29 Things to Do on Leap Day

Looking for fun things to do on leap day? This special day only comes around once every four years, so don't let it pass you by ... check out these 29 creative activities that will help you celebrate leap year, and make the most of this bonus day!

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If you were given a bonus day once every four years, what would you do with it? Celebrate leap year, obviously!

February 29 is one of the most fun days in February, because it only happens once every four years. And I've got 29 super fun things to you to do on leap day this year to help you make the most of it!

You are going to love these creative activities! There's a little something for everyone here, whether you're planning a party or simply looking for memorable ways to spend the day. I've even rounded up some interesting leap year facts, some of which might surprise you!

Ready to get started? Then keep reading for lots of unique activities, traditions, facts, and more!

Fun Facts about Leap Year

Before we jump into the leap day activities list, why not learn a little more about this special day? Here are some fun facts about leap year:

• A leap year is a calendar year with 366 days. While a normal year has 365 days, it actually takes the Earth 365.242190 days (or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 56 seconds) to orbit the Sun. Because those extra 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 56 seconds slowly add up over time, leap years were added to the calendar (almost) every 4 years (with the extra day falling on February 29) to ensure that our calendar year matches the solar year (the amount of time it takes the earth to orbit the sun).
• Contrary to popular belief, Leap years don't always happen every 4 years! This is because even with the extra day added to leap years, there is still a little more time to account for in the calendar. So in order for a year to be considered a leap year, the year must first be evenly divisible by 4. If the year is divisible by 100 as well, then it must also be divisible by 400 to be a leap year. This means that only 1 out of 4 century years is a leap year. Because of these requirements, 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not leap years, but the year 2000 was a leap year.
• The Summer Olympics almost always happen in a leap year. Since 1896, when the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, they've almost always taken place during a leap year. 1900 (which was not a leap year) and 2020 (the 2020 games were postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic) are the two exceptions.
• Presidential election years usually take place in a leap year. In U.S., Presidential elections occur every four years, and normally they fall in a leap year. The exceptions are century years, because only 1 out of 4 century years is a leap year (while 2000 was a leap year, 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not).
• Babies born on February 29 are known as leapers or leaplings! While their actually birthdate only comes around once every four years, most leap year babies choose to celebrate their big day on February 28 or March 1 in off years.
• A number of celebrities were born on leap day. Rapper Ja Rule, Mark Foster of the band Foster the People, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, Olympic gold medalists Cullen Jones and Lydia Jacoby, big band leader Jimmy Dorsey, actor Dennis Farina, and actress Dinah Shore were all born on February 29, as was fictional character Superman! And that's just a start ... this list of celeb leapings has even more.
• Leap day babies are pretty rare. In fact, there are only five million leap day babies in the world, and about 187,000 leaplings in the U.S. According to Lamaze International, there is a 1 in 1,461 chance of having a baby on Leap Day.
• There's a special society for leap day babies. If you're a leapling, consider joining the Honor Society of Leap Year Babies ... it's free!
• Leap year is surrounded by superstitions and traditions. In Ireland, February 29 is also known as Bachelor's Day (or Lady's Priviledge), a day when women are allowed to ask men to marry them. Similar traditions also exist in England, Scotland, and Finland. And in the past, rejecting a proposal from a woman may have led to punishment. This ranged from £1 to a silk gown in England, 12 pairs of gloves in Denmark, and enough silk to sew a skirt in Finland. While some consider being born on leap day good luck, in Scotland it’s said to will lead to a life of bad luck. And in Greece, leap year is considered an unlucky time to get married, with the union sure to end in divorce.

Want to learn more about leap year? Make sure to read the Frequently Asked Questions section at the end of this article!

29 Things to Do on Leap Day

Okay, now that you know a little more about leap year, then jump into the 29 fun things to do on leap day! These creative ideas will help you make the most of those 24 extra hours that you only get every four years!

