Engaging Your Audience in May

May is a time to celebrate moms, spring, self-care, and community. Holidays and occasions are great times to connect with your audience. In fact, many observances were specifically designed to help businesses and professionals connect with their communities. Ensure you are taking these opportunities to engage your audience authentically in ways that align with your brand.

Major Holidays and Occasions

  • Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

  • Mental Health Awareness Month

  • Mother’s Day

  • Teacher Appreciation Day

  • Nurse Appreciation Day

This list is focused on holidays and occasions that are best suited for North America, especially the US and Canada. Many of the themes and ideas found in this article might speak to a broader audience. For a more detailed list of holidays and occasions, including international observances, go to May Holidays and Occasions.

Follow the Everblue Holidays and Occasions Calendar to have top marketing and communication observances added to your list.

May Holidays and Occasions

May 1

  • Global Love Day

  • Law Day

  • Lei Day

  • May Day

  • Melanoma Monday

  • National Chocolate Parfait Day

  • National College Decision Day

  • National Loyalty Day

  • National Mother Goose Day

  • School Principals' Day

  • World Lyme Day

May 2

  • International Harry Potter Day

  • National Brothers and Sisters Day

  • National Foster Care Day

  • National Teacher Appreciation Day

  • National Truffle Day

  • World Asthma Day

  • World Tuna Day

May 3

  • AAPI Women's Equal Pay Day

  • National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day

  • National Paranormal Day

  • National Skilled Trades Day

  • World Press Freedom Day

May 4

  • International Firefighters Day

  • Kent State Shootings Remembrance

  • National Day of Prayer

  • National Orange Juice Day

  • National Self-Employed Day

  • Pesach Sheni

  • Star Wars Day

May 5

  • African World Heritage Day

  • Cinco de Mayo

  • International Day of the Midwife

  • National Astronaut Day

  • National Hoagie Day

  • National No Pants Day

  • Vesak

May 6

  • Free Comic Book Day

  • International No Diet Day

  • Join Hands Day

  • Kentucky Derby

  • National Beverage Day

  • National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day

  • National Fitness Day

  • National Nurses Day

  • National Scrapbook Day

  • National Tourist Appreciation Day

May 7

  • National Cosmopolitan Day

  • National Infertility Survival Day

  • National Lemonade Day

  • National Tourism Day

  • World Laughter Day

May 8

  • International Thalassaemia Day

  • Lag BaOmer Begins

  • National Coconut Cream Pie Day

  • National Have a Coke Day

  • National Student Nurse Day

  • National Women's Checkup Day

  • Truman Day

  • World Ovarian Cancer Day

  • World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

  • Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War (Through May 9)

May 9

  • National Lost Sock Memorial Day

  • National Moscato Day

  • National Sleepover Day

May 10

  • National Clean Up Your Room Day

  • National Lipid Day

  • National Receptionists' Day

  • National Shrimp Day

  • World Lupus Day

May 11

  • National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

  • National Eat What You Want Day

  • National Foam Rolling Day

  • National Twilight Zone Day

May 12

  • International Nurses Day

  • National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

  • National Limerick Day

  • National Military Spouse Appreciation Day

  • National Nutty Fudge Day

  • National Odometer Day

  • National Provider Appreciation Day

May 13

  • International Hummus Day

  • National Apple Pie Day

  • National Babysitter's Day

  • National Birth Mother’s Day

  • National Crouton Day

  • National Frog Jumping Day

  • National Fruit Cocktail Day

  • National Miniature Golf Day

  • World Fair Trade Day

  • World Migratory Bird Day

May 14

  • Mother's Day

  • National Buttermilk Biscuit Day

  • National Dance Like a Chicken Day

  • National Decency Day

May 15

May 16

  • Drawing Day

  • Honor Our LGBT Elders Day

  • International Day of Light

  • International Day of Living Together in Peace

  • National Barbecue Day

  • National Biographer's Day

  • National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day

  • National Love a Tree Day

  • National Mimosa Day

  • National Piercing Day

  • National Sea Monkey Day

May 17

  • National Cherry Cobbler Day

  • National Graduation Tassel Day

  • National Juice Slush Day

  • National Pack Rat Day

  • National Walnut Day

  • World Hypertension Day

  • World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

May 18

  • Ascension Day

  • International Museum Day

  • National Cheese Soufflé Day

  • National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day

  • National No Dirty Dishes Day

  • National Visit Your Relatives Day

May 19

  • Malcolm X Day

  • NASCAR Day

  • National Bike to Work Day

  • National Defense Transportation Day

  • National Devil's Food Cake Day

  • National Endangered Species Day

  • National Pizza Party Day

May 20

  • International Red Sneakers Day

  • National Armed Forces Day

  • National Be a Millionaire Day

  • National Learn to Swim Day

  • National Pick Strawberries Day

  • National Rescue Dog Day

  • National Streaming Day

  • World Bee Day

  • Preakness Stakes

  • World Whisky Day

May 21

  • Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day

  • International Tea Day

  • National American Red Cross Founder’s Day

  • National Memo Day

  • National Strawberries and Cream Day

  • National Talk Like Yoda Day

  • National Waitstaff Day

  • Take Your Parents to the Playground Day

  • World Baking Day

  • World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

  • World Meditation Day

May 22

  • Harvey Milk Day

  • International Being You Day

  • International Day for Biological Diversity

  • National Buy a Musical Instrument Day

  • National Craft Distillery Day

  • National Maritime Day

  • National Solitaire Day

  • National Vanilla Pudding Day

  • Sherlock Holmes Day

  • Victoria Day (Canada)

  • World Paloma Day

May 23

  • National Lucky Penny Day

  • National Taffy Day

  • World Turtle Day

May 24

  • National Asparagus Day

  • National Brother's Day

  • National Escargot Day

  • National Scavenger Hunt Day

  • World Schizophrenia Awareness Day

May 25

  • National Bath Bomb Day

  • National Brown-Bag It Day

  • National Missing Children's Day

  • National Sing Out Day

  • National Tap Dance Day

  • National Wine Day

  • Shavuot Begins

  • World Thyroid Day

May 26

  • Buddha Day

  • National Blueberry Cheesecake Day

  • National Cooler Day

  • National Heat Awareness Day

  • National Paper Airplane Day

  • National Road Trip Day

  • National Sorry Day

  • World Lindy Hop Day

May 27

  • National Grape Popsicle Day

  • National Sunscreen Day

  • Nothing to Fear Day

May 28

  • Indianapolis 500

  • National Brisket Day

  • National Burger Day

  • Pentecost

  • World Blood Cancer Day

May 29

  • Decoration Day

  • International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

  • Learn About Composting Day

  • Memorial Day

  • Mount Everest Day

  • National Alligator Day

  • National Coq Au Vin Day

  • National Paperclip Day

May 30

  • International Hug Your Cat Day

  • Loomis Day

  • National Creativity Day

  • National Mint Julep Day

  • National Water a Flower Day

  • World Multiple Sclerosis Day

May 31

  • National Flip Flop Day

  • National Macaroon Day

  • National Save Your Hearing Day

  • National Senior Health and Fitness Day

  • National Smile Day

  • Scripps National Spelling Bee Begins

  • Web Designer Day

  • World No Tobacco Day

  • World Otter Day

  • World Parrot Day