October Calendar Of Events 2024

The following list of cultural and special events that are taking place in October 2024. This should help you to plan and organize for upcoming events and celebrations for October 2024.

1st October

• International Music Day - Since the first International Music Day on October 1, 1975, over 150 countries across the globe have celebrated the power of music to unite societies, communities, and people. The day offers people an occasion to celebrate music and contribute towards a more peaceful, joyful, and harmonious society. Events on this day include concerts, exhibitions, seminars on creating music, lectures, music conferences, and so forth.
• World Vegetarian Day - is the annual kick-off of Vegetarian Awareness Month. Make a difference this October by informing others about the benefits of vegetarianism.
• International Day of Older Persons - a celebration of the older people in all societies, and a reminder to continue developing a society for all ages.
• Be Kind To Animals Week - a nationwide initiative to encourage and inspire people of all ages to be kind to our furry, feathered and finned friends.
• Mental Health Month - a national mental health promotion campaign held throughout October each year. The timing of the campaign centres on World Mental Health Day, which is marked each year on October 10.
• Buy Nothing New Month - is the global movement for collective, conscientious consumption. It's about thinking about where our stuff comes from (finite resources) where it goes when we're done (often landfill) and what are the fantastic alternatives out there to extend the life of our 'stuff'.
• Dogtober - a way to get involved with Assistance Dogs, have some fun and help train another 25 super pups to help people with physical disabilities.
• Walktober - Australia's walking month! It's the ideal time to celebrate walking. October is that time of year when you feel a 'spring' in your step; the weather is warming up and it's a great time to get outside. Join the Walktober Challenge and take steps to make sure that this generation of kids is active and healthy.
• National Safe Work Month - is a time to make your commitment to improving safety and health in your workplace. The 2024 theme is Safety is everyone’s business. This theme encapsulates a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right across all industries and occupations, while reinforcing the business benefit that comes from committing to safer workplaces.

01st October - 6th October 

• Australian Wildlife Week - Australian Wildlife Week, established by the Society in 2019, is celebrated nationally during the first week of October each year to encourage a positive relationship between humanity and nature.

02nd October

• World Farm Animals Day - a time dedicated to exposing, mourning, and memorializing the needless suffering and slaughter of the more than 55 billion cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, and other sentient land animals in the world's factory farms and slaughterhouses. It is a time for all to speak out against the atrocities and brutalization of animals raised for meat, eggs, and dairy.
• International Day Of Non-Violence - The International Day of Non-Violence, observed annually on October 2nd, marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a key figure who championed the philosophy of non-violence. This day was officially established by the United Nations General Assembly on June 15, 2007.

04th October

• World Animal Day - started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. Since then it has grown to encompass all kinds of animal life and is widely celebrated throughout the world. October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
• World Smile Day - is celebrated on the first Friday in the month of October every year. The idea of World Smile Day was coined and initiated by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts. He is known to have created the yellow Smiley Face in 1963. The World's first World Smile Day was held in the year 1999 and has been held annually since.

04th October - 10th October

• World Space Week - This week celebrates the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition as well as every child's imagination.

5th October

• World Teachers Day - a day devoted to appreciating, assessing, and improving the educators of the world. The real point is to provide a time to look at and address issues pertaining to teachers. Strangely one of the most central, vital professionals to society does not receive the respect it deserves in some parts of the world.

6th October 

• World Smile Day - Every year on the first Friday of October the world celebrates World Smile Day. The possibility of World Smile Day was authored and started by Harvey Ball who was a business craftsman from Worcester Massachusetts. He is known to have made the Smiley Face in the year 1963.

7th October 

• World Habitat Day - The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of human habitat.

10th October 

• World Mental Health Day - The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
• World Sight Day - seeks to raise public awareness of low vision. Blindness and low vision are critical issues in Australia, especially with an ageing population. World Sight Day is a global initiative providing an opportunity to raise the profile of the causes of blindness and vision impairment and the preventative measures.

