Unlock the Surprising Variety of US Celebrations This August 2025!

Highlights of August Observances

No Federal Holidays: Unlike some other months, August 2025 does not feature any official U.S. federal holidays, meaning federal offices and most banks remain open.
Diverse Celebrations: The month is filled with a wide array of observances, ranging from state-specific holidays and national awareness days to fun food celebrations and cultural recognitions.
State-Specific Recognition: Several states, including Colorado, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Hawaii, observe unique state holidays during August, reflecting local history and culture.

Understanding August Holidays in the USA

While August might seem like a quiet month without major federal holidays marking the calendar, it's actually brimming with a fascinating mix of state-level holidays, nationally recognized observances, awareness campaigns, and a host of unofficial "fun" holidays celebrated across the United States. This compilation brings together various events noted for August 2025, offering a glimpse into the diverse ways Americans mark this late summer month. From celebrating specific state histories to raising awareness for important causes and simply enjoying seasonal treats, August provides numerous occasions for reflection and enjoyment.

Official State Holidays in August 2025

While there are no federal holidays, several U.S. states have official holidays in August. These typically mean state government offices are closed, and they commemorate significant historical or cultural events specific to that state.

State-Recognized Days Off

The following table outlines the official state holidays occurring in August 2025, recognized by their respective state governments:

Date (2025)	Holiday	State	Significance
August 1 (Friday)	Colorado Day	Colorado	Commemorates Colorado's admission to the Union in 1876. It's an observed state holiday, though state offices may remain open.
August 11 (Monday)	Victory Day	Rhode Island	Commemorates the Allied victory over Japan in World War II (V-J Day). It is observed on the second Monday of August.
August 15 (Friday)	Bennington Battle Day	Vermont	Honors the Battle of Bennington, a significant American Revolutionary War battle fought in 1777.
August 15 (Friday)	Statehood Day (Admission Day)	Hawaii	Celebrates Hawaii's admission as the 50th state to the Union in 1959. It is observed on the third Friday in August.

Diverse Daily Observances Throughout August

August is packed with daily observances, ranging from days promoting social connection and awareness to lighthearted celebrations of food, hobbies, and pop culture. Here is a compilation of various days noted throughout the month:

Early August Celebrations (August 1st - 10th)

August 1: U.S. Air Force Day, National Girlfriends Day, Respect for Parents Day, National Mountain Climbing Day, Homemade Pie Day, National Spider-Man Day, National Planner Day, World Lung Cancer Day, Lammas Day, National Minority Donor Awareness Day, World Scout Scarf Day, Braham Pie Day, Swiss National Day, Albariño Day, International Mahjong Day.
August 2: Dinosaurs Day, National Coloring Book Day, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, International Beer Day (First Friday), National Water Balloon Day (First Friday).
August 3: National Watermelon Day, Friendship Day (Often First Sunday), Tisha B'Av (Jewish observance, date varies), Clean Your Floors Day, National Disc Golf Day, Sandcastle Day, National Mustard Day (First Saturday), National Campfire Day (First Saturday).
August 4: National Sisters Day (First Sunday), American Family Day (First Sunday), National White Wine Day, Raisin Bran Day, Single Working Woman's Day, U.S. Coast Guard Birthday, National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, Assistance Dog Day, Hooray For Kid's Day, International Clouded Leopard Day.
August 5: Work Like a Dog Day.
August 6: National Fresh Breath Day, Wiggle Your Toes Day, National Carolyn Day, National Henry Day, Saviours of the Apple Feast Day.
August 7: National Lighthouse Day.
August 8: National Happiness Happens Day, National Zucchini Day, National Cat Day (celebrated variously), National Pickleball Day.
August 9: National Book Lovers Day.
August 10: National S’mores Day, National Lazy Day, National Nonprofit Day (observed variously).

August often features community events and festivals, aligning with themes like Family Fun Month.

