Labor Day may mark the end of summer, but it doesn’t mean the fun is over. Between now and Halloween, there are plenty of offbeat holidays that bring a little extra joy, silliness, and creativity to the season. From cheese pizza to reptiles (yes, reptiles), these “mini-holidays” are perfect excuses to shake up your family’s routine.

Here are fifteen fun and wacky days coming up in September and October; we’ve picked five that we think are especially worth celebrating.

1. Read a Book Day – September 6

This is a natural one for Night Buddies fans! Celebrate by building a blanket fort, grabbing a stack of books, and reading by the light of a flashlight. Take turns sharing your favorite parts out loud, or better yet, read in funny voices. Parents can model the fun by choosing a childhood favorite, and kids will love hearing the stories that once inspired you.

2. Talk Like a Pirate Day – September 19

A family classic! Sprinkle pirate phrases into everyday conversations (“Pass the treasure—er, I mean the salt”), dress up in paper hats and striped shirts, or make a simple treasure map that leads to hidden treats around the house. If you’re feeling creative, swap “pirate slang” with your own made-up “Crosley snack slang” for an extra Night Buddies twist.

3. Mad Hatter Day – October 6

Celebrate imagination and nonsense! Everyone wears their silliest hat (the wackier, the better), and you can host a family “mad tea party” with mismatched cups, silly riddles, and upside-down snacks (think sandwiches cut into triangles or upside-down cupcakes). It’s a perfect reminder that creativity often starts with being a little silly.

4. Train Your Brain Day – October 13

Make this day about puzzles, riddles, and games that challenge your brain. Try a crossword, Sudoku, or a homemade scavenger hunt. For a literary twist, invent a brand-new word and give it a definition, just like the made-up terms you find in Night Buddies. See who can create the silliest word of all!

5. Reptile Awareness Day – October 21

Since Crosley the crocodile is our favorite reptile, this one is close to our hearts. Mark the day by learning some fun reptile facts, watching a short documentary, or making a reptile craft (green construction paper and googly eyes go a long way). If you’re feeling adventurous, visit a local zoo or nature center. Or keep it sweet with “crocodile cookies”—sugar cookies with green (or red!) frosting and candy eyes.

15 Quirky Days to Mark on Your Calendar

September:

  • September 5 – National Cheese Pizza Day

  • September 6 – Read a Book Day

  • September 13 – Roald Dahl Day

  • September 19 – Talk Like a Pirate Day

  • September 22 – Hobbit Day

  • September 28 – National Good Neighbor Day

  • September 30 – National Love People Day

October:

  • October 1 – National Homemade Cookie Day

  • October 4 – World Animal Day

  • October 6 – Mad Hatter Day

  • October 9 – National Chess Day

  • October 13 – Train Your Brain Day

  • October 16 – Dictionary Day

  • October 21 – Reptile Awareness Day

  • October 30 – National Candy Corn Day

Little holidays like these might sound silly, but they give families the chance to break up routines, laugh together, and create new traditions. Whether you’re snuggling up with a book, talking like a pirate, or celebrating Crosley and his fellow reptiles, you’re making memories that kids will treasure far more than another “ordinary” Tuesday night.