KEY SHOPPER MARKETING HOLIDAYS, SEASONAL EVENTS & MICRO OCCASIONS
Retail shopping windows, usually driven by a holiday or seasonal event, are days where consumption behavior increases - online and in-store. These represent a crucial opportunity for brands to align their marketing strategies with the right occasions and create more targeted, personalized and engaging experiences to connect with their audience, ultimately driving sales and customer loyalty. If you think this only means occasions like the Holidays or Back-to-School, think again! There is a growing trend of ‘micro occasions’ that is driving customers to spend more. Micro occasions are smaller moments/days brands can leverage to further connect with consumers (think National Coffee Day or National Pet Day!). We’ve put together a list of key national and international holidays, seasonal shopping windows and some interesting micro occasions to consider in 2025.
Q1
January | February | March | |||
1 |
New Year’s Day |
2 |
Groundhog Day |
3 |
World Wildlife Day |
2 |
National Science Fiction Day |
4 |
World Cancer Awareness Day |
3 |
Academy Awards |
12 |
Golden Globes |
9 |
Super Bowl LIX |
4 |
Pancake Day / Shrove Tuesday |
12 |
Australian Open (Tennis) |
9 |
National Pizza Day (USA) |
7 |
National Day of Unplugging |
15 |
National Bagel Day |
11 |
National Latte Day |
8 |
International Women's Day |
16 |
Get to Know Your Customers Day |
12 |
NHL 4 Nations Face-Off |
17 |
St. Patrick's Day |
16 |
Religious Freedom Day |
13 |
Galentine's Day |
18 |
March Madness (NCAA) |
20 |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
14 |
Valentine's Day |
18 |
Global Recycling Day |
20 |
National College Football Playoffs |
16 |
NBA All Star Game |
20 |
First Day of Spring |
20 |
Blue Monday |
17 |
Presidents' Day (USA) |
20 |
International Day of Happiness |
21 |
National Hugging Day |
17 |
Family Day (CAN) |
21 |
World Poetry Day |
23 |
National Pie Day (USA) |
17 |
Random Act of Kindness Day |
21 |
International Day of Forests |
23 |
Winter X Games |
20 |
Love Your Pet Day |
22 |
World Water Day |
25 |
National Irish Coffee Day (USA) |
22 |
National Margarita Day |
27 |
MLB Opening Day |
26 |
Chinese New Year |
22 |
MLS Soccer Season |
29 |
Mom & Pop Business Owner Day |
31 |
National Hot Chocolate Day |
27 |
National Chili Day (USA) |
Allergy Season |
|
Winter Clearance Sales |
28 |
Ramadan Starts |
National Nutrition Month (USA) |
||
NFL playoffs |
American Heart Month |
||||
Black History Month |
|||||
LGBT History Month |
Q2
April | May | June | |||
1 |
April Fools' Day |
1 |
May Day (Int’l Workers' Day) |
1 |
Global Day of Parents |
3 |
National Burrito Day (USA) |
3 |
National Fitness Day (USA) |
4 |
National Cheese Day |
7 |
World Health Day |
4 |
Star Wars Day |
5 |
NBA Finals (Start Date) |
7 |
National Beer Day |
4 |
National Lemonade Day |
5 |
World Environment Day |
10 |
The Masters - Golf |
4 |
World Laughter Day |
6 |
National Donut Day |
10 |
National Siblings Day |
5 |
Cinco de Mayo |
8 |
Pentecost |
11 |
National Pet Day |
5 |
African World Heritage Day |
12 |
US Open (Golf) |
12 |
Passover Begins |
6 |
National Teachers' Day (USA) |
14 |
Global Wellness Day |
15 |
Tax Day (USA) |
11 |
Mother's Day |
14 |
Flag Day (USA) |
18 |
Good Friday |
17 |
World Baking Day |
15 |
Father's Day |
18 |
World Heritage Day |
19 |
Victoria Day (CAN) |
19 |
Juneteenth (USA) |
19 |
NBA Playoffs begin |
25 |
National Wine Day |
21 |
First Day of Summer |
20 |
Easter Sunday |
25 |
French Open (Tennis) |
21 |
National Selfie Day (USA) |
20 |
4/20! |
26 |
Memorial Day |
21 |
World Music Day |
21 |
World Creativity & Innovation |
Mental Health Awareness Month |
21 |
International Yoga Day |
|
21 |
Boston Marathon |
National BBQ Month |
23 |
Stanley Cup Finals |
|
22 |
Earth Day |
27 |
National Sunglasses Day |
||
23 |
World Book Day |
30 |
World Social Media Day |
||