Mid-August Moments (August 11th - 20th)

August 11: Son and Daughter Day, Presidential Joke Day, Dog Days of Summer end (traditional period).
August 12: International Youth Day (UN Observance), Middle Child Day.
August 13: Left-Handers Day.
August 14: National Creamsicle Day.
August 15: National Relaxation Day, The Assumption (Religious observance).
August 16: National Airborne Day, National Tell a Joke Day, Hawaiian Shirt Day, Kool-Aid Day, National Authenticity Day, National Bratwurst Day, National Independent Worker Day.
August 17: National Thrift Shop Day, National Nonprofit Day (also cited this date).
August 18: National Fajita Day, Bad Poetry Day, National Couple's Day, National Ice Cream Pie Day, World Breast Cancer Research Day.
August 19: World Humanitarian Day, National Aviation Day (Federally recognized observance, not a holiday).
August 20: National Radio Day.

Late August Highlights (August 21st - 31st)

August 21: National Senior Citizens Day, National Spumoni Day.
August 22: Be An Angel Day.
August 23: National Ride the Wind Day.
August 24: National Waffle Day.
August 25: National Park Service Birthday, Kiss and Make Up Day.
August 26: National Dog Day, Women's Equality Day (Commemorates 19th Amendment).
August 27: Just Because Day.
August 28: National Bow Tie Day.
August 29: National Chop Suey Day.
August 30: National Beach Day (Last Saturday, sometimes varies).
August 31: National Trail Mix Day, National Eat Outside Day.

Note: Many of these are informal or "national day" style observances, often popularized through social media or specific interest groups, rather than official government recognitions. Dates for some observances, especially those tied to days of the week (e.g., "First Sunday"), may vary slightly depending on the source or year.

Weekly and Monthly Observances in August

Beyond daily events, August hosts several week-long and month-long observances focusing on various themes, from health and wellness to specific interests and historical recognitions.

Featured Weeks in August 2025

National Simplify Your Life Week (August 5-11 approx.): Encourages decluttering and simplifying routines.
Elvis Week (August 9-17 approx.): Celebrates the life and legacy of Elvis Presley, centered around the anniversary of his death.
National Bargain Hunting Week (August 12-18 approx.): Highlights finding deals and saving money.
National Aviation Week (August 19-25 approx.): Coincides with National Aviation Day (Aug 19) and Orville Wright's birthday, promoting aviation history and aerospace achievements.
World Water Week (August 23-27 approx.): A global event focused on water issues and sustainable water management.

Month-Long Themes for August

National Family Fun Month: Encourages families to spend quality time together.
National Wellness Month: Focuses on self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines.
National Water Quality Month: Raises awareness about the importance of clean water sources.
National Immunization Awareness Month: Highlights the importance of vaccinations for all ages.
National Golf Month: Celebrates the sport of golf.
National Black Business Month: Recognizes and supports Black-owned businesses.
National Eye Exam Month & Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month: Promotes vision health and regular eye check-ups.
Admit You're Happy Month / Happiness Happens Month: Encourages focusing on positivity and joy.
National Back to School Month: Marks the transition period as students prepare for the new academic year.
National Hair Loss Awareness Month: Raises awareness about hair loss conditions.
Medicalert Awareness Month: Promotes awareness of medical alert identification services.

Scenic view of Mackinac Island in summer

August is a popular month for travel and enjoying outdoor activities, aligning with themes like National Park Service Birthday and National Beach Day.

Visualizing August Observances: Types and Connections

To better understand the diverse nature of August's commemorations, the following chart and mindmap illustrate the different categories of observances and how they relate to each other.

Types of August Observances Radar Chart

This radar chart provides an estimated breakdown of the different kinds of holidays and observances typically found in August. It highlights the prevalence of fun/quirky days and awareness campaigns compared to official state holidays.

The chart suggests a high number of informal "fun" days and food-related observances, along with significant representation of health/wellness themes and social connection days (like Girlfriends Day or Family Day). Official state holidays form a smaller, distinct category.

