September 12 Holidays

Number of holidays
11
Day of the year
255
Days left in the year
110

National Video Game Day is observed on September 12 — a second annual video game observance, with a different date than the July 8 version — celebrating the interactive entertainment medium whose global market now exceeds $180 billion annually. National Chocolate Milkshake Day celebrates the blended drink of chocolate ice cream and milk whose modern form is credited to Ivar “Pop” Coulson, a Walgreens employee who added ice cream to a chocolate malt in Chicago in 1922. National Day of Encouragement was established by a group of students at Harding University in Arkansas in 2007 to encourage people to speak at least one genuine compliment or encouraging word to someone. Free Dental Day was established by dental clinics and advocacy groups to provide free dental care to patients who lack access to routine oral health services.

Want to sponsor September 12? Learn how

All Holidays On September 12

Sep12
182 Shares
Special Interest

National Video Game Day
Sep12
Cultural

Abergavenny Food Festival
Sep12
Cause

Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day
Sep12
161 Shares
Special Interest

Drive Your Studebaker Day
Farmers' Consumer Awareness Day
Sep12
343 Shares
Cause

Farmers' Consumer Awareness Day
Sep12
Health

Free Dental Day
Sep12
Food & Beverage

National Chocolate Milkshake Day
Day-of-Encouragement
Sep12
770 Shares
Special Interest

National Day of Encouragement
National Police Woman Day
Sep12
Appreciation

National Police Woman Day
National Report Medicare Fraud Day
Sep12
132 Shares
Health

National Report Medicare Fraud Day
Sep12
Cause

United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation

About September 12

September 12 is the 255th day of the year. More than 10 holidays and observances. Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day was established in honor of Carl Garner, the Arkansas conservationist who campaigned for public land stewardship and whose legacy is honored through annual cleanup events on federal lands. Drive Your Studebaker Day was created to celebrate the Studebaker automobile — the Indiana wagon company that became a car manufacturer in 1902 and stopped production in 1966, whose cars now constitute one of America’s most devotedly maintained vintage fleets. German Language Day was observed on September 12 in 2026 — shifting to September 11 in 2027. National School Picture Day marks the annual tradition of the formal school portrait taken of every student. This page is refreshed each year as new observances are added.

September 12 Q&As

What is the most popular holiday on September 12?

On September 12, National Video Game Day is the most widely recognized pop culture observance, celebrating the $180 billion global industry. National Chocolate Milkshake Day is the most popular food observance, and National Day of Encouragement is the most widely shared interpersonal observance.

What countries celebrate holidays on September 12?

September 12 observances span the U.S., which hosts National Video Game Day, National Chocolate Milkshake Day, National Day of Encouragement, Free Dental Day, and Drive Your Studebaker Day. German Language Day is observed internationally by German-speaking communities.

What are some fun or unusual holidays on September 12?

September 12 includes National Video Game Day, National Chocolate Milkshake Day, Drive Your Studebaker Day, National Day of Encouragement, and National School Picture Day — a date pairing pixels, blended chocolate, vintage Indiana cars, genuine compliments, and uncomfortable portrait sessions.