31 Fun July National Days for Kids and Families

There are some really fun July National Days that you can easily celebrate as a family!

Check out our fun printable July National Day calendar and get some great ideas for things you can easily do with your kids to celebrate every day of the month.

Summer is in full swing, the sun is hot and shining, the kids are home from school, and you need something to do, right?!

Why not celebrate some National Days together?

Kids are almost always up for a celebration, and the best thing about National Days is that they’re usually really easy to celebrate!

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What are National Days?

While the United States only actually recognizes 10 official national holidays and 44 national observances per year, National Days have been growing in prominence since 1984.

That was the year when President Ronald Reagan created National Ice Cream Day, which was supposed to be a one-time thing (and this July will be the 38th anniversary of National Ice Cream Day, by the way!).

Today, thanks to websites such as National Day Calendar and the popularity of social media, self-proclaimed National Days have become very popular and widespread.

Each day of the year has at least one unofficial National Day associated with it, and most days have three or four different National Days to celebrate.

While some National Days aren’t the most family-friendly (National Dive Bar day, anyone?) we’ve picked the most kid-appropriate National Days in July right here for you!

July National Day for Kids Free Printable Calendar

To easily choose which days you want to celebrate with your kids in July, be sure to grab a copy of the FREE July National Days for Kids calendar!

These free printable National Days for Kids calendars are accessed by thousands of families every month, so don’t miss out!

National Days in July to Celebrate with Kids

July 1 – National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day

July starts off with Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day. Check out your local ice cream shop to see if they’ve got any wacky flavors you’ve never tried before.

(Our local Braum’s has Cookie Monster ice cream. It’s a mixture of blue ice cream with tons of crushed Oreos mixed in. My kids LOVE it!)

July 2 – Hop-a-Park Day

Get a breath of fresh air and take the kids to a couple of different public outdoor parks in your area.

This is a great way to get a break from screens, enjoy the sunshine, and maybe even find a new favorite park where you live.

July 3 – National Chocolate Wafer Day

Also called sugar wafers or wafer cookies, these light and sugary cookies have been around since the 1800s!

Buy a pack of chocolate wafer cookies and eat them straight or crush them up and sprinkle them over a frosted cake or cupcakes instead!

July 4 – Independence Day

The Fourth of July is THE biggest holiday of the summer months!

It’s the day we celebrate the publishing of the Declaration of Independence by many of the Founding Fathers way back in 1776.

You may already have some fun traditions where you live, like going to a local parade or carnival, having a family BBQ, lighting sparklers, or watching fireworks.

Regardless of what you do, spend this wonderful day dressed in red, white, and blue and making memories as a family!

July 5 – National Graham Cracker Day

Yum! Honor this cute day by grabbing a pack of your favorite graham crackers and eating them with your kids.

Or if you have marshmallows and chocolate on hand, make some s’mores together!

July 6 – National Fried Chicken Day

If you have an old family recipe for the perfect fried chicken, this is the day to pull it out and have some fried chicken for dinner!

And even if you don’t have an old family fried chicken recipe, this one from Taste of Home is easy and delicious!

Finally, if it’s easier to hit up your local Cane’s, go ahead and do that. We won’t judge.

July 7 – National Father-Daughter Take a Walk Day

Finally, a day that isn’t centered on food! We love the idea of National Father-Daughter Take a Walk Day.

It doesn’t matter if your husband and daughter walk around the neighborhood, through a local park, on a trail through the woods, or along the beach.

The point is to create some time to get outside together and enjoy each other’s company.

And if your hubs needs a few ideas of what to talk about on the walk, have him check out our list of 301 Would You Rather Questions for Kids! It’s sure to help drum up some conversation!

July 8 – National Freezer Pop Day

Your interpretation of freezer pop is totally up to you!

You could let your kids celebrate today with the inexpensive Otter Pops in the long plastic sleeves, or you could try to make your own popsicles as a family instead!

This awesome and inexpensive silicone popsicle mold makes nine popsicles at a time!

July 9 – National Sugar Cookie Day

Honestly, we were surprised to see National Sugar Cookie Day here in July, as we thought it would be more a Christmastime thing.

But we’re willing to guess that your kids won’t mind making some sugar cookies in July, right?

This recipe for Soft Sugar Cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction is our all-time favorite!

