Kick off your summer with a splash of excitement by celebrating and learning more about all the special days, holidays, and observances that June has to offer! Whether your kids are already basking in Summer Break or counting down the last days of school, this month is packed with graduations, celebrations, and the arrival of summer. It's hard to believe, but by the end of June, we’ll be halfway through the year. Time flies when you're having fun!
Celebrate and learn about a variety of holidays and observances including National Cheese Day, National Donut Day, Nick Gabaldón Day, the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, Flag Day, Fathers Day, Juneteenth, Summer Solstice, National Oceans Month, and Pride Month. Each of these special days offers unique opportunities for family activities, learning moments, and fun traditions.
Whether you're looking to enjoy a tasty treat on National Donut Day or teach your kids about important historical events like Juneteenth, there's something for every family to enjoy and learn together.
Continue reading for a myriad of ways to help your family celebrate, honor, and learn about these holidays and special days as the season changes and the days grow warmer.
Family-Fun Things to Do in Conejo Valley-Malibu-Calabasas this June
Whenever you're searching for family-friendly activities, check out the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event and activity calendar. It's your go-to source for all the local kid-friendly events and special happenings in and around Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Malibu, Calabasas, and nearby areas in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.
Here are some of the events and holidays to honor and celebrate in June:
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National Cheese Day
June 4
What's super yummy and tastes great with just about everything? Cheese of course! Encourage your kids to try something new, . . . but be warned my teen loves to try new kinds of cheese and it can get pricey. Going to The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is on my bucket list maybe well make a day trip out of it soon.
Need some cheesy ideas to celebrate cheese day?
- Grilled cheese: Make some for the kids - or better yet, teach them to make their own! It's not just for kids: 3 delicious twists on the classic sandwich
- Macaroni and cheese: Did you guess this is our other favorite cheese dish? Macaroni and Cheese, Three Yummy Recipes your Family will Enjoy!
- Grilled Pizza: It's that time of year when grilling is happening more, why not try our Grilled Pizza Recipe
June - Date varies
Nick Gabaldón was a local legend and the first documented Black surfer in mainland U.S. Born in Los Angeles, Nick lived and went to school in Santa Monica. Of African-American and Mexican heritage, he grew up in a community where many beaches were unwelcoming to Black individuals. Gabaldón found refuge at a spot known as The Inkwell in Santa Monica. His passion for surfing led him to venture beyond these shores, discovering better waves in Malibu, despite the considerable 12-mile distance from Santa Monica. Despite the challenges, he paddled out regularly, forming bonds with fellow surfers and earning widespread respect.
Tragically, Gabaldón's life was cut short at the age of 24 due to a surfing accident in Malibu on June 5, 1951, underscoring the risks inherent in his beloved sport. Nevertheless, his story remains a beacon of inspiration, commemorated annually in June on Nick Gabaldon Day for the past decade. Check the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas calendar for events honoring his enduring legacy.
You can learn more about him by watching the documentary 12 Miles North: The Nick Gabaldon Story.
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National Donut Day
Friday, June 7, 2024
Do-nut let this day go by without a celebration. Get one, two . . . or a dozen! National Donut Day is the first Friday in June, but that doesn't mean you can't have one all month long and beyond!
Looking for fun ways to celebrate: Donut Day ways to Celebrate: Local Donut Shops, Yummy Recipes + More!
How about making your own? I'm sure your kids will love to make and eat them! 2 Ingredient Drop Donut Holes Kids Will Love
We've got quite a few great local donut shops to choose from and some famous favorites not so far:
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Watch this kid-friendly video all about Shavuot
Shavuot
Sunset June 11 - sundown June 13, 2024
Shavuot might be less well known than other Jewish holidays like Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but it is one of the three pilgrimage festivals mentioned in the Torah, making it a significant holiday for Jewish people worldwide. Seven weeks after Passover ends, it’s time to celebrate Shavuot. This holiday marks the biblical story of receiving the Ten Commandments and the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Originally a harvest festival, Shavuot is now celebrated by studying the Torah, staying up all night, crafting paper cut-outs, and enjoying local foods, especially dairy treats like blintzes, cheesecake and ice cream.
A fun and delicious Shavuot tradition is eating dairy foods. Many people decorate their homes and synagogues with greenery, sweet-smelling plants, and flowers. On the first day of Shavuot, it is common for men, women, and children to go to the synagogue to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments.
Shavuot also provides a perfect opportunity to connect with the Torah and Ten Commandments and reinforce values we are already teaching our children: honesty, honoring others, and sharing. While not all families regularly celebrate Shavuot, it’s a holiday that’s perfect for kids – offering an excuse for sleepovers, flower picking, ice cream socials, and many other fun activities.
Learn More:
- What Is Shavuot / Shavuos?
- Visit the PJ Library for everything you need to celebrate and learn about Shavuot with your family
- 5 Easy, Cheesy Recipes to Make With Kids for Shavuot
- Easy Strawberries and Cream Cheese Cake Pop Recipe
- Where to find Ice Cream and Frozen treats near Conejo Valley-Malibu-Calabasas
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Flag Day
June 14
Flag Day is an American National Holiday celebrated on June 14th each year, it commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first national flag. If you haven't already this is a great time to hang your American Flag and give a little love to that red, white and blue.
Everyone knows the story of Betsy Ross, but have you heard the story of Bob Heft? In 1958, shortly after Alaska gained statehood, the 17-year-old from Ohio took apart his family's 48-star flag and added two more in a symmetrical pattern for a class project. He explained to his teacher he believed Hawaii would soon gain statehood status as well. He sent the flag to his congressman who, in turn, presented it to then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower selected Heft's design for the 50 star flag after Hawaii became a state, and on July 4, 1960, Eisenhower and Heft raised the 50 star flag together for the first time. The best part of the story? Heft’s teacher, initially unimpressed with his project, had given him a B-. The teacher later changed his grade to an A.
