When creating your yearly marketing strategy, it’s important to note any holidays or special events that your business can ride on. Any excuse to celebrate your business should be utilized. Maybe you want to have a special ad posted on Social Media Day (June 30) or even send a note to your clients on Thank You Note day (December 26).

No matter the day, knowing what holidays are celebrated can help you plan your marketing strategy. That’s why we’ve created the holy grail of holiday lists that is geared for small business owners, so you never have to miss an opportunity to market your business.

How to use these small business holidays to market your business

It seems, from the list below, that there is a national holiday for any reason, which is perfect for you, no matter the business you’re in. If you’re a pet groomer, you might want to take advantage of National Love Your Pet Day, or National Mutt Day and come out with a special promotion for your clients.

Maybe you have a few employees that you can show your love to on National Employee Appreciation day and show your clients that you care about your employees.

Whether they are more popular or not, marking these holidays will benefit your business greatly. Promoting a lesser known holiday will help ensure your promotions aren’t overshadowed by big businesses, like they can be on the bigger holidays like Black Friday. Also, some of these holidays are just silly and fun and are a great way for you to engage with your clientele. 

Finally, there are plenty of days that can relate directly to your business which help you market your services or products. 

Here are some ideas of how you can market your business with the help of these holidays:

  • Social media posts
  • Special promotions
  • Newsletters
  • Email marketing
  • Mentions on your site
  • Events themed by the day
  • Blogs or articles about the subject

List of national small business holidays you have to know

Little disclaimer: this is not a complete list of holidays and national months being observed. This is a list of the most relevant holidays for small business owners of all different trades.

January Month-Long Holidays

Mentoring Month

Blood Donor Month

Hobby Month

Braille Literacy Month

Oatmeal Month

Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January National Days 

Jan 1

  • New Year’s Day
  • Hangover Day
  • Play Outside Day

Jan 2

  • Science Fiction Day
  • Buffet Day

Jan 4

  • Trivia Day

Jan 6

  • Three Kings Day
  • Cuddle Up Day

Jan 10

  • Cut Energy Costs Day

Jan 12

  • Pharmacist Day

Jan 14

  • Dress Up Your Pet Day

Jan 15

  • Martin Luther King’s Birthday
  • Hat Day

Jan 17

  • Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day

Jan 20

  • DJ Day
  • Cheese Lover’s Day

Jan 24

  • Compliment Day

Jan 25

  • Opposite Day

Jan 26

  • Spouse Day
  • Green Juice Day

Jan 28

  • Have Fun at Work Day
  • International Lego Day

Jan 31

  • Backward Day

Other Important Days in January

Get to Know Your Customers Day (third Thursday of each quarter – January, April, July, October)

February Month-Long Holidays

Black History Month

American Heart Month

Canned Food Month

Cherry Month

Children’s Dental Health Month

Weddings Month

February National Days

Feb 1

  • Freedom Day

Feb 2

  • Groundhog’s Day

Feb 3

  • Women Physicians Day

Feb 4

  • World Cancer Day
  • Thank A Mail Carrier Day

Feb 7

  • Send a Card to a Friend Day

Feb 11

  • Inventor’s Day
  • Make a New Friend Day

Feb 13

  • Galentine’s Day – a day to celebrate single women before Valentine’s day

Feb 14

  • Valentine’s Day

Feb 15

  • Singles Awareness Day

Feb 17

  • Random Act of Kindness Day

Feb 20

  • Love Your Pet Day
  • World Day of Social Justice

Feb 21

  • International Mother Language Day

Feb 23

  • Dog Biscuit Day

Feb 29

  • Leap Day

March Month-Long Holidays

Women’s History Month

March Madness (Sports)

Asset Management Awareness Month

Credit Education Month

Kidney Month

Social Work Month

Nutrition Month

March National Small Business Holidays

Mar 1

  • World Compliment Day

Mar 2

  • Read Across America Day

Mar 3

  • World Wildlife Day
  • I Want You to Be Happy Day

Mar 4

  • Grammar Day
  • Day of Unplugging – Unplug from technology for a few hours

Mar 6

  • Dentist’s Day
  • Dress Day – Dress up for work today

Mar 7

  • Be Heard Day – Make a cause heard on this day

Mar 8

  • International Women’s Day
  • Proofread Day – Make sure your emails and marketing materials are all up to par with your business strategy and messaging.