Mindmap of August Observance Categories

This mindmap provides a visual hierarchy of the different types of observances found in August, branching from the month itself down to specific categories and examples.

mindmap root["August 2025 US Observances"] id1["State Holidays"] id1a["Colorado Day (Aug 1)"] id1b["Victory Day (RI, Aug 11)"] id1c["Bennington Battle Day (VT, Aug 15)"] id1d["Statehood Day (HI, Aug 15)"] id2["Daily Observances"] id2a["Fun & Quirky"] id2a1["National Ice Cream Sandwich Day (Aug 2)"] id2a2["Left-Handers Day (Aug 13)"] id2a3["National Tell a Joke Day (Aug 16)"] id2a4["Just Because Day (Aug 27)"] id2b["Food & Drink"] id2b1["Homemade Pie Day (Aug 1)"] id2b2["National Watermelon Day (Aug 3)"] id2b3["National S'mores Day (Aug 10)"] id2b4["National Waffle Day (Aug 24)"] id2c["Awareness & Causes"] id2c1["World Lung Cancer Day (Aug 1)"] id2c2["National Minority Donor Awareness Day (Aug 1)"] id2c3["World Humanitarian Day (Aug 19)"] id2c4["Women's Equality Day (Aug 26)"] id2d["Social & Family"] id2d1["National Girlfriends Day (Aug 1)"] id2d2["Friendship Day (Aug 3)"] id2d3["National Sisters Day (Aug 4)"] id2d4["Son and Daughter Day (Aug 11)"] id2e["Cultural & Historical"] id2e1["US Coast Guard Birthday (Aug 4)"] id2e2["National Aviation Day (Aug 19)"] id2e3["National Park Service Birthday (Aug 25)"] id2e4["Lammas Day (Aug 1)"] id3["Weekly Observances"] id3a["National Simplify Your Life Week"] id3b["Elvis Week"] id3c["National Aviation Week"] id3d["World Water Week"] id4["Monthly Themes"] id4a["National Wellness Month"] id4b["Family Fun Month"] id4c["National Immunization Awareness Month"] id4d["National Black Business Month"] id4e["National Eye Exam Month"]

The mindmap illustrates how August observances branch into distinct categories like official State Holidays, varied Daily Observances (further broken down by type like 'Fun', 'Food', 'Awareness'), dedicated Weekly events, and overarching Monthly Themes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are there any federal holidays in August 2025?

No, there are no official U.S. federal holidays in August. Federal government offices, the U.S. Postal Service, and most banks operate as usual throughout the month. The next federal holiday after Independence Day (July 4th) is Labor Day, which falls on the first Monday in September.

What's the difference between a holiday and an observance?

A "holiday" typically implies a day off work or school, especially federal or state holidays where government offices and sometimes private businesses close (e.g., Christmas, Thanksgiving). An "observance" is a day designated to recognize or raise awareness about a particular event, cause, or group, but it usually doesn't involve widespread closures (e.g., National Dog Day, World Lung Cancer Day, National Aviation Day). August is full of observances but lacks federal holidays.

Are businesses generally closed for the state holidays in August?

Closure policies for state holidays vary. State government offices in Rhode Island, Vermont, and Hawaii are typically closed on Victory Day, Bennington Battle Day, and Statehood Day, respectively. Colorado Day is an official observance, but state offices may remain open. Private businesses are usually not required to close on state holidays, and whether they do often depends on the specific business and local custom. It's best to check locally for specific closures.

Where do all the "National Day" observances come from?

Many of the unofficial "National Days" (like National Ice Cream Sandwich Day or National Dog Day) originate from various sources. Some are created by companies for marketing purposes, others by enthusiast groups, non-profit organizations to raise awareness, or individuals. Websites like National Day Calendar track and sometimes even register these days. While they lack official government status, many gain popularity through social media and cultural adoption.