28 |
National Superhero Day |
30 |
Wimbledon (Tennis) |
||
Diversity Month |
LGBTQ Pride Month |
||||
Coachella Music Festival |
National Camping Month |
Q3
July | August | September | |||
1 |
Canada Day |
1 |
International Beer Day |
1 |
Labor Day |
1 |
Arbor Day |
2 |
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day |
5 |
National Cheese Pizza Day |
2 |
Made in the USA Day |
3 |
National Sister's Day (USA) |
6 |
National Tailgating Day |
4 |
Independence Day (USA) |
3 |
Friendship Day |
7 |
Grandparents' Day |
5 |
Tour de France (bicycle race) |
5 |
National Night Out |
8 |
International Literacy Day |
6 |
International Kissing Day |
8 |
International Cat Day |
11 |
Patriot Day |
7 |
World Chocolate Day |
9 |
National Book Lovers' Day (USA) |
13 |
Positive Thinking Day |
13 |
The Open Championship (Golf) |
10 |
National S'mores Day |
16 |
National Guacamole Day |
14 |
Bastille Day |
12 |
International Youth Day |
20 |
Oktoberfest begins |
15 |
MLB All Star Game |
13 |
Little League World Series |
21 |
National Pecan Cookie Day |
16 |
National Hot Dog Day |
15 |
National Relaxation Day |
22 |
National Family Day |
17 |
World Emoji Day |
19 |
World Photography Day |
27 |
World Tourism Day |
20 |
National Ice Cream Day |
21 |
World Senior Citizens' Day |
29 |
National Coffee Day (USA) |
21 |
National Parents' Day |
25 |
US Open (Tennis) |
30 |
International Podcast Day |
23 |
Amazon Prime Day |
26 |
International Dog Day |
Back to School Season |
|
27 |
National Junk Food Day |
26 |
Women's Equality Day |
NFL Regular Season |
|
National Grilling Month |
30 |
International Bacon Day |
Self Improvement Month |
||
National Picnic Month |
Back to School Season |
Friendship Month |
|||
National Cell Phone Courtesy Month |
National Sandwich Month |
Hispanic Heritage Month |
|||
|
NCAA Football Season |
||||
|
Black Business Month |
Q4
October | November | December | |||
1 |
International Coffee Day |
1 |
World Vegan Day |
1 |
World AIDS Day |
1 |
World Vegetarian Day |
3 |
National Sandwich Day |
1 |
Cyber Monday |
4 |
World Animal Day |
4 |
National Candy Day |
2 |
Giving Tuesday |
5 |
World Teachers' Day |
11 |
Veterans' Day |
3 |
Make A Gift Day |
10 |
World Mental Health Day |
11 |
Remembrance Day (CAN) |
4 |
National Cookie Day |
13 |
Columbus Day (USA) |
13 |
World Kindness Day |
8 |
National Brownie Day |
13 |
Thanksgiving (CAN) |
15 |
National Recycling Day (USA) |
8 |
Green Monday |
14 |
National Dessert Day |
19 |
International Men's Day |
13 |
National Cocoa Day |
16 |
National Boss's Day |
23 |
National Espresso Day |
14 |
Hanukkah Begins |
16 |
World Food Day |
27 |
Thanksgiving (USA) |
14 |
National Free Shipping Day (USA) |
17 |
National Pasta Day |
28 |
Black Friday |
19 |
National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day |
20 |
National Pharmacy Week |
29 |
Small Business Saturday |
20 |
Super Saturday |
21 |
Diwali |
Movember |
21 |
Winter Solstice |
|
29 |
National Cat Day (USA) |
MLS Cup Playoffs |
24 |
Christmas Eve |
|
31 |
Halloween |
Cold & Flu Season |
25 |
Christmas Day |
|
National Pizza Month |
National Family Caregivers Month |
26 |
Day after Christmas / Boxing Day |
||
Breast Cancer Awareness Month |
National Entrepreneurship Month |
26 |
Kwanzaa |
||
National Popcorn Popping Month |
National Native American Heritage Month |
27 |
National Fruitcake Day |
||
NBA Regular Season |
Holiday Season |
31 |
National Champagne Day |
||
Amazon Prime Day |
31 |
New Years Eve |
|||
Target Circle Days |
Holiday Season |
Download the pdf of the calendar here
Develop Your Brand's Promotional Calendar
Use the retail calendar, including the holidays, micro occasions and retailer promotion windows to develop your brand's promotional calendar. See examples of sales promotions here or consult with one of our experts on a specific promotion, holiday or shopping window, contact us by clicking here.