From Girlfriends to S'mores: 10 August Events You Won't Want to Miss

Those hot days of August are upon us -- and we're loving all this time outside with our kiddos! But it also feels like summer is drawing to a close, with the start of a new school year just around the corner. Here are 10 holidays, events, and anniversaries you and your family can celebrate this August:

World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week, supported by UNICEF and the World Health Federation in more than 120 countries, was created with the goal to provide support for breastfeeding moms everywhere. Aug. 1-7.

National Girlfriends Day

Sounds like a good excuse for a night out with your BFFs! Aug. 1

Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

Today we raise a glass of milk to Ruth Graves Wakefield, the inventor of the chocolate chip cookie. She made the first batch in 1938 by chopping up pieces of a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar and mixing them into her dough. Aug. 4.

National Night Out

National Night Out is a night for community building. Aug. 6

National S'mores Day 

That’s right. Give me s’more. We’ve got lots of takes on this obey gooey delicious summertime treat. Start the day with S'mores Pancakes and then make either these awesome S'mores Cones or put out a Smorgasbord of S'mores for an evening of family fun. Aug. 10

International Elephant Day

Elephants are a threatened species and International Elephant Day is a great chance to talk to your kids not only about this amazing creature, but also other endangered animals and the importance of caring for them and our world. Aug 12.

Hawaii Admission Day

Celebrate the anniversary of the Aloha state's admission to our union. Celebrate with some pineapple yumminess: Pineapple Chicken in the Slow Cooker and Pineapple Angel Food Cake. Aug. 17.

Bad Poetry Day

Get the whole family involved by writing bad poetry together — who can come up with the worst verse? Read them out loud and whoever gets the most groans wins. Aug. 18

Waffle Iron Patented

On this day in 1869 Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York, patented the waffle iron, changing Sunday brunches forever. Celebrate by fixing Two-Minute Cinnamon Rolls or Waffle and Bacon Delight for breakfast and Pizza Waffles for dinner. Aug. 24

Anniversary of 'I Have a Dream' Speech 

Martin Luther King Jr. made his "I Have a Dream” speech on this day in 1963. Today, read the speech in its entirety with your kids and talk about King's message. How far have we come? How far do we have to go? Aug. 28

Kara Murphy is the publisher of Macaroni Kid Erie, Pa.