Need an excuse to get outside? In search of a special cause to rally behind? You’re in luck.
Every month of 2019 is jam-packed with potential for tracking down exciting local events, meeting like-minded people, discussing important topics, or simply getting involved in a worthy cause. Whether you’re looking for something fun to do, wanting to learn something new, or you’re hoping to get involved in community events, we’ve got you covered.
We compiled a list of some of the coolest, quirkiest, most exciting events coming up in 2019. All you need to get there is – you guessed it – a cool rig from Outdoorsy.
January 21
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Honor and celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an influential civil rights leader who protested racial discrimination and taught the nation that “hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
January 23 – February 2
Sundance Film Festival: Experience the largest independent film festival in the states. Sundance takes place in Park City, Utah, every year and showcases local and international indie filmmakers.
February 18
Presidents Day: Most Americans appreciate an extra day off on beloved President George Washington’s birthday, without giving it much thought. This mid-month three-day weekend is a great time to dig into some U.S. history and learn about the nation’s forefathers.
March 1 – 2
National Day of Unplugging: Step away from your smartphone and join the nation in a total digital detox by disconnecting all of your electronic devices for a full 24 hours.
March 8 – 17
South by Southwest: More than just a music festival, SXSW is an annual showcase of music, mixed media performances, conferences, film screenings, and more. SXSW is known to foster creativity of all kinds and be the “premier destination for discovery.”
March 22
World Water Day: Go #blue4water by advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This year’s theme, “Leave no one behind,” focuses on the sustainable development goal to get fresh water to all by 2030.
April 12 – 14 & April 19 – 21
Coachella: Known for big name artists, eclectic art installations, and epic band reunions, Coachella is a world-renowned, annual music and arts festival held in Indio, California.
April 15
The Boston Marathon: Celebrate Patriot’s Day in true Bostonian fashion by participating in the oldest annual marathon in the world. The Boston Marathon draws spirited runners and spectators from around the world and commemorates the first battles of the Revolutionary War.
April 20 – 28
National Park Week: Celebrate America’s greatest national treasures, by visiting your favorite park for free on April 20! Parks across the country will host special events and programs to highlight the incredibly history and natural beauty found within our national park system.
April 22
Earth Day: Earth Day is an annual event that aims to rally the world to support environmental protection. This year’s #protectourspecies is centered on educating the public, raising awareness, building a global movement, and encouraging people to adopt lifestyle changes that will slow the accelerating rate of extinction.
April 26
National Arbor Day: A nationally observed holiday dedicated to raising awareness for tree planting and preservation. This year, join the noble effort to plant 100 million trees in forests and communities by 2022.
April 26 – May 5
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival: Mardi Gras isn’t the only time New Orleans comes to life. “Jazz Fest” highlights the vibrant music and rich culture of Louisiana and “The Big Easy.”
April 28
Geico 500: The second leg of the NASCAR Grand Slam, the Winston 500 still holds the record as the fastest race ever with average speeds of over 188 mph.
May 17
Endangered Species Day: Take a trip to your local zoo, aquarium, park, garden, wildlife refuge, museum, or partner with local conservation groups to learn about human-caused extinction and our nation’s at-risk species.
May 18
Kids to Parks Day: A national day of outdoor play dedicated connecting kids and families to local, state, and national parks, as well as public lands. Discover and learn about park stewardship, recreation, STEM, and the incredibly history of our nation’s parks.
May 23-26
Hot Luck BBQ & music festival: Barbecue legend Aaron Franklin dreamed up this Austin gathering based on his warm and fuzzy memories of backyard cookouts. This fairly new fest features superstar chefs from around the country cooking a bunch of stuff low and slow and plenty of incredible music, plus craft cocktails — boozy and spirit-free.
May 24-26
BottleRock: Music. Food. Wine. Brew. Get your first taste of summer at the BottleRock Festival in Napa Valley. There is even a salon & spa – yes please glamping!
May 31 – June 2
Bike Travel Weekend: Join thousands of two-wheeled travelers for night bike adventure. How far you go, how long you’re gone, and where you stay is totally up to you, as long as you hit the pavement and enjoy the ride.
May 26
Coca-Cola 600: The third leg of the Grand Slam, the Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race on the NASCAR circuit at 600 miles and has been run since 1960.
Indy 500: May 26 is a great day for autosports. The Indy 500, which runs the same afternoon as the Coca-Cola 600, is referred to as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” and is one of the three most prestigious motorsports events in the world.
May 27
Memorial Day: Pay tribute to the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice by learning about our country’s history. You can spend time exploring forts, battlefields, military parks, monuments, and memorials preserved by the National Park Service.
May 31-June 2
Governor’s Ball: This New York City musical festival mashes it all up. Bonus: Gov Ball Gives Back is a festival volunteer program where the Governors Ball partners with local NYC not-for-profits, and volunteers spots are all filled.
June 1 – 30
Great Outdoors Month: If June 1 rolls around and you haven’t found time to #escapetheindoors, now’s your chance. There’s an entire month dedicated to keeping you outdoors and camping, boating, hiking, or adventuring with loved ones.
June 1
National Trails Day: Designed to protect and preserve more than 200,000 miles of trails, this collaborative, nationally organized effort is meant to inspire novice hikers and trail enthusiasts alike to join forces for a day to appreciate the footpaths available across the country.
June 6
World Oceans Day: Our biggest, blue bodies of water need your help. Honor, protect, conserve, and defend our world’s ocean by participating in an Ocean Day event at your local aquarium, beach, or zoo.
