National Donald Duck Day

National Donald Duck Day - Sunday, June 9, 2024

Arts & Entertainment Children Pop Culture

Donald Duck made his cartoon debut in “The Wise Little Hen” back in the summer of 1934. But he wouldn’t meet Mickey Mouse until his second appearance in “Orphan’s Benefit” later that year. From there, it wasn’t long before Daisy Duck and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie were introduced. In spite of their superior diction, they weren’t able to steal the spotlight from Donald. You can’t replace his grumpy, nearly incomprehensible charm, and it’s why the Donald has been in more movies (200+) than any Disney character. So, let’s celebrate on June 9 — National Donald Duck Day!

And his accomplishments don’t stop there. He co-hosted the Oscars in 1958 with a little help from Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, and Jimmy Stewart. Oh, and they named an asteroid after him in 1995. If that doesn’t convince you he’s a force of nature, know that he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We’re not sure how he left webbed foot prints in front of the Chinese Theater, but we’ll gladly roll with it. Well, what do you give to a duck that has it all? His own holiday! 

National Donald Duck Day Activities

  1. Indulge in Donald

    Rejoice! You've got about 225 Donald Duck movies to choose from. That number might sound intimidating, but it doesn't hurt to have so many good options. If you're in the mood for something fun and action-packed, check out "Mickey, Donald, and Goofy: The Three Musketeers." But if you'd rather curl up with a book, there's no shortage of comics. Pretty much anything drawn by Carl Barks is gold.

  2. Throw a Donald Duck theme party

    You don't have to go all out (we advise you to wear pants), but wearing a red tie and sailor hat will get everyone in the spirit. For good measure, you might want to encourage your guests to strap on a duck nose piece. And if the whole costume thing doesn't appeal to everybody, there's always T-shirts. To make things a little more fun, why not have a contest for the coolest Donald Duck T? Whether they're custom or store-bought, there are bound to be some funny surprises.

  3. Go to Disneyland or Walt Disney World

    If you're around, drop in and pay Donald a visit in person. What's great about mascots is that they're fun for the whole family. Kids get to see a cartoon character come to life, and adults get to relive their childhood for a bit. But be warned: Donald's a very popular duck. Practicing your Donald Duck voice is a good way to pass the time while waiting in line.

Why We Love National Donald Duck Day

  1. That voice 

    Donald Duck has one of the most iconic voices in Hollywood, and it’s ripe for imitation. Have you ever imitated the voice of your favorite cartoon character? It's a lot of fun, and in true Donald Duck fashion, you don't have to make sense. Truthfully, the fewer the number of people who understand you, the better. That's how you know you're nailing your impression on National Donald Duck Day.

  2. He teaches us about real ducks 

    Donald isn't just any type of duck; he's an American Peking duck. As the name hints, this species of duck was mainly bred in China. They didn't become popular in the U.S. until 1873. Interestingly enough, the Peking duck made its stateside debut in Long Island, but Donald's accent doesn't reflect that. This only further demonstrates his acting genius.

  3. He inspired some of our favorite cartoons

    Without Donald Duck, we wouldn't have some of our favorite cartoons from the '90s — "Duck Tales" being one of them. Who could forget the scene of Scrooge McDuck swimming through piles of money? Every kid fantasized about doing that at least once, and it's sad to think where we'd be without it. An even sadder thought is a world where Darkwing Duck doesn't exist.

Also on Sun Jun 9, 2024...

International Dark 'n Stormy® Day
Jun 09
Donald Duck Day
Jun 09
Rosé Day
Jun 09
Call Your Doctor Day
Jun 09