Celebrate Flag day with your family:
- Listen to Bob Heft tell his story on NPR's StoryCorps.
- DIY A Beaded American Flag Pin to Show Your Patriotism
- Cool Berry Flag Cake for Any Patriotic Celebration
- DIY Popsicle Stick Flag Craft
Learn More:
- Celebrate and Learn about Flag Day with Your Family!
- Learn more about the history of the U.S. flag and see several previous designs
- Read more about the History of Flag Day and how to properly display the American Flag
- What Is Flag Day? - Discover the history of the annual holiday and check out 13 surprising facts about the American flag and how to properly display it
- Did Betsy Ross Really Make the First American Flag?
- 10 Rejected American Flag Designs
 kate_sept2004 from Getty Images Signature via Canva |
Father's Day
Sunday, June 16
Celebrate Dads, Grandfathers, Uncles and other father figure in your life and your child's. Here's a few ideas to Celebrate Dad plus some easy Father's Day crafts the kids can make — and he'll treasure. Father's Day is the third Sunday in June.
- Dads are More Than What's On the Card - Celebrate Dad!
- Father’s Day & Making Dad Feel Special – One Dad’s Thoughts
- Life Lessons We've Learned from Our Dads
Free Father's Day printables for your kids:
- Dads, Find Out What Kids REALLY Think: Free Father's Day Printable!
- Get Your Free Father's Day Printable: Let's Play DADLibs!
Take a look at these ideas for some great ways to Celebrate Dad
- DIY Photo Coasters for Dad: A Practical and Easy!
- Say I Love You With These Easy Father's Day Breakfast Ideas
- Dad's Favorite Things Photo Frame for Father's Day
- Dad Rocks Craft and Project to Celebrate the Dad in Your Life
- Dad Rocks Paperweight
Don't wait for Father's Day to celebrate that special guy! Visit the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas Event Calendar anytime you are looking for family fun things to do together.
Juneteenth
June 19
Juneteenth, sometimes called the country's “second Independence Day," celebrates the freedom of enslaved people at the end of the Civil War. It marks the date in 1868 that Texas slaves were told they were free, this was two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Today, Juneteenth emphasizes African American education and achievement and is a time marked with everything from family reunions to rodeos. It is now recognized as a federal holiday in the United States, a state holiday in California and observed by the counties of Ventura and Los Angeles. Please note some libraries and government offices may be closed.
Take a look below to learn more, teach your kids about this important "Freedom" holiday, find yummy recipes and find fun things to do to celebrate with your family.
Ways to celebrate and learn more:
- All about Juneteenth 💚🖤❤️ Celebrate and Learn More with Your Family
- Juneteenth: A Day to Celebrate, Lift Each Other Up & Reflect
- How to Talk to Children about Juneteenth
- Fun Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth With Your Children!
- Family Fun Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth With Your Children
Find local Juneteenth events for your Family to join in and celebrate Freedom in the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event calendar.
 FamVeld via Canva |
Summer Solstice
June 20, 2024
This is the longest day of the year and the official start of the summer. Time to get outside and celebrate, if you haven't already started! For me it has always feels like summer when school ends. It's changed over the years, when I was a kid that meant mid-June, but my kids get out just before Memorial Weekend, which for many is the unofficial start of summer. No matter summer doesn't officially begin until the summer solstice, it always falls on the 20, 21 or 22 of June.
Want to channel your inner geek, learn more here
June Month Long Observances
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National Ocean Month
The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface and is where life began 3.5 billion years ago . . . and yet about 95 percent of the ocean remains unexplored! Celebrate National Ocean Month by learning more about our amazing bodies of waters — from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Great Lakes in between! There's nothing like actually going to the ocean to really appreciate it . . . so get out there and explore!
Look no farther than our beautiful beaches locally in Malibu, Oxnard, Ventura, Topanga, Santa Monica and beyond up and down the coast. Of course we're pretty blessed living here in SoCal we have just a short drive to the Ocean where we can enjoy, celebrate and help protect it anytime we want. Visit a local aquarium or science center to learn more about our oceans and the creatures that call the ocean home. World Ocean Day is June 8th
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LGBTQ Pride Month
Celebrations around the world include Pride Parades, festivals and picnics throughout month to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. These events are held each June as a way to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City. Pride month is an opportunity to celebrate with and show support to those in the LGBTQ+ community as well as related organizations.
Pride Day is June 28: This marks the day when the first pride march was held in New York City in 1970. However, different communities celebrate Pride Day on different days throughout June.
More LGBTQ historical June events:
- World's 1st permitted Gay Rights Parade in Hollywood, June 28, 1970
- L.A. passes the country's 1st Gay Rights Bills on June 2, 1979
- Same-sex marriage became legal across the U.S. on June 26, 2015
- Pulse nightclub tragedy where 49 lives were lost and 68 were injured in Orlando, Florida June 12, 2016
Looking for ways to include your kids? Check the event calendar for Pride events, but keep in mind not all events are family-friendly. Books are another great way to launch a discussion at home about acceptance, understanding, empathy as well as LGBTQ+ rights with your kids, read on for more ideas:
- LGBTQ+ Pride Month Book Suggestions for Kids, Teens and Young
- For Pride Month Events look to the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event calendar
- Helpful LGBTQ resources: Celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month!
- Inspiring stories: Pride Month: LGBTQIA+ Young Adults Share Inspiring Stories
💙 Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas covers the towns of: Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Thousand Oak, Newbury Park and Malibu. I also include worthwhile information, events and activities, classes, fundraisers and other happening in the nearby communities of Simi Valley, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, San Fernando Valley, greater Los Angeles and Southern California.
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