1. Watch the Movie Leap Year

Don't let the day pass you by without watching Leap Year! This popular movie stars Amy Adams as Anna, an American woman who decides to take action when her boyfriend (played by Adam Scott) still has not proposed after four years. Taking matters into her own hands, Anna makes plans to travel to Dublin where her boyfriend is attending a conference. Once there, she'll propose to him on leap day / February 29, which is also known as Bachelor's Day in Ireland, a day when women are encouraged to propose marriage. However, a series of comedic setbacks derail her plans, and a crabby, but handsome Irishman (played by Matthew Goode) may just show her what true love is all about!

2. Make a Leap Year Treat

Celebrate the day by making a special treat! Bake this colorful Leap Year Cake, cheers your friends with a Leap Year Cocktail, or make these adorable Calendar Cookies with February 29 circled.

You could also make recipes that riff on the numbers 4 or 29 (to symbolize leap year happening every four years on February 29). Look for four ingredient recipes (like these scrumptious Brie and Apple Sandwiches), serve Homemade Crostini with four different toppings, make something with four cheeses, like this easy Four Cheese Slow Cooker Lasagna, or stir together a Trail Mix with 29 ingredients (check out the Variations section for more add-in ideas).

Frog are also associated with leap year (due to them leaping, I suppose), and there are lots of frog-inspired recipes to try! Start the day by making Toad in the Hole (here's a veggie version), a British dish of sausages cooked in Yorkshire pudding-style batter, and end it with these cute Frog Cupcakes.

3. Take a Leap of Faith

Have you been putting off a big decision? Or has a small task been lingering on your to do list for far too long? Leap day is the perfect day to take a leap of faith! Whether you need to make serious decision, or you simply want to try something new (like getting a different haircut or taking a cooking class), challenge yourself to do it today. Need a little motivation? Check out the Leap Year book to learn how small steps can make a giant difference!

4. Propose

Looking for a memorable date to pop the question? If you choose leap day, you're pretty much guaranteed to never forget your proposal date! Plus, it will forever be a romantic date for you and your sweetie to celebrate.

A few countries even have traditions of women proposing on leap year day. In Ireland, where the day is commonly known as Bachelor's Day (or Ladies' Privledge). Supposedly, Saint Brigid made a deal with Saint Patrick in the fifth century that women should be allowed to propose (because men were too slow) once every four years. Similar traditions have existed in England, Scotland, and Finland, as well.

Rejecting a proposal could come with penalties, too. In Scotland, Queen Margaret supposedly passed a law in 1288 that a man who rejected a leap day proposal had to pay a fine ranging from £1 to a silk gown. Meanwhile in Denmark, a man who rejected a woman's proposal had to give her 12 pairs of gloves (to hide the fact that she had no ring to show off), and in Finland, he had to provide the woman with enough silk to sew a skirt.

Obviously, some of these traditions feel dated and more than a little sexist today! But if you're ready to take the leap, check out these tips for a memorable Leap Day proposal from Brides.

5. Host a Leap Year Party

Make the most of the extra day by throwing a leap year party! You could even start a tradition of holding a party every four years. This could be a blow out bash, or you could keep things simple and invite your friends over to watch the Leap Year movie. The obvious theme is frogs, and it could work for kids (go all out) or adults (keep it a little more subtle). But a "What Happens in Leap Year, Stays in Leap Year" theme could also be fun ... I'll let you decide what that means (lol)!

Here are some affordable + fun decorating ideas with a green / frog theme:

1. Decoration Kit - Comes with fans, pom poms, a banner, and more!
2. Green Table Cloth
3. Plates, Cups, Napkins + Cutlery
4. Frog Bucket Hat
5. 29 Balloons - You can get other numbers too, if you're celebrating a birthday!
6. Frog Temporary Tatoos
7. Paper Streamer Kit
8. Frog Balloon Kit
9. Green Foil Party Backdrop
10. Frog Eye Headbands
11. Frog Favor Bags - These would make cute popcorn bags too, if you're planning a movie / TV show viewing party!