Mar 11

  • Promposal Day

Mar 13

  • K9 Veterans Day

Mar 14

  • Pi Day – 3.14 day!

Mar 16

  • Everything You Do is Right Day
  • Panda Day

Mar 17

  • St. Patrick’s Day

Mar 19

  • Certified Nurses Day
  • Let’s Laugh Day – Be extra funny with your customers on this day

Mar 20

  • Proposal Day
  • International Day of Happiness

Mar 23

  • Puppy Day

Mar 26

  • Epilepsy Awareness Day
  • Make Up Your Own Holiday Day – Think up something clever for your business and begin an annual celebration!

Mar 28

  • Something On a Stick Day
  • Weed Appreciation Day

Mar 29

  • Mom & Pop Shop Business Owners’ Day

Mar 30

  • Doctor’s Day
  • I’m In Control Day – Take control of your business and finish up old tasks that you never had the chance to do before.

Mar 31

  • World Backup Day – Backup all your files and important information on storage devices

Other Important Dates in March

Equal Pay Day (falls around March 24)

Employee Appreciation Day (first Friday in March)

April Month-Long Holidays

Financial Literacy Month

Keep America Beautiful Month

Decorating Month

Records & Information Management Month

Stress Awareness Month

World Landscape Architecture Month

Humor Month

Couple’s Appreciation Month

Move More Month

April National Small Business Holidays

Apr 1

  • April Fool’s Day

Apr 2

  • World Party Day – Celebrate at work today!
  • Find a Rainbow Day – Be the colorful rainbow your clients need this day.

Apr 5

  • Deep Dish Pizza Day

Apr 7

  • World Health Day
  • Beer Day

Apr 10

  • Hug Your Dog Day
  • Siblings Day

Apr 11

  • Pet Day

Apr 14

  • Ex-spouse Day
  • Look Up at the Sky Day – Take a moment to soak it all in.

Apr 15

  • Tax Day – Make sure you are ready for this day with all your information and records handy.
  • Laundry Day

Apr 16

  • Wear Pajamas to Work Day
  • DJ Day – Thank those who bring the booms to the party.

Apr 18

  • Lineman Appreciation Day – Show your appreciation to those who construct and maintain electric power transmission, telecommunications lines and distribution lines.

Apr 20

  • Look Alike Day
  • 420 – If you know, you know…

Apr 22

  • Earth day

Apr 23

  • Picnic Day
  • World Book Day – Pick up a book that will help propel your business

Apr 24

  • Pet Parents Day

Apr 25

  • Telephone day – Pick up the phone and check in on your clients today.
  • Hug a Plumber Day

Apr 26

  • Pretzel Day
  • Get Organized Day

Apr 27

  • International Guide Dog Day

Apr 28

  • Superhero Day – You are the superheroes of your local community, you deserve this day too!

Apr 29

  • International Dance Day
  • World Veterinary Day

Apr 30

  • Hairstylist Appreciation Day

Other Important Days in April

Be Kind to a Lawyer Day (second Tuesday in April)

Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day (Wednesday of the last full week of April)

Take Your Child to Work Day (fourth Thursday in April)

May Month-Long Holidays

Recommitment Month 

Photograph Month

Small Business Week (May 3-9)

Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-8)

Nurses Week (May 6-12)

Home Improvement Month

Inventors’ Month

Pet Month

Global Employee Health & Fitness Month

May National Small Business Holidays

May 1

  • International Workers’ Day
  • Law Day

May 2

  • Life Insurance Day

May 3

  • World Press Freedom Day

May 4

  • Star Wars Day
  • Firefighter’s Day

May 5

  • Cinco De Mayo

May 6

  • Tourist Appreciation Day
  • Nurses Day
  • No Diet Day

May 7

  • Fitness Day

May 8

  • Teacher’s Day

May 14

  • Dance Like a Chicken Day

May 15

  • International Day of Families
  • Chocolate Chip Day

May 16

  • Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day

May 18

  • Bike to Work Day

May 20

  • Be a Millionaire Day – Revisit your goals and dreams and see how you can get yourself closer to that million.

