From fall Holidays to football games and trick-or-treat fun . . . October brings with it all kinds of annual celebrations and traditions! We love this month too because it's a time of transition from hot and warm to what we hope will be cooler weather, you might notice a change in the leaves on the trees and pumpkins are everywhere and I mean everywhere and then it's the start of the holiday season just around the corner.
But that's not all that's happening this month, there is more to October than football, costumes and pumpkin spice!
It's a month packed with meaningful observances, causes, and fun holidays from Homemade Cookies Day to Halloween and everything in-between like Fire Prevention week, there are lots of important observances, traditions, celebrations and fun taking place in October. Let's not forget the cultural / religious holidays you might want to learn more about like Sukkot and Simchat Torah.
Explore these awesome articles to make the most of holidays that began in September and continue into October, like Hispanic Heritage Month and the Jewish festival of Sukkot! 🎉
Hispanic Heritage month is September 15 - October 15
- Celebrating the Diverse, Beautiful, and Vibrant Hispanic Culture
- 10 Family Movies to Watch During Hispanic Heritage Month
- 5 Books our Family is Reading for Hispanic Heritage Month
- Family Tradition: Grandma's Empanadas for Hispanic Heritage Month
Sukkot started at sundown Sept. 29 and ends at sunset October 6, 2023 and Simchat Torah is October 7-8, 2023
- Celebrate the Jewish Holiday of Sukkot With Your Family
- Noodle Kugel a Delish Family Treat
- Delicious Jewish Apple Cake - Perfect for Rosh Hashanah or Sukkot
Anytime you're looking for family-friendly and fun things to do!
Be sure to check out the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event and activity calendar. It's filled with kid-friendly events in Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village and nearby in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.
Here are 10 events and holidays and celebrations happening in October:
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1. Homemade Cookie Day
October 1
Kickstart October with a sweet tradition: baking homemade cookies with your kids. Check out this fun fall recipe for Caramel Apple Cookies - Yum!
If your family really loves cookies you are in luck, because October is also National Cookie Month.
Here are a few more cookie recipes to try:
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies are Jam-tastic
- Chewy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies You Won't Want to Share
- Salted Oatmeal Coconut Cookies that Offer The Perfect Bite
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2. Mental Illness Awareness Week
October 1 - 7
Mental health matters. According to the National Association of Mental Illness - NAMI: 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year, 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
If you need help or know someone in need - dial “988” 24/7
Call anytime to reach trained crisis counselors anywhere in the United States if you need help in a mental health, substance use, or suicide crisis.
More Helpful Resources and articles:
- Learn more about 988 here
- List of mental health resources and support organizations
- One Mom's Mental Health Journey, and Symptoms to Watch
- Mental Health Matters: Why You Should Talk To Your Children Now
Local Resources
- Ventura County Behavioral Health - Mental Health Resources
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health - Mental Health Resources
 goceris | Canva |
3. Taco Day
October 4
Who said tacos are only for Tuesdays? We're celebrating Taco Day on a Wednesday this year . . . which is fine with us because we love tacos every night of the week! Keep an eye on local restaurants for taco deals to celebrate!
Need some recipes to make tacos for your family?
- A Flavorful Twist on Taco Night: Grilled Pork Tacos & Pineapple Slaw
- Try These Easy Fish Stick Tacos your Family will Love
- A Twist on Taco Tuesday - Slow Cooker Taco Soup
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4. Fire Prevention Week
October 8 - 14
Safety first! Use this week to discuss fire safety with your family and ensure your home is prepared for emergencies.
The National Fire Protection Association - NFPA®, Fire Prevention Week™ theme: “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™,” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking.
Here are some Fire Prevention Safety ideas for your family:
- 10 National Fire Prevention Association fire safety tips for families
- Celebrate October With Fire Safety Tips For Fire Prevention Month
- Home fire escape plans
- Fire Safety activities for kids
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5. Indigenous Peoples' Day
October 9
Join the movement to honor and recognize the native people who originally inhabited our lands - observed the second Monday in October. Did you know 19 states in the U.S. + the District of Columbia, along with more than 130 cities across the United States, now observe Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of or in addition to Columbus Day? Indigenous People's Day is Celebrated on the second Monday each October. It's a way to acknowledge, honor and learn more about the people native to our lands.
Did you know that thousands of years ago our communities in Los Angeles and Ventura county were home to many different Indigenous People?
Want to learn more?