6. Make Goals for the Next Four Years

Setting a goal (or two) for the next four years is one of the best things to do on leap day! This could be a work-related goal, a personal resolution, or even just a reflection on where you'd like to see yourself in four years. You could even make a vision board or bucket list.

Tip: To make sure you actually achieve your goals, make sure they're SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This printable guide to setting SMART goals is filled with useful info.

7. Attend a Leap Year Event

Don't sit home on February 29, join your community at a local event instead! These gatherings can run the gamut from museum parties to unique restaurant specials, block parties, and more. Search for them on your local community calendars, event websites, and more. Looking for a bigger celebration? Head to Anthony, Texas, which claims to be the Leap Year Capital of the World, for its Leap Year Festival. This three day party kicks off with a birthday dinner, followed by two days of live music, lucha libre, games, and more!

8. Create a Leap Year Time Capsule

Capture a moment in time by creating a leap year time capsule that you'll open in four years. This is a fun project that kids, teens, and adults will all enjoying working on. Consider including a newspaper dated February 29, a letter to yourself, photos of you and / or your kids, handprints, lists of your favorite things (like movies, books, etc.), predictions for the next four years, and anything else that captures a snapshot of your life. I love these time capsule printables, and this leap year time capsule guide from With a Touch of Luxe has lots of helpful tips, too!

9. Take a Literal Leap

Get your heart pumping by taking a literal leap! Play leap frog, go bungee jumping, jump rope, play hop-scotch, do 20 burpees, skip around your neighborhood, visit a trampoline park, jump off a diving board, and more. Whether you're a kid (or a kid at heart) you won't be able to stop smiling.

10. Go on a $29 Shopping Spree

Who doesn't love a shopping spree?! And you can easily do it on February 29 without breaking the bank by giving yourself a $29 budget!

11. Do a Good Deed

Spend leap day by doing a good deed! Make a difference in your community by making a plan to volunteer monthly (or weekly) with a favorite nonprofit organization, or by setting up a recurring donation. You could also make someone's day by calling a friend you haven't spoken to recently, visiting an elderly relative, inviting a lonely neighbor over for tea, making a meal for a family with a new baby or health issue, sending someone you cough, cold, and flu care package (or a relaxation gift basket), or with a random act of kindess.

12. Make Leap Year Predictions

Don't let leap year pass you by without making predictions for the future! What do you think your life will be like in four years? Write down all your predictions for your job and personal life, world events, election results, and more. For kids, ask them to predict how tall they'll be, what their favorite school subject will be, who will be their best friend, etc. Once you're done store your predictions somewhere safe to be opened in four years. If you're making a time capsule (see #8) you can even throw them in there.

13. Celebrate a Leap Year Birthday

Did you know that less than 0.1% of the world's population was born on February 29? If you know a Leapling or a Leaper (as leap year babies are called) make their birthday extra special by throwing them a birthday party ... after all, their real birthday only comes once every four years!

1. Party Decorations Kit - Comes in different colors, too.
2. Happy Birthday Banner - Customize this DIY banner with a name, to say "Leap Year", or whatever else you'd like!
3. Plates, Cups, Napkins + Cutlery Set
4. In My Leap Year Era Tee or Sweatshirt
5. 4 Foot Tall Marquee Lights - Use them to spell out a name or just an initial!
6. Leapling Mug
7. Leap Year Birthday Candle
8. Matching Birthday Squad + Birthday Girls Tees - These fun tees come in different colors and with various sayings!
9. Birthday Cards - A cute card is a must! Here are a few I love: Sloth Card (Everyone Get Older, You Just Do It Slower), Cat Card (Happy Birthday to the One Who Defies the Calendar), Pop Up Musical Birthday Card, and not shown, but also cute: a pop up, blow out the candle, Musical Birthday Card.

