons & Daughters Day – I’ve got one of each and they are the best! Be sure to let them know how much they are appreciated today!
• 8/12 World Elephant Day – One of the first things I learned as a new homeschool mom was that Asian elephants have smaller ears than African elephants. I also learned that year that only some male Asian elephants have tusks, while both male and female African elephants grow them. It’s funny the things you learn—and actually remember—years later through homeschooling! Looking for a fun, elephant-themed activity? Try making elephant toothpaste—it’s a cool science experiment with a foamy twist!
• 8/13 International Left Hander’s Day – Did you know that between ten and twelve percent of the world’s population is left-handed? How about this: Left-handed people have been considered unlucky – even evil? The word “sinister” comes from the Latin word for left. Crazy, huh? Check out other fun facts about lefties!
• 8/15 National Relaxation Day – What’s your favorite way to relax? Be sure and take some time to do just that today – the calendar says so!
• 8/16 National Roller Coaster Day – This day commemorates the first vertical loop roller coaster which was patented by Edwin Prescott in 1898. Are you a fan of coasters? I am – well, some of them.
• 8/16 International Geocaching Day – I’ve been an occasional geocacher for years, and it’s hands-down the world’s best treasure hunt! The best part? You can find geocaches almost anywhere. Just grab the app, gather your family, and start the adventure—you never know what surprises you’ll uncover! Check out this Beginner’s Guide to Geocaching to learn how it works!
• 8/16 World Honey Bee Day – This day celebrates both the hardworking honey bees and the dedicated beekeepers who care for them. It’s also a great reminder to support local agriculture by enjoying and buying locally produced honey.

August Holidays – Week 4

• 8/19 National Aviation Day – Back in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created National Aviation Day, choosing Orville Wright’s birthday as the perfect day to celebrate flight. If you ever visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina, be sure to stop by Kitty Hawk—the place where it all began! The Wright Brothers National Memorial and museum are truly amazing, and have been one of our favorite trips!
• 8/19 World Photography Day – Honestly, that feels like every day for me—I love taking pictures! One great resource we have used is a photography course from SchoolhouseTeachers.com, which my daughter took as an elective in high school. A fun and creative way to explore photography while earning credit!
• 8/21 National Poet’s Day – Looking for out-of-the-box poetry ideas that your teens may enjoy? Check out my post, Poetry Ideas for Teens Who Hate It. it’s full of creative, low-pressure ways to make poetry more fun and less intimidating for reluctant writers.

August Holidays – Week 5

• 8/26 National Dog Day – Any excuse to celebrate our amazing dogs sounds like a great idea!
• 8/26 Toilet Paper Day – This day marks the anniversary of a surprisingly important invention—toilet paper on a roll, and was first sold on August 26, 1871. Fun fact: the average American uses 57 squares a day and about 50 pounds a year! Now that’s a lot of TP!
• 8/27 Just Because Day – Feel free to celebrate this day any way you choose. Just because!
• 8/30 National Beach Day – I’m fortunate to live just an hour from the beautiful beaches of North Carolina—and there’s nothing like the sound of waves, salty air, and sandy toes! There are so many things to do at the beach for the young and old alike – whether you’re building sandcastles, collecting shells, or just soaking up the sun. Perhaps you may be looking for a fun way to explore the shore? Check out this Beach Scavenger Hunt —perfect for families or curious kids on your next coastal adventure!
• 8/30 National Slinky Day – “It walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, it makes a slinkedy sound.” Did you know the iconic Slinky was actually created by accident? It’s true! A naval engineer was trying to develop a spring to stabilize ship equipment—and ended up with one of the most beloved toys of all time. Share the nostalgia with your kids here!
• 8/31 Pony Express Day – Celebrate the daring riders who carried mail across nearly 2,000 miles of rugged terrain—on horseback—in just 10 days! Though it only operated for 18 months, the Pony Express became a legendary symbol of the American West. Use this day to dive into some Wild West history, map the original route, or try writing and “delivering” your own messages the old-fashioned way!

August Birthdays

Birthdays are special and worth celebrating, even when it’s for someone who lived long ago. This month, we’ve got quite a variety of interesting people, so be sure to download and print the freebie that’s half way down the home page. I love the Who Was series, and the Lives Of series to learn more about a notable person, and of course – use your local library!