May 21

  • Memo Day – Be sure to write down all the things you need to remember
  • Waitstaff Day

May 24

  • Scavenger Hunt Day

May 25

  • Wine Day
  • Geek Pride Day

May 27

  • Hairstylist Mental Health Awareness Day

May 29

  • Learn About Composting Day
  • Paperclip Day

May 30

  • Creativity Day

May 31

  • Smile Day
  • World No Tobacco Day

Other Important Dates in May

Memorial Day (last Monday of May)

Receptionists Day (second Wednesday in May)

World Password Day (first Thursday in May)

Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May)

Fair Trade Day (second Saturday in May)

June Month-Long Holidays

Professional Wellness Month

Rebuild Your Life Month

LGBTQIA Pride Month

Men’s Health Month

Adopt a Cat Month

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month

PTSD Awareness Month

Safety Month

Rose Month

Business Etiquette Week (June 5-11)

June National Small Business Holidays

June 1

  • Say Something Nice Day
  • Dare Day – Dare yourself to reach new heights.

June 2

  • I Love My Dentist Day

June 4

  • Hug Your Cat Day
  • Shopping Cart Day – A day to appreciate the invention of the shopping cart.

June 6

  • Eyewear Day
  • Higher Education Day

June 8

  • Best Friends Day
  • World Ocean Day

June 10

  • BallPoint Pen Day

June 13

  • Weed Your Garden Day

June 14

  • Call Your Doctor Day
  • World Blood Donor Day

June 15

  • Nature Photography Day

June 17

  • Take Back the Lunch Break Day – Do something fun during your lunch break today.

June 20

  • Take Your Cat to Work Day
  • Ugliest Dog Day

June 21

  • Yoga Day
  • Selfie Day

June 24

  • Take Your Dog to Work Day

June 28

  • Please Take My Child to Work Day – For those parents who stay at home with their kids and need a break.

June 26

  • Beautician Day

June 28

  • Insurance Awareness Day

June 29

  • Camera Day

June 30

  • Social Media Day
  • World Handshake Day
  • Work From Home Day

Other Important Days in June

Father’s Day (third Sunday in June)

July Month-Long Holidays

Independent Retailer Month

Anti-Boredom Month

Culinary Arts Month

Hot Dog Month

Grilling Month

Social Wellness Month

Everybody Deserves a Massage Week (second week after July 4th week)

July National Small Business Holidays

July 1

  • International Joke Day
  • Postal Workers’ Day

July 4

  • Independence Day

July 5

  • Workaholics Day

July 6

  • Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day
  • International Kissing Day

July 7

  • Global Forgiveness Day

July 8

  • Be a Kid Again Day
  • Video Game Day

July 9

  • Fashion Day

July 10

  • Kitten Day

July 11

  • Cheer Up the Lonely Day
  • All American Pet Photo Day

July 12

  • Simplicity Day

July 13

  • French Fry Day
  • Embrace Your Geekness Day

July 15

  • Give Something Away Day
  • Clean Beauty Day
  • Be a Dork Day

July 16

  • World Snake Day
  • Guinea Pig Appreciation Day

July 17

  • World Emoji Day
  • Tattoo Day
  • Lottery Day

July 18

  • Global Hug Your Kids Day
  • World Listening Day

July 21

  • Be Someone Day

July 23

  • Gorgeous Grandma Day

July 24

  • Parents’ Day
  • Cousins Day
  • Tell an Old Joke Day

July 26

  • Aunt and Uncle’s Day
  • All or Nothing Day – Give your all to a task you’ve been putting off or not getting done.

