Observance on June 23 to recognize the plastic pink flamingo lawn ornament and its cultural role in American yards and popular culture.
City of Leominster, Massachusetts (Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella)
City Proclamation
In 2007, Leominster, Massachusetts, Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella declared June 23 as Pink Flamingo Day to recognize the city-linked origin of the plastic lawn flamingo and its designer, Don Featherstone.
Pink Flamingo Day celebrates a piece of Americana that is hard to miss once you notice it: the plastic pink flamingo. It is the kind of decoration that can make people laugh, start a conversation, or instantly tell you something about the person who put it in the yard.
If you have ever wondered how one simple lawn ornament went from a 1950s novelty to a lasting pop culture icon, this holiday has a surprisingly clear origin story. And if you just want an excuse to add a little color and fun to your space, it is one of the easiest days to celebrate.
Pink Flamingo Day is rooted in the real, local origin of the plastic lawn flamingo. The ornament was designed in 1957 by Don Featherstone for Union Products, a company based in Leominster, Massachusetts. What started as a mass-produced yard decoration quickly became a familiar sight across American suburbs.
As the flamingo spread, it picked up a second life in culture. For some people it was simple yard decor. For others it became a symbol of kitsch and playful bad taste done on purpose, a reputation that grew as it appeared in pop culture.
By the 1990s, the flamingo was so recognizable that its creator was publicly associated with the phenomenon. In 1996, Featherstone received an Ig Nobel Prize for Art for the plastic pink flamingo, reflecting how widely the design had entered American life.
The holiday itself came later and it is tied to Leominster. Union Products shut down in 2006, and the next year, in 2007, Leominster’s mayor, Dean Mazzarella, declared June 23 as Pink Flamingo Day. The date functions as a civic marker for the town’s claim as the birthplace of the lawn flamingo and as a way to recognize Featherstone’s role in creating it.
Invite your friends over for a fun and colorful party dedicated to the iconic pink flamingo! Decorate with pink and flamingo-themed decorations, serve drinks in flamingo-shaped glasses, and have everyone dress up in their best flamingo-inspired outfits.
Celebrate Pink Flamingo Day by visiting a zoo or wildlife park that has flamingos. You can observe these beautiful birds in their natural habitat and learn more about them.
Get crafty and make some fun flamingo-inspired projects, such as paper plate masks, tissue paper pom-poms, or painted rocks. These can be great decorations for your party or just a fun activity to do on Pink Flamingo Day.
Gather your friends or family and watch a movie or documentary about flamingos. This is a great way to learn more about these unique birds and appreciate their beauty.
Get creative in the kitchen and make some delicious treats inspired by pink flamingos, such as pink lemonade cupcakes, flamingo-shaped cookies, or fruit skewers with pink fruits like strawberries and watermelon.
Pink Flamingo Day is not your typical holiday - it's playful, lighthearted and full of personality. It celebrates the whimsical nature of these iconic birds and reminds us to embrace our own unique qualities!
Did you know that flamingos can stand on one leg for hours at a time? Or that their feathers get their pink color from the foods they eat? Pink Flamingo Day is a great opportunity to learn more about these interesting birds and appreciate them even more!
What better way to celebrate Pink Flamingo Day than by donning some pink clothes, accessorizing with feather boas and strutting your stuff like a flamboyant flamingo? It's a day to let loose and have some fun!
