Gorilla Suit Day for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Tuesday, January 31st. There are until the next observance.
We adore a day that allows us to channel our inner ape, even if it’s in a suit(!)—which is why we’re so enthusiastic about Gorilla Suit Day, which takes place on January 31 every year. This King Kong-sized day is intended to highlight the monkey outfits worn on Halloween, at costume parties, at movies, and occasionally simply for fun. So put on your gorilla suit and come celebrate with us.
📆 When is Gorilla Suit Day?
This year, Gorilla Suit Day is on January 31st. It is the 5th Tuesday in January; in 2024, it is on Wednesday.
→ Did you know: Bristol Palin dresses up as a gorilla and dances to “Hey Hey, We’re The Monkees” on “Dancing with the Stars.”
You can also explore all interesting things you didn’t know about and facts about January 31, 2023.
📜 History of Gorilla Suit Day
Prior to Gemora’s gorilla suit, movies had a version that was, sadly, not very similar to the actual thing. This was due to the fact that Westerners had not seen this monkey until the 1860s, and even then, this species was something of a curiosity until the early twentieth century. So, the first gorilla costumes were not very good copies of the real animals.
By the time Gemora’s realistic outfit was released, the movie business-and gorillas-were extremely popular. This continued for several decades, until the 1950s, when their fear factor declined.
Special effects were created as an innovation. It flipped the script on the film industry. Men in costumes were no longer necessary; computers could do everything. A few nostalgic fans, such as Rick Baker, kept the gorilla costume alive and well. Baker avoided special effects and illusions in favor of wearing the gorilla costume in films such as “Schlock” and “The Thing With Two Heads.”
Don Martin, one of “MAD” magazine’s “Maddest Artists,” created a 56-page comic in 1963 about a guy ridiculing the then-fictitious Gorilla Suit holiday. This figure is then assaulted by gorillas and individuals dressed as gorillas, in the hysterically comic manner of “MAD” magazine. Although the paperback “Don Martin Bounces Back” is no longer in circulation, the holiday lives on via Don Martin devotees. On this unofficial holiday, they get together with people who read “MAD” magazine to remember the artist and the suits.
☑️ Gorilla Suit Day facts
✅ A Guinness World Record category
The Denver Gorilla Run has acquired the title of “Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Gorillas.” It is an annual five-mile event in which participants run in gorilla suits to raise funds for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund.
✅ The Phoenix Suns’ official mascot
Henry Rojas was only recruited to give a Gorilla-Gram at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, but the fans loved him so much that “Go” the gorilla became the Phoenix Suns’ official mascot, even after Rojas retired.
✅ A banana catches a gorilla
In 2011, a cell phone business mascot costumed as a gorilla was assaulted by a prankster dressed as a banana in Strongsville, Ohio.
✨ Things to do on Gorilla Suit Day
⚡ Wear a gorilla suit
Fans of gorilla suits, unite! Take off your outfit and go on exciting adventures (or gently prank someone in your family). You don’t have a suit? These are available in adult and kid sizes, as well as partial suits (only the top or the face mask).
⚡ Read the book that inspired it all
The book is no longer in print, although online booksellers may still have the original paperback, “Don Martin Bounces Back,” which includes the gorilla costume. For even more chuckles, check out the whole of the “Don Martin” series.
⚡ Throw a jungle party
To be honest, not many individuals have gorilla costumes in their wardrobe. They may, however, have bunny ears, cat tails, and so forth. So, channel your inner Tarzan and create a jungle-themed party, complete with a surprise appearance by a gorilla. Host this “crazy” event to commemorate the conclusion of the first month of the year as well as Gorilla Suit Day!
📅 Gorilla Suit Day Observances
| YEAR | DATE | DAY |
| 2023 | January 31 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | January 31 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | January 31 | Friday |
| 2026 | January 31 | Saturday |
| 2027 | January 31 | Sunday |
See all January holidays, including Fun and other Funny holidays.
We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Gorilla Suit Day. So be sure to check back soon.