When is Grandparents Day 2024?

Primary Image
Caption

Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September after Labor Day, and it is the perfect opportunity to spend time with the grandparents we love so much!

Photo Credit
Crestock

Grandparents Day History, Activities, and Gift Ideas

Print Friendly and PDF
No content available.
Body

Grandparents Day is always celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. In 2024, that’s Sunday, September 8! While we honor our grandparents daily, take an extra moment to appreciate all the joy and wisdom that grandparents bring our lives.

Why Do We Celebrate Grandparents Day?

The History of Grandparents Day

Marian McQuade hoped to establish a national day that would honor grandparents, and in 1970, she began a campaign to do so. McQuade raised awareness about senior citizens throughout the 1970s. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter declared the first Sunday after Labor Day to be National Grandparents Day. Each year, the president proclaims to keep the tradition going.

Grandparents Day has both an official flower and a song. The National Grandparents Day Council chose both.

  • The official flower is the forget-me-not.
  • The official song is Johnny Prill’s “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa.”

forget me not, the official flower of grandparents day

When is Grandparents Day?

Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day (the first Monday in September).

YearGrandparents Day
2024Sunday, September 8
2025Sunday, September 7
2026Sunday, September 13
2027Sunday, September 12

Grandparents Day Activities and Gifts

Most grandparents don’t care what activity they do—they just want to spend time with their grandchildren.

If you have a grandparent, ask them to show you one of their favorite hobbies. Let your grandparents teach you a skill, like how to fish. Or, perhaps, they enjoy garden walks or nature hikes. If your grandparent would prefer a calm day, ask them to show you their favorite classic movie.

Or, perhaps it would be fun to make arts and crafts together. We have a bunch of seasonal crafts to try, from making hollyhock flower dolls to making an autumn nut wreath.

Maybe you can bring them some treats, like Grandpa’s Banana Bread. Or, try making one of the dishes that your grandparents usually make for you. 

If your grandparent does not live nearby, give them a phone call and make them a card!  Even if the card doesn’t arrive by Grandparents Day, they’ll always appreciate a handwritten card which shows your thoughtfulness. Here are a few simple tips on how to write a proper thank you note (we’ll bet your grandparents know this!).  You can even make a homemade card (with a potato!).

No matter what, the best Grandparents Day activity involves you and your grandparents together, celebrating your family and each other.

boy fishing with his grandfather on a dock
Photo Credit: Crestock

Happy Grandparents Day!

On Grandparents Day, it really is the thought that counts—just make sure your grandparents know that you’re thinking of them.

What’s your favorite way to celebrate Grandparents Day? Let us know below, and happy Grandparents Day!

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann