How to Celebrate Unique National Holidays!
By: Ela Rybak’25
Living in the center of Los Angeles offers USC students many opportunities to celebrate unique holidays at cafes, bakeries, and amusement parks. Here are some obscure and unique holidays and ideas for how to celebrate them when you need a random reason to party.
May the 4th Be With You
The first fun and widely celebrated holiday coming up on the calendar is due to its fun name is “May the 4th Be With You.” This is basically National Star Wars Day. As USC students, we are lucky to live near Disneyland, which recently opened Star Wars Land. Batuu shops, restaurants, and the extremely popular and thrilling Rise of the Resistance are within the amusement park. To celebrate the holiday on May 4, Disneyland is hosting a Star Wars Nite on May 2, 4, 8, and 11, where there will be a Star Wars-themed fireworks display, a Galactic dance party, and shorter wait times.
7-Eleven Day
You may be familiar with this one because National 7-Eleven Day, celebrated on July 11, is not just a national holiday (at least to the Internet) but also a fantastic opportunity to get a free Slurpee. There are multiple 7-Eleven stores in Los Angeles and near campus. Once you pick up your free Slurpee, go on a nice drive or to a nearby park.
International Dog Day
Since many of us are away from our beloved pets during school, August 26, National Dog Day, can be difficult to celebrate. However, there are still ways to make the most of the day in LA. Los Angeles Animal Services is always looking for new volunteers to help them at their animal shelters. You can also spend the day at a park or off-leash beach to meet new dogs. One of the best off-leash beaches closest to campus is the Dog Beach at Leo Carillo State Park in Malibu.
National Avocado Day
Unlike National Guacamole Day, which occurs on September 16, National Avocado Day is celebrated on July 31 across America. The avocado has rapidly increased in popularity over the last few decades, leading to the rise of avocado toast as a brunch staple. Just three miles north of USC is the Alchemist Coffee Project Cafe, which offers two different avocado toasts: kimchi and truffle. Both options are on sweet potato rosemary bread covered in the avocado spread and sprinkled with herbs and veggies.
National Cat Day
National Cat Day occurs on October 29 and can be another challenging holiday to celebrate when you are away from your pets. Like International Dog Day, you can celebrate by volunteering at a nearby animal shelter with information at the link above. There are also multiple cat cafes where you can enjoy a snack while playing with cats that are up for adoption. One of the best and closest cat cafes to USC is Crumbs & Whiskers, but do note that you have to make an appointment to visit.
National Spaghetti Day
January 4 marks the ever-so-special and unique National Spaghetti Day. This holiday makes for the perfect excuse to enjoy a nice lunch or dinner with your friends at a highly esteemed Los Angeles Italian restaurant. Pasta Roma is ranked as one of the best places to enjoy an affordable and delicious pasta meal and is only half a mile from campus. Suppose you want a higher-end restaurant for a nice National Spaghetti Day date night; Rossoblu offers a delightful atmosphere for a relaxed drink and tasty pasta while only being two miles from campus.
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