June 13-18
Bonnaroo: Bonnaroo is an annual four-day music festival that takes place on a 650-acre farm in Tennessee. Known as the “Roo,” Bonnaroo features both up-and-coming artists and legendary musicians from a wide variety of genres ranging anywhere from bluegrass to country or reggae and rock.
June 13-16
ROTRally: Everything is bigger in Texas, including motorcycle rallies. The Republic of Texas Biker Rally is not only the largest motorcycle rally in Texas, but also happens to be the largest turnstile motorcycle rally in the states.
June 20-23
Telluride Bluegrass Festival: Every Summer Solstice, 11,000+ Festivarians converge on the historic mining town in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern CO (elevation 8,750’) for 4 days of adventurous acoustic music in the stunning Telluride box canyon.
June 21-23
Firefly: Arrive in style in your own RV, savor your glamping setup, top it off with a Spruce Up Pass and voila! You’ve got yourself a comforable and carefree weekend at the Woodlands (in Dover, Delaware).
June 22
Great American Campout: June is Great Outdoors Month, so if you haven’t spent enough time outside, the National Wildlife Federation, which aims to encourage camping by anyone, anywhere, at any time, is giving you a great excuse to pitch a tent and spend some time sleeping under the stars.
July 1
Canada Day: Enjoy a day of free admission at any national park in Canada, hang with friends and family, fire up the barbecue, watch a local parade, or admire a firework display to celebrate Canada Day.
July 4
Independence Day: Commemorating the declaration of independence in the states, Independence Day is generally a great day to hang out at the park, go to a baseball game, have a picnic, kick back at the beach, or participate in events that celebrate the history and traditions of the United States.
July 4-14
Quebec City Summer Festival: 300 shows, 10 venues and 11 days of music make the Festival d’été de Québec one of Canada’s biggest music festivals. Every year, the Festival d’été attracts over one million festivalgoers to Quebec City’s historic district for concerts by international superstars and top new talent. In 2016: Sting and Peter Gabriel, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Brad Paisley, Duran Duran, The Lumineers, Ice Cube, Selena Gomez, Flo Rida, Half Moon Run, Hedley and Rammstein.
July 22
National Hammock Day: Need an excuse to kick up your feet and enjoy a relaxing afternoon swing? Track down two sturdy trees and sling up a hammock to revel in what’s arguably the nation’s most relaxing celebration.
August 1 – 4
Lollapalooza: Every year “Lolla-goers” take over Grants Park in downtown Chicago for four full days of nonstop, live performances from a mishmash of artists and genres.
August 2-4
Osheaga Festival: Osheaga is a unique and eclectic music and arts festival staged in the breathtaking landscape of Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau.” Spread out over 3-days with a massive line-up, this is a festival that will please just about everyone!
August 9-11
Taste Of The Danforth: Street food festivals play a pivotal role in Canadian food history. Canada is a diversified place, so the taste of the foodies also holds the element of diversity. Taste of the Danforth is the biggest street food festival in Canada that greatly holds the attention of foodies and it was expected in 2016 than 1.65 million people would be a part of this festival and this estimation was not wrong. People have an opportunity to taste the variety of dishes that are presented by the Greek Town Vendors. Classic dishes are the main part of this festival.
August 9-11
Outside Lands: With wine, beer, great food and a star studded lineup, this music festival at Golden Gate Fields in San Francisco is one you won’t want to miss.
August 25
National Park Service Birthday: This year, the National Park Service turns 103! Celebrate the day that President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created the National Park Service by heading to a local park and participating in special NPS birthday events across the country.
August 25 – Sept 2
Burning Man: Every year, a temporary city is constructed in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada to explore diverse forms of artistic expression. Founded on radical inclusion, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, gifting, decommodification, participation, immediacy, and leave no trace, Burning Man is said to be more of an experience than an event.
September 1
Bojangles’ 500: This “track too tough to tame” is the oldest superspeedway race and has long been considered one of the crown-jewels of the NASCAR circuit.
September 4
National Wildlife Day: A day designed to educate the public on endangered species and conservation efforts as they relate to wildlife. Participate in fundraising for rehabilitation and preservation efforts or visit a local zoo, aviary, or marine sanctuary to learn about ways to get involved.
September 21
National Fishing & Hunting Day: Hunters and anglers are some of the most outspoken advocates for conservation and wildlife management. Drop by a local wildlife refuge, fish hatchery, community pond, or park to learn more about the conservation efforts of hunters and anglers.
September 28
Public Lands Day: Join the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort by rolling up your sleeves and participating in restoring or improving public parks, trails, forests, or waterways.
October 14 & November 28
Thanksgiving: A day dedicated for feasting, football, family and, of course, giving thanks.
November 11
Veteran’s Day: Honor the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country by spending the day at one of the nation’s battlefields, military parks, or historic sites.
November 17
Take a Hike Day: Did you miss National Trails Day? Don’t fret – you can still advocate for trail restoration and preservation by hitting one of America’s 60,000 miles of trail on November 17.
Ford EcoBoost 400: The NASCAR championship, which is held in Miami, is where champions are made every November. This track has seen some of the most incredible finishes, record-breakers, and a up-and-coming drivers in the sport.
November 29
Opt Outside: Dodge the post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping madness this year and join the 1.4 million people who are electing to #optoutside and spend time outdoors on the busiest shopping day of the year.
December 11
International Mountain Day: Help spread the word on why #mountainsmatter by finding a local event, climbing your favorite peak, or simply sparking conversation around the critical role mountains play in providing key ecosystems and services to the planet.
December 26
Boxing Day: Boxing Day is a government-mandated holiday observed in Canada that is dedicated to decompressing, shopping, and taking full advantage of one of the final work-free days of the year.