Honor Our Nation’s Indigenous People on October 12
Native People of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
We have several local places you can visit with your family:
- Visit the Chumash Indian Museum, Thousand Oak
- Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center in Newbury Park
- Wishtoyo Chumash Village in Malibu - by appointment only
- Autry National Center in Los Angeles
More resources to learn more about the local Native People:
- Chumash
- Original People of Los Angeles County
- Gabrieleño - also known as Kizh, Gabrielino, Tongva
- Tataviam / Fernandeños
- Find the Native American tribes that called your area home on this map
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6. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day / Month
October 15 / October 1-31
Throughout this month, families come together to remember and honor the little ones who left us too soon. It's a time for support, understanding, and healing. This is a time for us to honor and remember the lives lost to miscarriage, SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, stillbirth and the death of a newborn or young baby.
All losses are hard, but it can be even more devastating to a family when the loss is during a pregnancy or that of an infant, it can be even more heartbreaking for the mother. We can use this day to remember the families and offer them support as well.
Hopefully honoring this day can help to break through the silence surrounding these losses. Sadly many women who suffer a pregnancy loss, especially an early loss don't often share what they are going through or even that it happened at all. Not even with their closes friends and family, often mourning quietly alone or with their partner. My heart goes out to anyone currently suffering or who has suffered a loss.
Sadly I've suffered too many miscarriages' to count, it makes me even more grateful I have both of my boys. I also realize some families are not as fortunate, my heart breaks when I meet women who wanted children, but were unable to have them. After sharing my good news that shortly after resulted in a loss I didn't want to share about future pregnancies or the losses that came later. Only my husband, doctor and mother knew at the time. Now that so much time has passed I feel more comfortable about sharing, but honestly it's still hard. I still think about the babies that never came. One thing I've found out from sharing this that not only am I not alone, but loss happens so much more often than we realize. Another reason it's so important to offer support anytime we can.
Life After Pregnancy Loss: One Mom's Story
Related October observances:
- Baby Loss Awareness Week is October 9-15
- National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month
More Information:
- Local Pregnancy & Infant loss support list
- Loss & Grief in pregnancy & postpartum - helpful resources
- Tommy's Baby loss information and support - this is a UK site, but still has a lot of helpful information
- From the Birth Injury Center: Information on Intrauterine Fetal Demise also known as Stillbirth
- March of Dimes - Loss and Greif resources
- Star Legacy Foundation - resources for families
- How Family and Friends can help
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7. National Friends of Libraries Week
October 16 - 22
Did you know that most if not all of our local libraries are supported by Friends of the Library? They're typically a local non-profit run by volunteers dedicated to a specific library location. They usually accept donations of books and sometimes other items such as movies and music - check each location for specifics. These items can be shared with the library or sold in a "store" who's funds go back to support the library, they are often located inside or nearby the library.
Consider shopping at the library's book store, for grown-up and kids books, some also sell movies and music.
Visit your local library for more information on how you can help either by volunteering, making a financial donation or donating books or other needed items.
📚 Use the links below for more information
- Oak Park Friends of the Library
- The Friends of the Malibu Library
- Friends of the Calabasas Library
- The Book Cellar - Agoura Hills
- Westlake Village Friends of The Library
- Book Nook - Westlake Village
- Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library
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8. Make a Difference Day
October 21
The fourth Saturday of October is your chance to make a positive impact in the community through volunteer work. Find a project that's meaningful to your family and volunteer! There are lots of kid-friendly options, they can be as easy as taking a walk through your neighborhood, heading to your local park or trail and brining along a bag or container to pick up trash along the way.
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10. Halloween
October 31
One of the most anticipated holidays of the year for many kids! Dressing up in fun costumes, fun treats, and candy . . . what's not to love?
Local Pumpkin Patches have so much more than pumpkins - Take a look!
- Pumpkin Patch and Farm Fun: Conejo Valley and Nearby! 🎃 October 2022 - Stay tuned as this article is being updated
With Halloween falling on a Tuesday this year expect the weekend prior to be filled with family fun Halloween activities, be sure to check the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event calendar to find all of the great local Halloween activities and events happening!
Month Long Observance
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 1-31
October is dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer, the most common cancer among American women with about 250,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Breast Cancer Awareness Month acts as a reminder to prioritize breast health and support those affected.
- Local Breast Cancer support resources
- How to Decrease Your Breast Cancer Risk: Advice From a Surgeon
- A Sister's Legacy: Young Women Can Get Breast Cancer Too
- Breast Cancer Awareness Decorated Pumpkin
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