May is here—and so is GSMCON!

This month isn’t just packed with observances to power up your content—it’s also when the biggest event in government social media hits the stage. Whether you’re heading to Lake Buena Vista or joining virtually, GSMCON2025 is your opportunity to learn, connect, and recharge your strategy. Registration officially closes May 9, 2025—get your ticket today.

And while you’re prepping for that, we’ve gathered May’s top observances to help you plan timely, engaging content. From major awareness campaigns to offbeat holidays, this roundup is your go-to source for what’s coming up.

Looking ahead? Our 2025 Observance Calendar Roundup Download covers the full year—download it for free and keep your posts on point all year long.

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 May

• ALS Awareness Month
• American Wetlands Month
• Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
• Building Safety Month
• Chip Your Pet Month
• Clean Air Month
• Family Wellness Month
• Garden for Wildlife® Month
• Get Caught Reading Month
• Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
• Haitian Heritage Month
• Jewish American Heritage Month
• Labor History Month
• Latino Books Month
• Lupus Awareness Month
• Meditation Month
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• Military Appreciation Month
• Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
• National Barbecue Month
• National Bicycle Safety Month
• National Foster Care Month
• National Inventors Month
• National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
• National Preservation Month
• National Speech-Language-Hearing Month
• National Walking Month
• National Water Safety Month
• National Wildfire Awareness Month
• Older Americans Month
• Skin Cancer Awareness Month
• Small Business Month
• Stroke Awareness Month
• Women’s Health Month

Weeks observed in May

• 1-7: Hurricane Preparedness Week
• 1-7: National Physical Education and Sport Week
• 4-10: Amphibian Week
• 4-10: Be Kind to Animals Week
• 4-10: Drinking Water Week
• 4-10: Emergency Preparedness Week (Canada)
• 4-10: International Composting Awareness Week
• 4-10: National Correctional Officers Week
• 4-10: National Pet Week
• 4-10: National Small Business Week
• 4-10: National Travel and Tourism Week
• 4-10: North American Occupational Safety & Health Week
• 4-10: Public Service Recognition Week
• 5-11: Children’s Book Week
• 5-9: Construction Safety Week
• 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week
• 6-12: National Nurses Week
• 9-18: Go Public Gardens Days
• 9-13: UN Global Road Safety Week
• 11-17: National Hospital Week
• 11-17: National Police Week
• 11-17: National Prevention Week
• 11-17: National Women’s Health Week
• 17-23: National Safe Boating Week
• 18-24: National Emergency Medical Services Week
• 18-24: National Public Works Week

Days observed in May

• 1: International Workers’ Day
• 1: May Day
• 1: National Day of Prayer
• 1: School Principals’ Day
• 1: Silver Star Service Banner Day
• 2: Harry Potter Day
• 2: National Space Day
• 2: School Lunch Hero Day
• 2: World Tuna Day
• 3: Kentucky Derby
• 3: National Explosive Ordinance Disposal Day
• 3-4: National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend
• 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day
• 3: Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
• 3: World Press Freedom Day
• 4: International Firefighters’ Day
• 4: Kent State Shootings Remembrance
• 4: National Weather Observers Day
• 4: Star Wars Day
• 4: World Laughter Day
• 5: Childhood Depression Awareness Day
• 5: Cinco de Mayo
• 5: Great Lakes Awareness Day
• 5: National Astronaut Day
• 5: National Day for Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• 5: World Hand Hygiene Day
• 5: World Portuguese Language Day
• 6: National Foster Care Day
• 7: Bike & Roll to School Day
• 7: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
• 7: National Fentanyl Awareness Day
• 7: National Teacher Appreciation Day
• 7: National Tourism Day
• 7: National School Nurse Day
• 8: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
• 8-9: Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War
• 9: National Military Spouse Appreciation Day
• 9: National Public Gardens Day
• 10: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
• 10: National Dog Mom’s Day
• 10: National Small Business Day
• 10: World Migratory Bird Day
• 11: Mother’s Day
• 12: Buddha Day
• 12: International Day of Plant Health
• 12: International Nurses Day
• 13: Children of Fallen Patriots Day
• 14: National Receptionists Day
• 15: Global Accessibility Awareness Day
• 15: International Day of Families
• 15: National Senior Fraud Awareness Day
• 15: Peace Officers Memorial Day
• 16: Endangered Species Day
• 16: Honor Our LGBTQ+ Elders Day
• 16: International Day of Light
• 16: International Day of Living Together in Peace
• 16: National Bike to Work Day
• 16: National Defense Transportation Day
• 16: National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day
• 16: Virtual Assistants Day
• 17: Armed Forces Day
• 17: Culture Freedom Day
• 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
• 17: National Learn to Swim Day
• 17: National River Cleanup Day
• 17: World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
• 18: International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
• 18: International Museum Day
• 18: National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
• 19: Celebrate Your Elected Officials Day
• 19: National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• 19: World Fair Play Day
• 20: National Rescue Dog Day
• 20: National Women in Aerospace Day
• 20: World Bee Day
• 20: World Meteorology Day
• 21: Emergency Medical Services for Children Day
• 21: International Tea Day
• 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
• 22: International Day for Biological Diversity
• 22: National Maritime Day
• 23: World Turtle Day
• 24: International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament
• 24: National Scavenger Hunt Day
• 25: National Missing Children’s Day
• 25: World Football Day
• 26: Memorial Day
• 27-28: Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
• 27-29: Scripps National Spelling Bee
• 28: World Hunger Day
• 28: World Otter Day
• 29: International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
• 29: Mount Everest Day
• 30: International Day of Potato
• 30: National E-Bike Day
• 31: National Heat Awareness Day
• 31: Web Designer Day
• 31: World Foster Day
• 31: World No Tobacco Day