Fall brings traditional holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving, along with quirky national days students love. This semester, plan pop-up celebrations for National Stress Awareness Day, National Kindness Day, National Game & Puzzle Week, National Sock Day, and more.
Pair these days with branded giveaways like travel tumblers filled with coffee, snacks, stress balls, stickers, and socks — the kind of useful, fun items that delight busy students and keep your brand top of mind.
8 Upcoming Days to Celebrate on Campus
From big traditions to quirky national days, these moments are the perfect excuse to engage students and keep your brand top of mind.
1. National Stress Awareness Day - November 5
Mid-semester is one of the most stressful times for college students, with exams, papers, and campus obligations piling up. National Stress Awareness Day is a great opportunity to acknowledge the challenges students face and encourage them to take a moment for themselves. A small wellness-focused event or giveaway can make a big impact on student morale and show you care about their well-being.
Why college students love this day: This day of visibility validates the real stress they feel and gives them permission to take a break.
How to make it count on campus: Host a pop-up relaxation zone with giveaways like stress balls, mini wellness kits, or mindfulness journals.
Spa Kit
When mid-semester stress peaks, students need quick ways to recharge. This compact spa kit delivers just that in a stylish canvas pouch packed with a heart-shaped gel pack for relaxation, a lip-shaped gel pack for a fun touch, and a soothing round lip balm. It’s a thoughtful giveaway that encourages self-care, helps ease the pressure of exams, and keeps your brand tied to moments of calm and comfort.
2. National Cappuccino Day - November 9
Coffee is a lifeline for college students, and National Cappuccino Day is a surefire hit on campus. Whether it’s a campus café promotion or a giveaway tied to buzzy caffeine culture, this day provides a natural opportunity to connect with students and fuel their busy schedules.
Why college students love this day: Coffee culture is a huge part of student life, from late-night study sessions to early morning classes.
How to make it count on campus: Hand out branded mugs, travel tumblers, or pair giveaways with campus café specials.
16 Oz. Harvest Travel Tumbler
Celebrate National Cappuccino Day without steaming away your budget. The 16 oz. Harvest Travel Tumbler swaps disposables for a reusable, BPA-free option featuring a plant-based flecked finish, mix-and-match color combos, a screw-on, spill-resistant sip lid, and a silicone comfort grip. Set up coffee stations and hand out pre-branded cups with your logo or mascot. Students receive a cup they’ll use daily, and your brand stays in their hands throughout the semester.
3. National Kindness Day - November 13
This day celebrates the power of kindness to create community and connection. On a college campus, National Kindness Day is a chance to promote positivity, inclusion, and small acts that brighten someone’s day. Whether it’s a smile, a note, or a giveaway that spreads good vibes, students respond to efforts that feel authentic and uplifting.
Why college students love this day: Gen Z values inclusivity and social connection, so kindness campaigns resonate deeply with them.
How to make it count on campus: Share kindness-themed stickers, apparel with positive messaging, or “pay it forward” giveaway cards.
Custom Stickers
Kindness Day is the perfect chance to spread positivity across campus, and custom stickers make it easy. These removable vinyl decals feature full-color designs that students can put on laptops, water bottles, and phones without leaving residue. Add uplifting messages, your school logo, or a mix of both, and you’ll give students a fun, portable reminder to share kindness (and your brand) everywhere they go.
4. National Game & Puzzle Week - Thanksgiving Week
Held during Thanksgiving week, this celebration brings people together to relax and connect over games and activities. On campus, it’s the perfect excuse for a fun break from studying, especially in dorm lounges or common areas. Game nights and puzzle challenges can become low-cost, high-impact events that students look forward to year after year.
Why college students love this day: Games and puzzles offer stress relief and an easy way to connect with friends, old and new.
How to make it count on campus: Stock branded puzzles, playing cards, or small custom board games as giveaways for dorms and student centers. You can also distribute individual items for students to use when they need a quick break.
Copperhead Small Wood Puzzle
National Game & Puzzle Week is all about slowing down, connecting with friends, and challenging your mind, exactly what students need around Thanksgiving break. This compact 1.77" x 1.77" wooden puzzle is durable, classy, and portable, making it an ideal dorm room game or a perfect study break activity. We can add your logo or mascot for a giveaway that’s fun, timeless, and a reminder of your campus long after the week ends.
