National Unicorn Day: When It Is & How To Celebrate (2024)

Unicorns have captured our imaginations for hundreds of years, from the famous medieval Unicorn Tapestries to the 1980s fantasy movie called The Last Unicorn. The mythical creature itself was a symbol of purity that was believed to have the ability to make poisoned water drinkable and heal illnesses using its powerful magical horn. In modern times, the unicorn has also come to be a symbol of the LGBT community, along with the more famous rainbow flag.

Considering their numerous layers of symbolic importance and meaning dating back to the Middle Ages and even earlier, it’s no surprise that unicorns have their very own holiday. Keep reading to learn when National Unicorn Day takes place and to get inspired by our array of varied suggestions for celebrating the holiday yourself. 

When is National Unicorn Day?

National Unicorn Day falls on April 9th in the United States.

How to celebrate National Unicorn Day in 2024

Although these days we often associate a love of unicorns with children, celebrating National Unicorn Day isn’t limited to kids! Anyone of any age can embrace this beautiful mythical creature on April 9th. Here are some of our top suggestions for ways to celebrate.

Dress up in a unicorn costume

Ready to truly embrace the whimsy and enchantment of these magical creatures? Dress up in a unicorn costume, or if you’re feeling a little less daring, in an outfit inspired by your favorite unicorn imagery. You’ll have tons of options to choose from when it comes to unicorn costumes—just check out what’s available in this category from Spirit Halloween to get started.

A unicorn-themed outfit, meanwhile, could be a graphic tee depicting a unicorn paired with glittery tights (or whatever appeals most to you and your sense of fashion). National Unicorn Day is also a great opportunity for a costume party, so keep reading for our advice on throwing a party to celebrate the holiday.

For more celebratory suggestions, check out these creative unicorn birthday party ideas!

Watch movies about unicorns

Fantasy movies transport us to other worlds, and movies about unicorns are no exception. If your biggest lament on National Unicorn Day is the fact that unicorns aren’t real and you can’t go out into your local forest and meet one, then watching a movie about unicorns might be the best solution.

From classics like the aforementioned The Last Unicorn to 2023’s Sparkle: A Unicorn Tale, escaping into some of these mesmerizing cinematic realms for a few hours is one of the best ways to celebrate National Unicorn Day.

Do a unicorn crafting activity

There are so many options when it comes to unicorn-themed crafts. Whether you’re more excited about creating your own unicorn headbands adorned with shimmering horns and a flowing mane, making your own unicorn plushies to cuddle with, or even mixing up some glittery unicorn slime to play with—there’s a unicorn craft out there that you’re sure to enjoy. Browse the internet to discover countless unicorn crafting tutorials, or start your search with this list of unicorn crafts from Craft Play Learn.

Visit a local horse stable

Although horses don’t have magical powers or large, pointed horns spiraling out of the middle of their heads, they are undeniably the closest thing we have to actual unicorns. That’s why taking a trip to a local horse barn to hang out with the horses is a great way to celebrate National Unicorn Day!

Even if you’ve never ridden a horse, you can ask the owners of the barn whether you’d be able to spend time with a friendly horse or two, and perhaps even get to know the horses better by grooming them. Kids are sure to be especially excited about the opportunity to meet and hang out with a horse.

Learn some fun facts about unicorns

One of the best ways to celebrate National Unicorn Day is by educating yourself about these fantasy creatures. To get you started, here are some of our favorite fun facts about unicorns:

• The first known image of a unicorn dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed around 2000 BCE.
• The Ancient Greeks believed that unicorns were real and that they were native to India.
• The unicorn’s horn was believed to be made of a substance called “alicorn.” In the Middle Ages, Europeans sold fake alicorn powder while promising powerful medical properties. In reaility, these powders were often made from narwhal tusks, other animal horns, or ivory from animals such as elephants.
• Unicorns are Scotland’s national animal and were added to various Scottish coats of arms beginning in the 12th century.
• The word “unicorn” comes from the Latin word “unicornis,” which translates to “having one horn.” It breaks down to the words “uni-” (one) and “cornu” (horn). 
• A unicorn is different from a winged horse, like the Greek myth of Pegasus—unicorns aren’t typically depicted as having wings. However, even without wings, they are sometimes shown as being capable of flight.
• Traditionally, unicorns don’t just have the bodies of horses. They have often been represented as having the beard and cloven hooves of a goat, as well as a lion’s tail (in some cases).

Do some additional research on this fascinating and fantastical myth to learn more fun unicorn facts to share with your friends!

Plan a celebratory, unicorn-themed event

What better way to celebrate any holiday than with a party? Make National Unicorn Day a total success by planning a unicorn-themed party and inviting all your favorite people. Start by decorating your party space with rainbows, glitter, and of course, plenty of unicorn imagery (thanks to their popularity, it’s not hard to find unicorn decor at most party supply stores, whether online or brick-and-mortar).

Set the mood for your party by putting together a playlist of mystical, fantasy-themed tunes and inviting guests to dress in their most fantastical attire. In terms of activities, consider incorporating a unicorn-themed scavenger hunt where participants search for unicorn-related hidden treasures.

Get your guests engaged creatively by creating a DIY station where guests can craft their own unicorn horns, design magical accessories, or do another fun craft (see our section above on this topic for more advice). Capture the festivities for posterity with a photo booth, complete with unicorn props and fantasy backdrops. And of course, don’t forget to serve a feast fit for a mythical creature, including rainbow-colored treats and colorful beverages. 

You know what goes great with National Unicorn Day? Rainbow themed photoshoot ideas! Check them out.

Book a unicorn party-perfect venue on Peerspace

Anytime you’re planning a party, giving careful consideration to your choice of venue should be at the top of your to-do list. A high-quality party venue can make your celebration a total hit, while a less-than-ideal party location can ruin the experience for you and your guests.

If you’d rather not host your unicorn party at home, renting a venue is a great alternative. Search for the best party venues near you via Peerspace, the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals. 

Peerspace can connect you with tens of thousands of spaces based in hundreds of cities in the United States, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Europe, and beyond. The site also makes it easy to browse its enormous selection by offering searchers a range of intuitive filters to choose from, making narrowing your search down only to options that suit your requirements a total breeze.

Whether your priority is finding a space within your budget, discovering an outdoor space where you can have an adorable picnic, ensuring the space is available at a particular time/on a particular date, or some other specific criterion, it’s easy to find spaces that meet your exact specifications. 

Peerspace’s search filters include the following options, among others:

• Hourly rental price
• Total number of attendees
• The date and time of your event
• Keywords included in the listing description
• Indoor spaces (such as bedrooms, dining areas, etc.)
• Outdoor spaces (including beaches, lawns, etc.)
• Style and aesthetic of the space
• Space type
• Whether or not you can book the space instantly
• Amenities
• And more

After narrowing down your search to your desired level of specificity, your next step should be to look through individual listings in your search results to find the venue of your dreams for your National Unicorn Day celebration.

Thankfully, each Peerspace listing includes all the information you will need to make your final choice: high-quality photos, detailed descriptions of the space written by the host, and in some cases, star ratings and honest reviews from those who have previously rented the venue. In case all of this detailed information isn’t enough for you to make a decision, it’s super easy to contact the host of a listing directly and ask them questions or make specific requests not addressed in the listing itself.

Last but not least, once you’ve selected a space, all you need to do is pick your event date/time and click a button in the listing to reserve it for your event and make your National Unicorn Day a smashing success!

Find unique party venues for National Unicorn Day on Peerspace