August 24 National Days

August 24 is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining until the end of the year.

The date blends science, history, and culture—marking the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the reclassification of Pluto, and the invention of the waffle iron, while also honoring Maryland’s heritage and the legacy of Kobe Bryant. It encourages open-mindedness through strange music, celebrates everyday tools like knives, and indulges in seasonal desserts such as peach pie and waffles.

Here’s a look at the 8 national and international days celebrated on August 24.

National and International Days on August 24

International Strange Music Day was founded in 1997 by New York composer Patrick Grant to encourage people to explore music outside their usual tastes. Grant chose August 24 to honor his girlfriend’s father, a musician who had been a mentor to him. The observance highlights the value of stepping beyond comfort zones, whether by listening to unfamiliar genres, performing unconventional compositions, or simply broadening one’s perspective through sound.

Kobe Bryant Day (also known as Mamba Day) honors the late basketball icon whose career with the Los Angeles Lakers spanned two decades. First recognized by the Los Angeles City Council in 2016, the date—8/24—reflects the two jersey numbers Bryant wore and follows his birthday on August 23. The day features community tributes, basketball events, and reflections on his influence as an athlete, mentor, and philanthropist.

National Knife Day celebrates one of humanity’s oldest and most versatile tools, used for survival, craftsmanship, cooking, and even cultural traditions. The date is often linked to an August 24, 1838 letter by Rezin Bowie, who claimed credit for designing the Bowie knife, a weapon that became part of American frontier history. Observed since at least 2011, the day invites appreciation for the knife’s role in shaping human progress.

National Maryland Day recognizes the state’s history, culture, and contributions to the United States. Maryland, the seventh state admitted to the Union, is known for its Chesapeake Bay seafood—especially blue crabs—its naval heritage, and the defense of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the lyrics of the U.S. national anthem. The day highlights Maryland’s role as both a maritime hub and a cradle of American history.

National Peach Pie Day aligns with the late-summer peach harvest, making it a fitting occasion to enjoy one of the season’s classic desserts. While its origins are not formally recorded, the observance is likely connected to August’s designation as National Peach Month by President Ronald Reagan in 1982.

National Waffle Day commemorates Cornelius Swarthout’s 1869 U.S. patent for a stovetop waffle iron, which made the dish easier to prepare at home. Waffles themselves trace back centuries to ancient Greece and medieval Europe, evolving into the grid-patterned treats popular today. Variations include Belgian waffles, stroopwafels from the Netherlands, and countless regional recipes, making this day a celebration of both culinary history and modern creativity.

Pluto Demoted Day marks August 24, 2006, when the International Astronomical Union voted to redefine the term “planet,” reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet. The decision, based on the requirement that a planet must clear its orbital path, sparked controversy among scientists and the public. Though no longer considered the ninth planet, Pluto remains a focus of scientific study and cultural affection, with “plutoed” even named Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society in 2006.

Vesuvius Day commemorates the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., which buried Pompeii, Herculaneum, and nearby settlements under ash and pyroclastic flows. The eruption preserved homes, frescoes, and artifacts, providing modern archaeologists with extraordinary insights into Roman daily life. The day is both a remembrance of the tragedy that claimed thousands of lives and a reflection on the power of nature and human resilience.