14. Spend the Day Reading a Book

If your idea of a day well spent is cozying up with a book, spend your leap day reading! Make sure to have a comfy blanket and some delicious drinks and snacks handy to maximize reading time. If you're looking for a leap year-themed novel, check out these two books:

• Once Upon a Leap Year - Lucy has never known another leapling until she meets Noah. They have amazing chemistry but they're both in relationships. Over the next 20 years, they spend all their big moments together, and Lucy can never shake the feeling that they were meant to meet. If she wants to find a love that's rarer than a leap year, she'll have to take a leap of faith!
• Lucky Leap Day - Cara is an up-and-coming screenwriter who's on a short trip to Ireland. She's planning to see all the sights in Dublin, shop for wool sweaters, and more. But after one too many whiskeys, she proposes to an Irish musician and wakes up with a tinfoil ring on her finger the next morning. Her flight is in four hours, and the meeting of her career is in two days. There's nothing she can do, but take her new husband back to LA, and try to untangle the mess she's made.

15. Write a Letter to Yourself (To Open in Four Years)

Spend an hour writing a letter to your future self. You can write about anything you'd like, but here are some questions to inspire you:

• What do your days look like right now?
• How are things at work? Do you like your job? What are your short term career goals?
• What is going on in your personal life?
• What are your plans for the future?
• What are your favorite things right now? Books, movies, clothes, foods, etc.
• Is there somewhere you see yourself in four years?

Once you're done, store the letter somewhere safe, then open it on the next leap year day.

16. Embrace a Forgotten Passion

Have you ever had a hobby you loved, but you gradually stopped doing it? Leap day is the perfect time to embrace a forgotten passion! Whether that's painting, knitting, writing, journaling, photography, cooking, or something else, spend some time on February 29 rediscovering why it brought you so much joy in the past!

17. Reminisce About the Last Four Years

I don't know about you, but I love a trip down memory lane? This leap day, spend a few moments reminiscing about the past four years. What were the challenges? What were your accomplishments? Is there anything you're proud? Is there anything that stands out to you most? What would you like to change moving forward?

18. Declutter Your House

Do you have a closet that's overcrowded? Is your refrigerator a black hole? Can you actually drive into your garage? Is your basement a mess? Challenge yourself to find 29 things that you no longer use, then donate them if they're in good shape, or throw them out if they're not.

19. Plan a Me Day

Since leap day is basically a bonus day anyway, spend it doing all your favorite things! Take the day off work or school, then spend the day relaxing, shopping, eating your favorite foods, sipping a glass of wine, having a movie marathon, going for a long walk, or whatever you'd like.

20. Watch the 30 Rock "Leap Day" Episode

The 30 Rock "Leap Day" episode (season six, episode eight) is a must watch leap day TV show! During this classic episode, Liz Lemon and the TGS crew get caught up the peculiar traditions and superstitions of leap day. As the day unfolds, absurdity ensues!

But don't stop there ... here are more TV shows to check out:

• Parks and Recreation "Sweet Sixteen" (season 4, episode 16) - Leslie attempts to throw a leap year birthday party for Jerry, but it doesn't go quite as planned.
• Modern Family, "Leap Day" (season 3, episode 17) - Cam is turning 40, but as a leapling, he insists he's really only turning 10! Everything goes wrong as the family attempts to celebrate his birthday.
• The Middle, “Leap Year” (season 3, episode 17) - Sue wants to celebrate her leap year birthday in a big way, but when things don't go as she hoped, she may need to lower her expectations.
• Leap Year TV Series - The show follows the lives of five former coworkers who are working to get their startup business off the ground.

21. Make a List of Your 29 Favorite Things

When you get caught up in the day to day monotony of life, it can be super easy to get stuck in a boring routine. An easy way to break out of a rut is embracing the things you love. So this February 29, make a list of your 29 favorite things (big and small), then challenge yourself to do them all this year at least once!

