Every month, there are hundreds of national and international celebrations dedicated to raising awareness and support for meaningful causes.
For those working to bring attention to important topics, it can be challenging to keep track of the next relevant awareness event. We’re here to help.
At Good Good Good, we aim to help people feel more hopeful and do more good. For years we’ve privately curated a comprehensive list of important cause-themed holidays that we’ve used for creating content on our good news Instagram, our Goodnewsletter, our Goodnewspaper, and on this very website.
We’ve organized this list of observances and events by month — and are making them public for the first time. Our hope is that this will help you or your organization bring attention to important issues.
Where applicable, we’ve included resources (usually good news around particular topics, action steps on how to make a difference, or relevant quotes) — and encourage you to share them if you find them helpful.
The main days and months you should know about for April are:
Explore our comprehensive list of national and international months, weeks, days, and birthdays for the month of April:
April Celebrations:
Awareness Months
There are several awareness months celebrated in April — though the five that often get the most attention include Stress Awareness Month, Earth Month, Alcohol Awareness Month, Arab American Heritage Month, and Autism Acceptance Month.
Alcohol Awareness Month
Arab American Heritage Month
Read and share our guide on how to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month.
Autism Acceptance Month
While the more common name for this holiday is “Autism Awareness Month,” autistic advocates prefer using the term “acceptance.”
Community College Month
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month
Cushing Disease Awareness Month
Earth Month
Read and share our guide on how to celebrate Earth Month — and explore some inspiring climate-change good news
Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month
Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month
Month of the Military Child
National Adopt-a-Greyhound Month
National Cancer Control Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
National Counseling Awareness Month
This is the perfect month to start counseling! Learn how to find a therapist.
National Donate Life Month
Learn about how donating life can be an impactful way to give back to your community
National Minority Health Month
National Frog Month
National Garden Month
National Heartworm Awareness Month
National Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Month
National Parkinson’s Awareness Month
National TAR Syndrome Awareness Month
Paralyzed Veterans Across America Month
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
Sports Eye Safety Month
Stress Awareness Month
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Awareness Weeks
Fashion Revolution Week
Week-long event in April
Create a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry by asking “Who made my clothes?” and “What are my clothes are made of?”
International Dark Sky Week
Week-long event in April
Read about the French parkour athletes turning out lights — and how to protect animals from light pollution
National Park Week
Week-long event in April
Read and share our guide on how to celebrate National Park Week. Plus: Learn about fee-free days at national parks, the best quotes about national parks, and the best national park gifts you can give
National Wildlife Week
Week-long event in early April
National Public Health Week
1st week of April
National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week
1st week of April
National Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week
1st full week of April
Porphyria Awareness Week
Week-long event in April
National Dog Bite Prevention Week
2nd week of April
Animal Cruelty / Human Violence Awareness Week
3rd week of April
National Minority Cancer Awareness Week
3rd week of April
National Volunteer Week
3rd week of April
Learn from Crisis Text Line about the best strategy for effective volunteering
Lab Animal Week
Week surrounding April 24 each year
Lesbian Visibility Week
Full week after April 26
World Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) Week
Week-long event in April
National Deaf LGBTQ+ Awareness Week
Week-long event in April
Earth Week
Week-long event in April
Read and share our guides on how to celebrate Earth Month and Earth Day
Awareness Days
April Fool’s Day - April 1
Check out Good Good Good’s article which may or may not be an April Fool’s joke
GLSEN Day of Silence - April, day varies
World Autism Acceptance Day - April 2
This day is sometimes called “World Autism Awareness Day.” Learn why autistic people don’t support World Autism Awareness Day
World Aquatic Animal Day - April 3