5. Friendsgiving
Thanksgiving is one of the most widely celebrated fall holidays, but on college campuses, Friendsgiving events are just as popular. Students often gather with friends and peers to share meals and traditions before heading home. It’s a time of gratitude, food, and comfort, all things that can be amplified with the right products.
Why college students love this day: It’s a chance to celebrate with their chosen family on campus and create lasting traditions with friends before they head home for the long weekend.
How to make it count on campus: Pair comfort-focused merch like mugs, tumblers, and blankets with food kits or cocoa packets for the ultimate cozy bundle.
100% Recycled PET Fleece Blanket
Friendsgiving is all about comfort, connection, and cozy moments, so make it memorable with an affordable giveaway students will actually keep. This 50" x 60" recycled PET fleece is soft, packable, and easy to brand with your logo and message for lasting visibility. It’s a feel-good pick that supports sustainability with 1% of proceeds donated to 1% for the Planet, perfect for raffle prizes, VIP guest bundles, or lounge-area giveaways.
6. National Sock Day - December 4
This playful holiday celebrates one of the most useful and cozy accessories out there: socks. It’s an easy, lighthearted way for campuses to connect with students during the colder months. Branded socks in school colors or fun patterns show off school spirit long after the event ends.
Why college students love this day: Funky socks are a fun way to show personality while staying warm through the semester.
How to make it count on campus: Give away branded crew socks in school colors, holiday designs, or event-specific styles.
Custom Short Sport Style Socks
These custom sport socks, crafted from a soft cotton blend, feature a full-color design that proudly showcases your school logo or mascot in style. With a solid woven cuff and toe plus the option for a custom tag, they’re built to be durable and fun. Hand them out at events or bundle them with other spirit gear to keep your brand moving around campus.
7. National Cookie Day - December 4
Sweet treats are always a hit, and National Cookie Day is the perfect excuse for a campus-wide celebration. Whether students bake them in residence halls, grab one at a pop-up station, or share them with friends, cookies are a universal comfort food that sparks connection.
Why college students love this day: It’s simple, nostalgic, and brings people together around a treat they actually want.
How to make it count on campus: Offer branded cookies, cookie tins, custom cookie cutters, or packaging for cookie giveaways at events.
Rectangle Chocolate Cookie
These yummy tea biscuits, topped with creamy milk or dark chocolate, offer a gourmet twist that students will remember long after the event. Add your logo to the chocolate and you’ve got a sweet giveaway that feels indulgent, memorable, and perfect for study breaks, pop-up events, or Friendsgiving celebrations.
8. National Ugly Sweater Day - December 19
Few traditions capture holiday fun like an ugly sweater contest. That’s why National Ugly Sweater Day is the ultimate excuse for students to dress up, get silly, and show off their creativity. On campus, it can fuel themed parties, contests, and plenty of shareable social moments.
Why college students love this day: It’s playful, social, and highly Instagrammable, everything college students look for in a campus event.
How to make it count on campus: Create custom holiday sweatshirts, beanies, or spiritwear and pair them with an “ugly sweater” giveaway.
Take holiday spirit to the next level with this playful light-up beanie that flashes and changes colors. Perfect for National Ugly Sweater Day, this addition brings over-the-top fun that students can actually wear to campus parties, holiday events, and share on social media. Warm, eye-catching, and powered with an easy on/off switch, it’s a giveaway that turns heads and keeps your campus brand glowing long after finals week.
Ready to Celebrate Every Campus Holiday?
At Campus Stop, we make it easy to turn fall holidays and national days into meaningful student connections. With a dedicated personal rep assigned to your account, you’ll always have seamless communication and tailored solutions that fit your campus culture.
From quirky giveaways for Sock Day to cozy merch for Friendsgiving, our team helps you pick the right products and plan stress-free. Whether you’re highlighting a single day or mapping out a full semester of celebrations, Campus Stop is here to make it simple and memorable. Visit us at www.campusstop.com or email sales@campusstop.com to start planning.