Give it a try to celebrate this fun day with your kids!

July 10 – National Kitten Day

Now we’re definitely not encouraging anyone to adopt a kitten on National Kitten Day. But you totally could!

If a new pet isn’t the thing for you right now, celebrate this fun National Day by watching some cute kitten videos on YouTube with your kids.

Or introduce them to the classic animated Disney movie, Aristocats, if they haven’t already seen it!

July 11 – National 7-11 Day

One of the older and most popular unofficial National Days, July 11th known as National 7-11 Day.

Celebrate this day by going to your local 7-11 store to get a free small Slurpee with your kids!

(As of 2021, you need to have the 7-11 app downloaded on your phone and join their 7Rewards program.)

July 12 – National Eat Your Jello Day

Did you know that Jello was first trademarked all the way back in 1897?

Today there are 21 different flavors and lots of different versions, including sugar-free and ready-made.

If your kids are up for it, try a new Jello recipe such as these Easy Jello Jigglers from Izzy Cooking.

(And if Jello isn’t your thing, that’s totally cool. July 12th is also National Simplicity Day as well!)

July 13 – Cow Appreciation Day

There are lots of great ways to celebrate Cow Appreciation Day!

Visit a local dairy farm, or dress like a cow and take your herd to Chick-fil-A for a free meal!

(Please note: Cow Appreciation Day changes slightly from year to year. A great substitute for July 13th would be National French Fry Day instead.)

July 14 – National Mac & Cheese Day

Many kids will be thrilled that there is such a thing as National Mac & Cheese Day!

Piles of noodles covered in gooey cheese?! Yum!

If you want to try making homemade macaroni and cheese, this delicious version from Pioneer Woman is one that we’ve been making for years!

July 15 – National Give Something Away Day

We LOVE the opportunity to declutter here at Jen Bradley|MOMs, and we also know this can be a hard thing for kids to do.

But when it’s National Give Something Away Day, your kiddos just might be a little more inclined to part with a few things they haven’t actually played within a few years.

To check out our best tips for successfully decluttering with your kids, read this article here!

July 16 – National Personal Chef’s Day

Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a personal chef?

As moms, don’t we often feel like the family’s personal chef?!

If that’s the case at your house, let today be a day when your kids take over and give you a break from all food preparation!

(Okay, maybe just for a meal or two.)

July 17 – National Ice Cream Day

This is the OG of National Days.

In 1984 Ronald Reagan instituted National Ice Cream Day – but it was only supposed to be for that one year. (Now July is actually National Ice Cream Month!)

Celebrate today by simply eating ice cream with your kids. Choose your favorite flavors at the grocery store or head out and support your local ice cream shop.

P.S. If you need a break from all the food-themed days, today is also World Emoji Day! Play a fun game of imitating or guessing the emoji with your kids!

July 18 – National Sour Candy Day

Do your kids have a deep and abiding love for Sour Patch Kids, sour Jolly Ranchers, or Xtreme Airheads, today is the day to indulge that passion!

Grab this Sour Candy Variety Pack from Amazon and you’ll have everything you need to celebrate this day.

July 19 – National Words with Friends Day

Have you ever played Words With Friends with your kids?

It’s a free app you can download that was developed by Zynga in 2009.

If you can’t find it, or would rather celebrate this day of clever wordplay, you could also play a round of Boggle or Bananagrams with your kids instead.

July 20 – Moon Day

Today is National Moon Day because it’s the anniversary of the first-ever moon landing!

Take some time today to help your kids talk with someone who remembers where they were and what they were doing when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped down onto the surface of the moon in 1969.

There are sure to be some really neat experiences and insights shared.

Or spend some time looking at the moon together after dark. We love this simple beginner-friendly refractor telescope from Celestron.

(While we’re happy to have an educational day on our July calendar, we feel it’s also important to let you know that today is also National Hot Dog Day, National Fortune Cookie Day, AND National Lollipop Day!)

July 21 – National Be Someone Day

Today is the day to focus on making a difference in a child’s life.

Project Harmony, the founders of Be Someone Day, encourage every person to spend only 10 seconds doing something to make an impact in the life of a child.

Encourage your kids to do some small 10-second act of kindness for a friend today.

July 22 – National Mango Day

Did you know that mangoes are the most commonly eaten fruit in the whole world? But in the USA, they’re not even in the top ten most popular fruits.

