Summer's Last Delicious Hurrah
From watermelon to fajitas, August offers the perfect excuse to enjoy local flavors every day
With National Watermelon Day and multiple ice cream celebrations, August is packed with delicious food holidays that highlight summer's bounty.
🌻 August Food Holidays
August is peak summer harvest season - making it one of the most delicious months of the year with food holidays celebrating everything from fresh watermelon to outdoor dining.
← Back to Full CalendarNational Raspberry Cream Pie Day
August kicks off with a fruity pie – raspberry cream pie, a nice summer dessert on Aug 1.
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
The perfect handheld summer treat – ice cream between cookies – is honored Aug 2. Make your own or buy the classic chocolate wafer kind.
National Watermelon Day
Peak watermelon season = perfect time for this day. Many communities have watermelon eating contests or festivals on Aug 3.
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
Perhaps the most beloved cookie of all, chocolate chip, has its day on Aug 4. This one's huge on social media; bakeries often give out free cookies.
National Oyster Day
August might have an 'R' (some say eat oysters only in 'R' months). Aug 5, raw or cooked, enjoy some oysters.
National Root Beer Float Day
A classic American treat – scoop vanilla ice cream in a frosty mug of root beer. Perfect for summer nostalgia on Aug 6.
International Beer Day
Celebrated the first Friday in August, this global beer holiday started in 2008 in California and spread worldwide.
National Zucchini Day
Zucchini grows like crazy in gardens. On Aug 8, there's a tradition of anonymously gifting excess zucchini, since you always have too many!
National Rice Pudding Day
Comforting and creamy, rice pudding gets its day on Aug 9. Enjoy it hot or cold, with cinnamon on top.
National S'mores Day
Campfire lovers, rejoice – Aug 10 is S'mores Day, celebrating the graham cracker, chocolate, marshmallow creation.
National Panini Day
The Italian pressed sandwich (panini) is honored on Aug 11. A great day to highlight a local café's panini or make one at home with your grill press.
National Julienne Fries Day
Essentially another French fry day (julienne refers to the thin cut). If you missed out on Fry Day in July – or just want more – Aug 12 gives you an excuse to munch fries again.
National Filet Mignon Day
The tenderloin steak prized by many gets a day on Aug 13. Steakhouses might have specials. If you needed a reason to treat yourself to a fancy steak dinner, here it is.
National Creamsicle Day
Celebrating the orange-and-vanilla frozen popsicle that we all loved as kids. Aug 14, cool down with a Creamsicle (or a cocktail mimicking its flavor).
National Lemon Meringue Pie Day
Tangy lemon custard, fluffy toasted meringue – a perfect summer pie, honored Aug 15.
National Rum Day
Rum, the spirit of the Caribbean, is toasted on Aug 16. Tiki bars and rum aficionados take note – perhaps a mojito or daiquiri to celebrate.
National Thrift Shop Day
(Not food-related, but hey, maybe you'll find a vintage cookbook or cool kitchenware at a thrift shop today!)
National Fajita Day
Great local tie-in alert! Aug 18 celebrates the sizzling Tex-Mex dish, fajitas. Plenty of Mexican and Southwest restaurants can use this day to draw in crowds for fajita specials.
National Potato Day
Potatoes in any form – mashed, fried, baked, chips – deserve love on Aug 19. Maybe run a feature on unique French fry or loaded potato creations.
National Lemonade Day
Late August heat calls for lemonade. Aug 20 is a day for this refreshing drink; lots of lemonade stands and possibly charity fundraisers for kids happen around this time.
National Sweet Tea Day
A Deep South staple, sweet iced tea, gets its own day on Aug 21. Brew up a pitcher of sweet tea and enjoy that porch life.
National Bao Day
A newer addition, celebrating the Asian steamed buns (bao). Aug 22 is a great day to spotlight local dim sum or food truck offerings of char siu bao, soup dumplings, etc.
National Cuban Sandwich Day
The Cuban sandwich (ham, roast pork, cheese, pickles, mustard, pressed) has a cult following. Aug 23 is now recognized by many restaurants and Cuban communities.
National Waffle Day
August 24 marks the anniversary of the first U.S. patent for a waffle iron (1869). Breakfast joints and chicken & waffle eateries rejoice.
National Whiskey Sour Day
A classic cocktail (whiskey, lemon, sugar, sometimes egg white) is saluted on Aug 25. Bars might do $5 whiskey sours or you can shake one up at home.
National Cherry Popsicle Day
Like Grape Popsicle Day in May, here we have Cherry in late August. Keep cool with a red popsicle on Aug 26.
National Burger Day (UK)
In the UK, Aug 27 is sometimes celebrated as Burger Day. In the US we did May 28, but hey, nobody's stopping you from a second burger holiday.
National Red Wine Day
As summer winds down, pour a glass of red. Aug 28 is for red wine appreciation. Wineries and wine shops might promote certain varietals today.
More Herbs, Less Salt Day
A health-focused day encouraging flavoring with herbs instead of salt – Aug 29 reminds us to season smart. Not exactly a foodie 'party' holiday, but a good advice day.
National Toasted Marshmallow Day
With summer bonfires wrapping up, Aug 30 celebrates toasted marshmallows (and by extension, s'mores again). Roast a marshmallow over a flame and enjoy that smoky sweetness.
National Eat Outside Day
The last day of August encourages outdoor dining. Whether it's a picnic, a backyard BBQ, or just lunch al fresco, Aug 31 is about enjoying food in the great outdoors.