The Very Best Holiday Dates To Celebrate This Summer

As spring turns into summer, it’s time for people to think about how they’re going to spend these next few warm months. Sure, we know that most people continue to have to work during the summer months, and we also know that many households also have to figure out how they’re going to keep their children entertained while they’re off of school. Those are all a given, but that doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t take the time to enjoy a few memorable events this summer. Have a little bit of fun in the sun and come together as a family over summer-specific activities.

As we began to write this article, we thought long and hard about which holidays really reflect the spirit of summer and are easy enough for most people to entertain. So, we sat down and composed a list of all the things that we think of when we think of summer. As most people probably imagine, that list is full of picnics, family get-togethers, barbecues, beaches, and ice cream. There were even roller coasters on that list. Once we had what we consider our “summer cheatsheet,” we then went out and decided to dig up the holidays that best epitomized those summer activities. And let us tell you right now, we came up with a huge list of holidays. In fact, once we had finished we had over 30 holidays on our list. Yes, when you count regional, local, and international events, there are more than 3 dozen holidays that could be said to be a representation of summer fun.

Since it’s simply impossible for us to create an article around dozens of holidays, we had to narrow down the list to a manageable 9 holidays. That was pretty tough. In doing so, we knew that there were going to be a lot of holidays that we had to skip, and quite frankly that hurt our hearts. But, it is what it is, so let’s take a look at our final list of holidays below, and allow us to apologize in advance if your holiday or regional event didn’t make our list. Maybe the next time we do a summer holiday list it will.

Midsummer Day / Midsummer Eve (Summer Solstice)

We know of no better way to start off the summer season than by enjoying Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day. This ancient Germanic tradition celebrates the summer solstice and is observed in a number of different countries including Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, and Sweden. If possible, people should check out some of the celebrations in these countries. However, since we know that might not be feasible, people can plan their own Midsummer events on this day. All it takes is a few people, a few decorations, a bonfire, and some food and anyone can enjoy one of the oldest summer traditions on the planet.

Independence Day (July 4th)

Independence Day is one of the biggest holidays in the United States. It’s a day that’s celebrated with fairs and fireworks, BBQs and picnics, parades, and a whole range of other events. And no matter where a person is in the U.S., they’re likely to find all of the events they could ever want to attend. Beach and pool parties, concerts, and visits to historical sites and museums are all on the holiday menu for this day. It’s a day of fun, food, and family and even the busiest person can take the time to at least enjoy a plate of BBQ ribs, potato salad, and cole slaw on this day.

National Bikini Day (July 5th)

To be honest, we’re not sure that the placement of this holiday is ideal. After all, it comes the day after the 4th of July, which means that many Americans have spent the day gorging on BBQ-slathered grilled meats, and lots of beer. However, if women are not too bloated after their Independence Day eating, then this is a holiday to head to the beach. Of course, even if someone is bloated and/or hung over from the day before, they can at least head to the beach and admire other people’s bikinis on this day. After all, nothing says summer fun in the sun more than the bikini.

Watermelon Day (August 3rd)

It’s almost impossible to attend any sort of picnic, barbecue, family reunion, or any other social event where food is served, not to see watermelon. All summer long, it seems like everyone is serving watermelon. That’s how this food has become the official fruit of summer. Most people will find out why, after they’ve eaten some, too. As the name of this fruit implies, it’s mainly composed of water. In fact, the average watermelon is almost 90% water, which makes this sweet fruit not only delicious but refreshing as well.

Satchmo Summerfest (August 4th)

If we’re being completely honest, it was hard to pick a summer festival for our list. There are literally thousands of them located across North America and Europe. So many that we could spend the rest of the summer writing about them. Since we didn’t have that sort of time, we had to choose one that we felt epitomized summer the best. Our choice? Satchmo Summerfest. This holiday is dedicated to Louis Armstrong and jazz music and features some of the world’s top performers. It’s a great festival and one that everyone should attend, especially if they’re a fan of jazz.

National Frozen Custard Day (August 8th)

Frozen custard is another delicious treat that just screams summer fun. For people who aren’t familiar with frozen custard, it’s basically ice cream that’s made with the addition of eggs and has a thicker consistency. In other words, it’s ice cream times ten! And there are several places in the U.S. where this sinful treat can be enjoyed. Milwaukee is known as the “Frozen Custard Capital of the World,” because it has places such as Leon’s Frozen Custard and Kopp’s Frozen Custard. However, our favorite frozen custard destination in the U.S. is Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis, Mo. Their menu is unique and fun with frozen custard dishes such as The Hawaiian, The Dutchman, Lemon Slushy, and our personal favorite, The Terramizzou.

National Roller Coaster Day (August 16th)

Nothing brings a family together than being completely terrified for their lives while zipping around a track and traveling at speeds up to or exceeding 100 miles per hour. And there are simply some incredible roller coasters located all over the world. These can be found at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio; Six Flags Magic Mountain in California; Fiju-Q Highland in Japan; and Europa Park in Germany. And, of course, there’s the ultimate roller coaster experience that can be found at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Just don’t eat a heavy lunch before riding these coasters — trust us, we know.

National Tailgating Day (First Saturday In September)

Tailgating is a fun activity that takes place at sporting events all around the U.S. on this day. It doesn’t matter what the sporting event is because the real fun of this day is the food, BBQ burgers and brats, and the camaraderie between the participants. It’s a great way to enjoy some summer fun as autumn quickly approaches.

Labor Day (First Monday In September)

For many people, Labor Day is the final summer weekend for people to enjoy with friends and family. That means that there’s one last cookout and a whole lot of fun to be had. For anyone looking to end the summer season with a blast, this is the day to do it.