Throughout the year, there are many events and holidays that aim to raise awareness for and prevent various diseases, conditions, mental health disorders, health and humanity crises, violence in the nation and more.
Help the South Dakota Department of Health raise awareness for these events or even host your own event. Let’s make South Dakotans healthier and happier one event at a time.
2026 Health Holidays
Cervical Health Awareness Month
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
National Stalking Awareness Month
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Offices closed)
National Cancer Prevention Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
National Eating Disorders Awareness Month
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
7 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
7-14 Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
16 Presidents' Day (State Offices Closed)
17 Random Acts of Kindness Day
22 National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day
23- March 1 National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Endometriosis Awareness Month
Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month
National Professional Social Work Month
10 National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
8-14 Sleep Awareness Week
8-14 Patient Safety Awareness Week
8-14 Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week
17 Saint Patrick’s Day
15-21 National Poison Prevention Week
16-22 Brain Awareness Week
National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
National Minority Health Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Awareness Month
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
5 Easter
6-10 SD Week of Work
6-12 National Public Health Week
13-19 STI Awareness Week
19-25 Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
19-25 National Infertility Awareness Week
National Hearing and Speech Month
High Blood Pressure Awareness Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Stroke Awareness Month
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness Month
3-9 Public Service Recognition Week
6-12 National Nurses Week
7 Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
10 Mother’s Day
10-16 National Women's Health Week
11 National Women’s Checkup Day
19 National Hepatitis Testing Day
25 Memorial Day (State Offices Closed)
Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month
1-7 National CPR and AED Awareness Week (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
7 National Cancer Survivors Day
8-14 Men's Health Week
19 Juneteenth (State Offices Closed)
21 Father's Day
4 Independence Day (State Offices Closed)
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
National Cholesterol Education Month
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Newborn Screening Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
7 Labor Day (State Offices Closed)
6-12 National Suicide Prevention Week
10 World Suicide Prevention Day
13 Grandparents' Day
13-19 National Folic Acid Awareness Week
18 National Concussion Awareness Day
21-25 Falls Prevention Awareness Week
21-27 National Farm Safety and Health Week
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Physical Therapy Month
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
2 National Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) Recognition Day
4-10 Mental Illness Awareness Week
7 National Walk and Bike to School Day
4-10 Mental Illness Awareness Week
8 National Depression Screening Day
12 Native American Day (State Offices Closed)
13 Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
23-31 Red Ribbon Week
National Family Caregivers Month
National Hospice and Palliative Care Month
National Prematurity Awareness Month
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
1-7 National Diabetes Education Week
4 National Stress Awareness Day
9 Diabetes Heart Connection Day
11 Veterans Day (State Offices Closed)
18-24 U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week
21 International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day
26 Thanksgiving (State Offices Closed)
Impaired Driving Prevention Month
Safe Toys and Celebrations Month
Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
6-12 National Influenza Vaccination Week
7-13 National Handwashing Awareness Week
25 Christmas (State Offices Closed)
Upcoming Health Board Events
South Dakota professional licensing boards host their own events and meetings. Find a board meeting or event with a specific licensing board through the board portal.