When I was a school librarian, I would display a list of “national” events which occur during the month at our library. This list includes monthly recognitions, weekly celebrations, wacky and crazy daily celebrations. Watch for a list of birthdays in a couple of days.
Feel free to adapt the list below to meet your needs. If you want to look at other lists, I have used Holiday Insights and National Day Calendar as well as calendars I receive from publishers.
October is another full month as far as special and wacky celebrations go.
Month-long Celebrations:
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
American Pharmacist Month
Apple Jack Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Celebrating The Bilingual Child Month
Church Safety and Security Month
Clergy Appreciation Month
Computer Learning Month
Cookie Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Eat Country Ham Month
Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
German-American Heritage Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
International Drum Month
Italian-American Heritage Month
International Walk To School Month
National ADD/ADHD Awareness Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Bake and Decorate Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Critical Illness Awareness Month
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
National Diabetes Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Depression Education & Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Dropout Prevention Month
National Go On A Field Trip Month
National Learning and Development Month
National Liver Awareness Month
National Medical Librarian Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
National Physical Therapy Month
National Pickled Peppers Month
National Pizza Month
National Popcorn Popping Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Sensory Awareness Month
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
National Stamp Collecting Month
National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month – October
National Toilet Tank Repair Month
National Window Covering Safety Month
National Work and Family Month
National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month
Organize Your Medical Information Month
Photographer Appreciation Month
Polish American Heritage Month
Sarcastic Month
Seafood Month
Talk About Prescriptions Month
Workplace Politics Awareness Month
Weekly Celebrations:
Week 1 Get Organized Week
Week 1 Customer Service Week
October 4-10 World Space Week
Week of October 7 National Carry a Tune Week
First Full Week National Primary Care Physician Week
First Full Week Mental Illness Awareness Week
First Full Week Mystery Series Week
First Full Week National Healthcare Food Service Workers Week
Begins the First Sunday National Newspaper Week
First Week National Chili Week
First Full Week Spinning & Weaving Week
First Weekend National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend
Week 2 Fire Prevention Week
Week 2 Pet Peeve Week
Second Week National Work At Home Week
Week of Second Wednesday Emergency Nurses Week
Week of October 10th National Metric Week
Starts 2nd Monday National School Lunch Week
Oct. 14 – 20 Earth Sciences Week
Second Full Week Healthcare Security & Safety Week
2nd or 3rd Week Nuclear Science Week
Third Week Veterinary Technicians Week
Third Week YMCA Week without Violence
Third Week International Infection Protection Week
Third Full Week National Business Women’s Week
Third Full Week National Friends of Libraries Week
Begins Third Sunday National Forest Products Week
Week of October 16th National Food Bank Week
Third Full Week Freedom of Speech Week
Third Full Week National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week
Third Full Week National Kraut Sandwich Week
Third Full Week National Save for Retirement Week
Third School Week National School Bus Safety Week
Third Full Week National Teen Driver Safety Week
Week of October 23 National Chemistry Week
Third Full Week National Pharmacy Week
Last Week Respiratory Care Week
Last Full Week National Massage Therapy Awareness Week
Last Week National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
October 24-30 Disarmament Week
October 23-31 National Red Ribbon Week
October, 2020 Daily Holidays, Special and Wacky Days:
October 1
International Day for the Elderly
October 2
October 3
October 4
October 5
October 6
National Plus Size Appreciation Day
National Eat Fruit At Work Day
October 7
International Walk to School Day
National Chocolate Covered Pretzel Day
National Coffee with a Cop Day
October 8
October 9
October 10
International Newspaper Carrier Day
October 11
International Day of the Girl Child
October 12
October 13
National Yorkshire Pudding Day
National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
October 14
Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day
National Take Your Parents To Lunch Day
October 15
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day
National White Cane Safety Day
National Get Smart About Credit Day
October 16
October 17
October 18
National Meatloaf Appreciation Day
National Chocolate Cupcake Day
October 19
National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day
October 20
Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity
National Pharmacy Technician Day
October 21
National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day
National Reptile Awareness Day
Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce
Medical Assistants Recognition Day
October 22
October 23
National TV Talk Show Host Day (Johnny Carson’s birthday)
Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day
October 24
October 25
Chucky, The Notorious Killer Doll Day
October 26
National Financial Crime Fighter Day
October 27
October 28
National Internal Medicine Day
October 29
October 30
National Speak Up For Service Day
October 31
National Knock-Knock Jokes Day
^ The 2 calendars I consult reported different calendar days for this event – choose the one that suits you or celebrate both.