What days should you keep in mind for your government social media content calendar? Here’s a helpful roundup of some of the observed days happening in October 2023 you might want to consider building content for — or be mindful of — for your government social media accounts. 

We also put together a free, downloadable resource of observed days for 2023! Download our 2023 Observance Calendar Roundup to easily reference days and fill in goals, accomplishments and ideas throughout the year. 

Please keep in mind that this is not meant to be a full list of observances and we encourage you to check with your state/county for any area-specific days or with your peers in our GSM Facebook Community Group or free GSM network. Other helpful resources for additional observances include List of National Days, National Today, Ready.Gov’s Preparedness Calendar, NWS Awareness and Preparedness Calendar, or the United Nations List of International Days and Weeks.

Observed in the month of October

• Adopt-A-Dog Month
• Blindness Awareness Month
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Crime Prevention Month
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• Down Syndrome Awareness Month
• Emotional Wellness Month
• Family History Month
• Filipino American History Month
• German American Heritage Month
• Global Diversity Awareness Month
• Halloween Safety Month
• Health Literacy Month
• International School Library Month
• International Walk to School Month
• Italian-American Heritage Month
• LGBT History Month
• Museums and Galleries Month
• National Animal Safety and Protection Month
• National Book Month
• National Bullying Prevention Month
• National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
• National Depression Education & Awareness Month
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• National Learning & Development Month
• National Pedestrian Safety Month
• National Pet Wellness Month
• National Pit Bull Awareness Month
• National Work and Family Month
• Polish-American Heritage Month

Weeks observed in October

• 1-7: Banned Books Week
• 1-7: Mental Illness Awareness Week
• 4-10: World Space Week
• 8-14: Fire Prevention Week
• 15-21: International Infection Prevention Week
• 15-21: National Friends of Libraries Week
• 15-21: National Teen Driver Safety Week
• 15-21: National Wolf Awareness Week
• 16-20: National Health Education Week
• 16-20: National School Bus Safety Week

• 23-31: Red Ribbon Week
• 24-31: Bat Week

Days observed in October

• 1: International Day of Older Persons
• 1: National Fire Pup Day
• 2: International Day of Non-Violence
• 3: World Habitat Day
• 4: Coffee with a Cop Day
• 4: National Truckers Appreciation Day
• 4: Walk & Roll to School Day
• 4: World Animal Day
• 5: National Do Something Nice Day
• 5: World Teachers Day
• 6: National Coaches Day
• 6: National German-American Day
• 6: World Smile Day
• 9: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• 10: World Homeless Day
• 10: World Mental Health Day
• 11: National Coming Out Day
• 11: National Stop Bullying Day
• 12: National Farmer’s Day
• 13: International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
• 13: Navy Birthday
• 15: Global Handwashing Day
• 16: National Boss’s Day
• 17: Black Poetry Day
• 17: Spirit Day
• 19: Imagine a Day Without Water
• 19: LGBT Center Awareness Day
• 21: National Pets for Veterans Day
• 22: International Stuttering Awareness Day
• 24: United Nations Day
• 26: National Day of the Deployed
• 27: Navy Day
• 28: Make a Difference Day
• 28: National First Responders Day
• 30: National Speak Up For Service Day
• 31: Halloween

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