If your kids have never had a fresh mango before (or maybe they have and they love it!), head on over to your local grocer and buy one.

You’ll want to choose one that gives just a touch of light pressure.

July 23 – National Day of the Cowboy

Pull on some cowboy boots, head out to a local rodeo, and celebrate National Day of the Cowboy!

Or, if there aren’t a ton of cowboy-celebrating options where you live, check out some cute cowboy books from your local library instead.

Here are a few titles to look for:

Amarillo Rodeo by Jan Brett
Cowboy Camp by Tammi Sauer
B is for Buckaroo: A Cowboy Alphabet by Gleaves Whitney

(Also, if cowboys aren’t your jam and you’re not tired of all the ice cream this month, today is also National Vanilla Ice Cream Day!)

July 24 – National Cousins Day

If you happen to live near your kids’ cousins, today would be a great day to get together with them and celebrate National Cousins Day!

And even if the cousins live far away, you could try to schedule a Zoom call so they can still connect with each other.

July 25 – National Merry Go-Round Day

Sometimes it can be hard to find merry-go-rounds at local parks today. But today is a great day to go in search of one!

Then give your kids a blast from your past as you push them along on the merry-go-round!

July 26 – National Aunt and Uncle’s Day

Help your kids write a note or draw a picture for their aunts and uncles today!

Simple and easy!

July 27 – National Love is Kind Day

According to the National Days website, this is a day to focus on what love is all about:

The day is an opportunity to say “No to abuse, violence, and ridicule! And begin saying, “Yes, to kindness! And yes, to sharing my voice! Yes, I am worth it and my life matters. Kindness rules!”

While this may seem like a heavy topic to discuss with your kids, it’s extremely important!

Have a heart-to-heart discussion about the importance of avoiding abuse of all kinds and being aware of the need for kindness with your kids today.

July 28 – National Waterpark Day

On a much more light-hearted note, July 28th is National Waterpark Day!

Slather on the sunscreen, don’t forget the towels or the Puddlejumpers, and visit the nearest waterpark near you!

(If going to a waterpark isn’t super feasible for you, your kids might also like National Milk Chocolate Day or National Chili Dog Day!)

July 29 – National Lasagna Day

Channel your inner Garfield and serve your favorite lasagna recipe for dinner tonight!

July 30 – National Cheesecake Day

There are so many yummy versions of cheesecake – why not pick up a sampler tray from your local bakery today?

Or check to see if there are any special free cheesecake offers near you by doing a quick Google search!

July 31 – National Avocado Day

Sure, maybe we started the month with Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day and proceeded to fill it with Mac & Cheese Day, Cheesecake Day, Ice Cream Day, and Sour Candy Day.

But at least we’re ending up with the happily health-conscious National Avocado Day!

Begin the day with some avocado toast, mix it into your favorite lunchtime salad, or enjoy some guacamole for dinner.

Voila! Another National Day celebrated with your kids!

Why Kids Love National Days

Kids are often pleased with the smallest things, which is why National Days seem to resonate so well with them!

In his beautiful essay, “Small Things Matter,” Kelly G. Wilson, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Mississippi, wrote:

See if you can remember times, moments, activities, when you knew you were loved.

Did someone read to you? Snuggle with you a minute before bed? Did they let you help cook pancakes and let you stir? These are the landscapes of love. Not big things, rather these patterns of small moments.

While celebrating National Merry-Go-Round Day may seem insignificant to you, it may be just the thing that will create a lifelong memory for your kids.

Final thoughts about July National Days

As with all things here at Jen Bradley|MOMs, we encourage you to keep your National Days celebrations super simple!

Do NOT think for a second that you have to create a Pinterest-worthy event for any of these days!

Just choose one or two fun days to celebrate each week or month, and view it as a great way to connect with your kids in ways that you might not otherwise.

If you want any more information about the National Days in this article or want to see what other National Days are happening in July, visit the National Day Calendar right here!

Finally, don’t forget to download and print out your July National Day printable calendar today!

Which national days in July are you excited to celebrate with your kids?

31 Fun July National Days for Kids and Families

Hi there! I’m Jen and I’m so glad you’re here. I am a mom who believes that meaningful connections with our families can happen in small and simple ways. Read More …