2021
Later action
Indigenous Peoples' Day
Proclaimed October 11, 2021 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day for that federal executive observance edition.
Evergreen date guide
What is celebrated on October 8?
See the observances and verified observance-history milestones attached to October 8. Each observance keeps its own source and date details.
Verified history
Today in history →On this date in observance history
Selected observance milestones connected to this date, based on reviewed sources.
2019
First observance
Harbormaster Appreciation Day
The official site explicitly identifies Tuesday, October 8, 2019 as the inaugural event.
2019
Institutional decision
National HSA Awareness Day
The public launch announcement is dated October 8, 2019.
2016
First observance
Bookshop Day
The Booksellers Association’s 2016 announcement calls October 8, 2016 the first Bookshop Day for the UK and Ireland; its 2017 release says Bookshop Day launched in 2016.
2015
First observance
National Salmon Day
The launch source states that the annual celebration would begin in 2015 on October 8.
2015
Later action
National Salmon Day
Local civic proclamations supported the inaugural National Salmon Day campaign; they did not establish a U.S. federal public holiday.
2009
Later action
National Day on Writing
Supported the designation of October 20, 2009, as National Day on Writing and encouraged participation.
Reviewed depth
Other in-depth guides on October 8
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Air Force Day / Indian Air Force Day
India’s Ministry of Defence, via the Press Information Bureau, documents the Indian Air Force anniversary and Air Force Day on October 8 in official 2025 communications, supporting the fixe…
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Harbormaster Appreciation Day
The official Harbormaster Appreciation Day site states that US Harbors started the observance in 2019 and that it occurs annually on October 8.
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
National Salmon Day
Chicken of the Sea-created launch material establishes National Salmon Day as an annual October 8 observance beginning in 2015; current Chicken of the Sea material continues to use October…
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Octopus Day
TONMO states that it initiated World Octopus Day; its preserved 2007 community thread documents the lineage that evolved into Cephalopod Awareness Days and October 8 World Octopus Day.
Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide
World Sight Day
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the global eye-health community
Explore the mix
All topics →Topics represented on October 8
5 observances
All observances on this date
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Air Force Day / Indian Air Force Day
India’s Ministry of Defence, via the Press Information Bureau, documents the Indian Air Force anniversary and Air Force Day on October 8 in official 2025 communications, supporting the fixe…
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Harbormaster Appreciation Day
The official Harbormaster Appreciation Day site states that US Harbors started the observance in 2019 and that it occurs annually on October 8.
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
National Salmon Day
Chicken of the Sea-created launch material establishes National Salmon Day as an annual October 8 observance beginning in 2015; current Chicken of the Sea material continues to use October…
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Octopus Day
TONMO states that it initiated World Octopus Day; its preserved 2007 community thread documents the lineage that evolved into Cephalopod Awareness Days and October 8 World Octopus Day.
Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide
World Sight Day
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the global eye-health community
How dates are selected
This page combines fixed annual dates, reusable calendar rules and year-specific dates confirmed for 2026. Variable or historical dates are included only when they are clearly supported.
Read the methodology →