11th October

• International Day of the Girl Child - The Day of the Girl is about highlighting, celebrating, discussing, and advancing girls' lives and opportunities across the globe. When girls come together to talk about what really matters to us, we can teach other people-grownups, boys, and girls all across the world a new way of thinking about issues like gender stereotypes, discrimination, and opportunity. October 11 is not just a day but a movement. 11.10 is bigger than one issue, one organization, or even one country.

14th October 

• Maha Navami is the 9th day of the Hindu Navratri festival and the final day of worship before Vijaya Dashami, signifying the end of the Navratri festival. On this day, Goddess Durga, known for her fierce qualities in Hinduism, is worshipped by Hindus across the globe.  

14th - 20th October 

• National Nutrition Week - It celebrates vegetables and the important role they can play in our health and wellbeing.
• Aussie Backyard Bird Count - BirdLife Australia's first nationwide bird survey. All you need is 20 minutes, your favourite green patch and some keen eyesight (or binoculars!) Record the birds you see on our brand new Aussie Bird Count app (or website) and you'll instantly see live information on how many people are taking part near you and the number of birds and species counted right across your neighbourhood and the whole of Australia.

15th October

• National Mushroom Day - is one day to celebrate all things MUSHROOMS. Did you know that mushrooms are NOT a vegetable? They are FUNGI and belong in a separate food kingdom to ordinary fruits and vegetables
• Global Handwashing Day - was originally created for children and schools, but can be celebrated by anyone promoting handwashing with soap. Over 200 million people are involved in celebrations in over 100 countries around the world.

16th October

• World Food Day - a reminder that everybody deserves and needs access to food, particularly those who can't keep up with rising food prices.

18th October

• Loud Shirt Day - Fish out your flashiest frock, or dig out that awesome Hawaiian shirt you've been hiding in your wardrobe and get it on! Loud Shirt Day is the day you wear something really, loud to help give deaf children the gift of sound and speech. Whether you fancy stripes, florals, polka dots or paisley, as long as it's got colour and pizzazz, it'll be perfect for Loud Shirt Day.

19th October - 27th October

• Children's Week - is an annual event celebrated in Australia during the fourth week of October. Children's Week celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood. It is also a time for children to demonstrate their talents, skills and abilities.

21st October - 27th October

• National Water Week - is dedicated to raising community awareness about current and future water issues and encouraging the community to take action to protect our vital water sources. It's also a celebration of water achievements in painting a sustainable future for generations to come.

24th October

• World Kangaroo Day - aims to celebrate kangaroos and raise awareness to the largest commercial slaughter of land-based wildlife in the world. Loss of habitat, bushfires, drought, predators, legal and illegal hunting, car accidents, fences, disease and animal cruelty are driving local populations of kangaroos to extinction. Instead of protecting kangaroos, each year Australian Governments sanction the commercial slaughter of millions of kangaroos for their meat and skins. World Kangaroo Day shines a light on the problems facing Australia's kangaroo. We need to raise awareness and educate people because the commercial kangaroo industry is shrouded in 50 years of claims, which are no longer true - if they ever were. It's time to debunk the myths and educate the public before more local kangaroo populations become extinct.
• Bandana Day - This year's National Bandana Day aims to raise $1.7 million to help young people living with cancer. The theme for this year's event is "Attitude is Everything - Buy It, Wear It". By selling, buying and wearing bandannas, you can show your support for young people as they fight cancer.

25th October 

• World Pasta Day - The World Pasta Day holiday itself only recently began in 1995 when 40 pasta producers from around the world gathered to hold the first World Pasta Congress. Since then, diners around the world have joined forces each October to pay tribute to one of the most delicious and versatile foods ever.
• Day For Daniel - is Australia’s largest national child safety education and awareness day and honours the memory of Daniel Morcombe.

31st October 

• Halloween - The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, an evening when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. It symbolises the traditional belief that on Halloween, the night before All Saints’ Day, the souls of those who died would visit their former homes.

Please make sure to like/follow our Aussie Childcare Network Facebook page in order to receive events and celebration activity ideas, resources and documentation templates for child portfolios.

Note: This is to be used as a general guideline only. These dates may be subject to change.