July 29

  • Lipstick Day

July 30

  • Father-in-Law Day
  • International Day of Friendship

Other Important Days in July

International Day of Cooperatives (first Saturday in July)

Intern Day (last Thursday in July)

System Administrator Appreciation Day (last Friday in July)

August Month-Long Holidays

American Artist Appreciation Month

Admit You’re Happy Month

Back to School Month

Black Business Month

Happiness Happens Month

Eye Exam Month

Sandwich Month

International Assistance Dog Week (begins first Sunday in August)

August National Small Business Holidays

Aug 1

  • Girlfriend’s Day
  • Respect for Parents Day

Aug 4

  • Single Working Women Day

Aug 5

  • Work Like a Dog Day

Aug 6

  • Cycle to Work Day

Aug 7

  • Friendship Day
  • Purple Heart Day

Aug 8

  • International Cat Day

Aug 9

  • Book Lover’s Day

Aug 10

  • Lazy Day
  • Spoil Your Dog Day

Aug 11

  • International Hip Hop Day
  • Son and Daughter’s Day

Aug 12

  • International Youth Day
  • Middle Child Day

Aug 13

  • International Left Handers’ Day
  • Blame Someone Else Day

Aug 14

  • Financial Awareness Day

Aug 15

  • Back to School Prep Day

Aug 16

  • Tell a Joke Day
  • Roller Coaster Day

Aug 18

  • Couple’s Day

Aug 19

  • World Photography Day
  • World Humanitarian Day

Aug 21

  • Senior Citizens Day

Aug 24

  • Hug Your Boss Day

Aug 26

  • Dog Day

Aug 31

  • Love Litigating Lawyers Day
  • Matchmaker Day

September Month-Long Holidays

Baby Safety Month

Better Breakfast Month

Classical Music Month

Courtesy Month

Preparedness Month

Recovery Month

Self Care Awareness Month

Self Improvement Month

Payroll Week (September 7-11)

September National Small Business Holidays

Sep 1

  • World Letter Writing Day

Sep 5

  • International Day of Charity
  • Be Late for Something Day

Sep 6

  • Fight Procrastination Day
  • Read a Book Day

Sep 7

  • Grateful Patient Day
  • Google Commemoration Day
  • International Day of Clean Air

Sep 8

  • World Physical Therapy Day
  • International Literacy Day

Sep 10

  • Swap Ideas Day
  • World Suicide Prevention Day

Sep 11

  • 9/11
  • Patriot’s Day

Sep 12

  • Boss/Employee Exchange Day
  • Day of Encouragement
  • Video Games Day

Sep 13

  • Positive Thinking Day
  • Programmers Day
  • Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day

Sep 15

  • Online Learning Day
  • Get Ready Day

Sep 16

  • Working Parents’ Day
  • Choose Your Chocolate Day
  • Stepfamily Day

Sep 18

  • Chiropractic Founders’ Day
  • Hug a Greeting Card Writer Day

Sep 20

  • IT Professionals Day

Sep 21

  • International Day of Peace

Sep 22

  • American Working Women’s Day

Sep 24

  • World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
  • Save Your Photos Day

Sep 25

  • World Day of the Deaf
  • Research Administrator’s Day

Sep 27

  • No Excuses Day
  • World Tourism Day

Sep 28

  • Ask a Stupid Question Day
  • Good Neighbor Day

Sep 29

  • Coffee Day

Sep 30

  • International Podcast Day
  • Love People Day

Other Important Days in September

Labor Day (first Monday in September)

401(k) Day (the Friday following Labor Day)

Dance Day (third Saturday in September)

October Month-Long Holidays

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

American Pharmacy Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Computer Learning Month

Emotional Wellness Month

Employee Ownership Month

Financial Planning Month

Global Diversity Awareness Month

International Strategic Planning Month

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Disability Employment Awareness Month

Fair Trade Month

Work and Family Month

Positive Attitude Month

Sarcastic Month

Self Promotion Month

Customer Service Week (first full week in October)

Work From Home Week (second week in October)

Get Organized Week (first week in October)

October National Small Business Holidays

Oct 1

  • International Coffee Day
  • International Music Day
  • Frugal Fun Day
  • Black Dog Day
  • Hair Day