22. Volunteer for a Presidential Campaign

Did you know that U.S. presidential campaigns almost always fall in a leap year? It's true! If you're feeling anxious about the state of politics in our country (who isn't?!), turn your frustration into meaningful action. Consider volunteering for a presidential campaign (or a local campaign), volunteer to be an election worker, or sign up to register voters at a local event. And of course, if you haven't already, register to vote yourself!

23. Create a Leap Year Tradition

A fun way to make any day more special is by creating a tradition, and leap year is no different! Consider wearing one of these cute frog eye headbands (or bucket hats), dressing in green for the day, buying a copy of La Bougie du Sapeur (a French satirical newspaper that's only published once every four years), planning a progressive dinner party with four friends / couples, making a Leap Year Cocktail, hosting a movie night and watch Leap Year (or one of the TV shows mentioned above), or something else. Whatever you do, make sure to repeat it on the next leap day!

24. Leap into Spring

Spring is right around the corner (woohoo)! Take advantage of this bonus day to get a head start on all things spring, from spring cleaning to spring travel. I like to make room in my closet for warm weather clothes, search for upcoming events (then add them to my calendar), and make routine appointments. If you get even a little bit organized now, you'll be ready to enjoy all the season has to offer with low to no stress!

25. Look for Leap Year Deals

Businesses often have fun deals on this day, sometimes just for leaplings, but often for everyone! Stop by The Krazy Coupon Lady for a roundup of leap day deals, featuring everything from food to travel.

26. Get Married

If you want to truly take the leap, consider getting married! Sure, you'll only be able to celebrate your actual anniversary every for years, but that will make it all the more special.

Note: You may have noticed there are all sorts of superstitions surrounding leap year, and many of them apply to weddings! For example, leap years are considered an unlucky time to wed in Greece and Italy, but in China it's considered an auspicious year to wed.

27. Make a Leap Year Craft

Mark the occasion by working on a fun craft project or activity with your kids! Here are a few easy ideas to try:

• Craft a few Origami Jumping Frogs, then have a race!
• Make these cute Frogs on Lily Pads.
• Challenge your brain with a Leap Day Maze (Printable).
• Use this fun bead kit to string together a leap year or leapling bracelet, necklace, or keychain.
• Solve a Leap Year Word Search (Printable).
• Make these adorable Kiwi Frogs, then eat them for a snack.
• Put this DIY Solar System Kit together.

28. Take a Trip 29 Miles from Home

Make the day extra memorable by taking a road trip 29 miles from your home! I live in a sprawling metropolitan area, and I found tons of fun ideas when I searched, ranging from museums to zoos, dance halls, small towns, and more ... but you should be able to find creative ideas no matter where you live!

29. Celebrate Other February 29 Holidays

And that but not least, there are even a few other holidays that fall on February 29! Don't let these special days pass you by:

• Bachelor's Day (February 29) - Traditionally, the one day every four years when women were allowed to propose to men in Ireland.
• National Time Refund Day (February 29) - Take back your time, and spend this extra calendar day doing something your enjoy! Funnily enough, this day was created by H&R Block ... I don't know about you, but I can't think of many things worse than spending time on taxes (lol)!
• International Underlings Day (February 29) - This day was created in reaction to National Boss Day by someone who thought the underlings deserved to be recognized, too!
• National Toast Day (Last Day of February) - Exactly what it sounds like ... eat some toast! If you're looking for some recipe inspiration, try my Peach Toast, Tomato Ricotta Toast, Panettone French Toast (your can make it with other breads, too), Pan con Tomate (tomatoes on toasted bread) or make some Crostini (AKA mini toasts).
• Rare Disease Day (Last Day of February) - This important day is all about raising awareness and generating change for the 300 million people worldwide who are living with a rare disease, along with their families and carers.

And that wraps up this list of 29 things to do on leap day. I hope you found some fun activities to try. Keep reading for some frequently asked questions about this once every four years holiday.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)