Read a good news story about how Sri Lanka is turning old buses into new homes for aquatic animals
World Rat Day - April 4
World Stray Animals Day - April 4
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Remembrance Day - April 4
International Mine Awareness Day - April 4
Bohring-Opitz Syndrome Awareness Day - April 6
National Siamese Cat Day - April 6
National Library Day - April 6
Read about the many reasons libraries are important
International Beaver Day - April 7
World Health Day - April 7
Explore and share quotes about public health
National Alcohol Screening Day - Thursday of the 1st full week of April
Zoo Lovers Day - April 8
Pygymy Hippo Day - April 8
Cushing Disease Awareness Day - April 8
Teal Day (for Counselors) - April 8
Day of Silence (for LGBTQ+ Youth) - 2nd Friday of April
Learn how to support and advocate for LGBTQ+ youth
ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Day - April 10
National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day - April 10
Learn more about the progress the world has made against HIV/AIDS
Parkinson’s Disease International Awareness Day - April 11
National Pet Day - April 11
Read and share the ultimate guide on how to celebrate and make a difference on National Pet Day
World Breathing Day - April 11
Read about the power of breathwork on mental health
World Hamster Day - April 12
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Awareness Day - April 13
National Dolphin Day - April 14
Save the Elephant Day - April 16
Bat Appreciation Day - April 17
World Hemophilia Day - April 17
National Transgender HIV Testing Day - April 18
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Action Day - April 19
Nonbinary Parents Day - 3rd Sunday of April
International Cli-Fi Day - April 20
Explore our list of the best “climate fiction” books
Cannabis Justice Day - April 20
Learn about the organizations working to support cannabis clemency
Tuna Rights Day - April 21
World Curlew Day - April 21
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Awareness Day - April 21
Earth Day - April 22
Read and share the ultimate guide on how to celebrate Earth Day and explore the best quotes about Earth Day
International Pallas’s Cat Day - April 23
National Lost Dog Awareness Day - April 23
World Meningitis Day - April 24
World Day for Animals in Laboratories - April 24
World Malaria Day - April 25
Read good news about the new malaria vaccine poised to save millions of children’s lives
World Penguin Day - April 25
International Day of Lesbian Visibility - April 26
World Tapir Day - April 27
Marine Mammal Rescue Day - April 27
International Hyena Day - April 27
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - April 27
International Guide Dog Day - Last Wednesday of April
Global Pay It Forward Day - April 28
World Wish Day - April 29
Arbor Day - Last Friday of April
Read our curated list of the best tree quotes — and read our review of Ecosia, the tech tool that helps you plant trees for free
National Animal Advocacy Day - April 30
National Therapy Animal Day - April 30
World Veterinary Day - Last Saturday of April
Learn about these inspiring famous veterinarians who inspire us to do good
Save the Frogs Day - Last Saturday of April
Independent Bookstore Day - Last Saturday of April
Read and share the complete guide to Independent Bookstore Day celebration ideas. Plus: Learn about the best online bookstores that aren’t Amazon — many of which support local independent bookstores
Notable Birthdays
Birthdays of leading activists, nonprofit leaders, and other world-changers born in April:
Mykki Blanco’s Birthday - April 2
Jane Goodall’s Birthday - April 3
Celebrate her birthday by reading Jane Goodall’s most famous inspirational quotes
Maya Angelou’s Birthday - April 4
Celebrate her birthday by reading Maya Angelou’s most famous quotes and poems
Lil Nas X’s Birthday - April 9
Emma Watson’s Birthday - April 15
Read the list of Emma Watson’s favorite books about climate change
Chance the Rapper’s Birthday - April 16
Jennifer Garner’s Birthday - April 17
John Cena’s Birthday - April 23
Phill Wilson’s Birthday - April 22
Coretta Scott King’s Birthday - April 27
Get inspired by the best quotes from Coretta Scott King and learn more about her legacy
Lizzo’s Birthday - April 27
Willie Nelson’s Birthday - April 30
You might also like: The Best April Quotes
Explore More Events:
Main Awareness Calendars: All Awareness Holidays | Heritage Months | International Days
More Awareness Calendars: Animals | Pets | Environment & Sustainability | LGBTQ+ | Black & African American | Mental Health | Disability | Cancer | HIV/AIDS
Awareness Days & Months: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Is this list missing a holiday or awareness week/month? Let us know. We want to ensure this list is comprehensive and inclusive.