Oct 3

  • Techies Day
  • Boyfriend’s Day

Oct 4

  • World Animal Day
  • Fruit at Work Day
  • Improve Your Office Day

Oct 5

  • World Teachers’ Day
  • Do Something Nice Day

Oct 6

  • Physician’s Assistant Day

Oct 10

  • Kick Butt Day
  • Online Bank Day

Oct 11

  • It’s My Party Day
  • Coming Out Day

Oct 12

  • Savings Day
  • Take Your Parents to Lunch Day
  • Emergency Nurses Day

Oct 13

  • International Day for Failure
  • International Skeptics Day

Oct 16

  • Boss’s Day
  • World Food Day

Oct 19

  • New Friends Day
  • Evaluate Your Life Day

Oct 20

  • Get Smart About Credit Day
  • International Credit Union Day
  • International Chefs Day

Oct 22

  • Make a Difference Day
  • CAPS LOCK Day
  • Smart is Cool Day

Oct 25

  • Artist’s Day
  • I Care About You Day
  • Mother-in-Law Day

Oct 27

  • Black Cat Day
  • Mentoring Day

Oct 28

  • International Animation Day
  • Immigrants Day

Oct 29

  • Pitbull Awareness Day
  • Internet Day

Oct 30

  • Checklist Day

Oct 31

  • Halloween

November Month-Long Holidays

Adoption Month

Career Development Month

No-Shave November

Peanut Butter Lovers Month

Family Caregivers Month

Family Literacy Month

Gratitude Month

Deal Week (from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until the following Tuesday)

November National Holidays

Nov 1

  • Extra Mile Day
  • All Saints Day

Nov 4

  • Use Your Common Sense Day

Nov 6

  • Team Manager Day

Nov 10

  • Forget Me Not Day
  • International Accounting Day

Nov 12

  • Happy Hour Day

Nov 13

  • World Kindness Day
  • International Fraud Awareness Day

Nov 14

  • Loosen up Lighten Up Day
  • Children’s Day

Nov 16

  • International Day for Tolerance
  • Fast Food Day

Nov 19

  • International Men’s Day 
  • Adoption Day
  • Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

Nov 20

  • Transgender Day of Remembrance 
  • Name Your PC Day
  • World Children’s Day

Nov 21

  • World Television Day

Other Important Days in November

Zero Tasking Day (first Sunday in November) – Nothing to do on this day

Job Action Day (first Monday in November) – Empower those who dream of a job they love

Entrepreneur Day (third Tuesday in November)

Stress Awareness Day (first Wednesday in November)

Love Your Lawyer Day (first Friday in November)

Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November)

Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving)

Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving)

Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving)

Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving)

December Month-Long Holidays

Write a Business Plan Month

Tie Month

Write a Friend Month

Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Month of Giving

Bingo Month

December National Holidays

Dec 1

  • Rosa Parks Day
  • Christmas Lights Day

Dec 2

  • Mutt Day

Dec 3

  • International Person with Disabilities Day

Dec 5

  • Volunteer Day

Dec 9

  • Christmas Card Day

Dec 10

  • Human Rights Day
  • Nobel Prize Day

Dec 14

  • Free Shipping Day

Dec 17

  • Wright Brothers Day
  • Device Appreciation Day

Dec 19

  • Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

Dec 20

  • Go Caroling Day

Dec 24

  • Christmas Eve

Dec 25

  • Christmas Day

Dec 26

  • Thank You Note Day
  • Boxing Day (Canada)

Dec 27

  • No Interruptions Day

Dec 29

  • Tick Tock Day – Get ahead on tasks you haven’t had the time to do today.
  • Still Need to Do Day

Dec 30

  • Resolution Planning Day

Dec 31

  • New Year’s Eve
  • Make Up Your Mind Day

Other Important Days in December

Tree Dressing Day (first weekend in December)

Package Protection Day (first Wednesday after Thanksgiving)

Salesperson Day (second Friday in December)

Green Monday (second Monday in December) – Noted as one of the busiest shopping days of the year

What should you do with this long list?

With such a long list of holidays, how are you supposed to keep track of it all? Well, our best advice is to take a look at the list and mark the most important dates on your calendar ahead of time. Do it for the whole year, and only choose the holidays that really matter to your business. Once all those dates are in your calendar, make sure to check your calendar two months ahead of time. For example, are you planning a special event on Financial Awareness Day (August 14)? Then you should be planning your strategy already in June so that when the time comes, you can go, go, go, instead of chasing your tail.