What is ‘Stranger Things Day?’ What you need to know about the annual fan event

There’s really only one thing to do when a show like Stranger Things becomes a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, and that’s dedicate an entire day to it. Hence, Stranger Things Day. 

Nov. 6 is the one day of the year when geeking out over Stranger Things isn’t just accepted, it’s encouraged. There’s something for everyone, be it simply frolicking down memory lane, or collecting limited-edition merchandise. As a wise man once said, “mornings are for coffee and contemplation.” Well, Stranger Things Day is for nerds and nerdiness.

Why is Nov. 6 Stranger Things Day?

When you’re a Stranger Things super fan, every day of the year of Stranger Things Day, but Nov. 6 holds particular special meaning, because it’s the day Will Byers went missing in season 1. On that fateful day in 1983, Will was snatched up by a Demogorgon and dragged to the bowels of the Upside Down, thus permanently freezing the parallel dimension in time.  

Centering a fan event around this day not only celebrates the season premiere of a show that punctured the social zeitgeist way back in 2016, but also signifies the importance of Will’s storyline in the Stranger Things universe. As the Duffer Brothers have said, the fifth and final season will revisit Will’s supernatural connection to the Upside Down, and who knows, possibly even factor into how the nerd squad defeats Vecna. 

What happens on Stranger Things Day?

In 2022, Netflix launched its inaugural fan event with promises of a wide array of incentivizing prizes, trivia, sneak peeks, and more. At the time, the explosive season 4 finale was still relatively fresh, so that year’s Stranger Things Day came with the opportunity to watch the fourth season on the big screen in a series of theatrical screenings across North America and Europe. There was also a global watch party.

This year, 2023, there’s a pinch less momentum behind the fan event, since season 5 is still in the very early stages of pre-production, and the dual writers’ and actors’ strikes pushed back development several months. However, there’s a good amount to enjoy. 

Netflix confirmed it’s still observing Stranger Things Day “by looking back at the first four seasons, offering new teases on our social channels, unveiling limited-edition merchandise online and in brick-and-mortar stores around the world, and more!” 

The show’s X account (formally known as Twitter) is ablaze with sentimental clips from earlier seasons, but that’s not all. You can get exclusive fan merchandise, play in the Palace Arcade, and share photos with the fandom by visiting the show’s website, where you’ll also be notified about the new Stranger Things Pop-Up Store coming to São Paulo.

Eddie Munson fans can purchase the new Flight of Icarus novel by one of the show’s writers, Caitlin Schneiderhan. Vecna diehards and Eleven enthusiasts can buy limited-edition hand-painted collectibles through Iron Studios. And fans with a knack for Rubik’s Cubes can buy a limited edition Upside Down cube through Displate.com.

Additionally, you can also visit Target, Walmart, Amazon, Hot Topic, H&M, and other retailers for exclusive Stranger Things apparel. There, you can buy the Mattel “Little People” Collector sets, a Transformers x Surfer Boy Pizza Van collectible action figure, and so much more.

Yes, there’s still more! On Netflix’s website, you can also buy Stranger Things Funko POPs, Hellfire Club Tiki Mugs, and more. 

For a complete rundown of everything being offered this Stranger Things Day, you can visit Netflix’s official website.