Chillicothe is preparing its annual Yellow Day on May 1, 2026, with energetic and heartwarming vibes. Yellow Day is a local tradition where hundreds of students from nearby schools, including Chillicothe City Schools, Ross County Christian Academy, Huntington, and Pioneer School, take to the streets dressed in yellow clothing. The goal for this day is to be impactful, to spread the hashtag “#BeTheYellow,” and to perform random acts of kindness.

Yellow Day started in 2014 to carry out Honor Trotter’s legacy of kindness. Mrs. Trotter was a kindergarten teacher whose caring spirit encouraged her and her students to carry out their days with a yellow attitude, meaning happiness. It is sad to say that she lost her battle with cancer, which forced her into early retirement after only 33 years of teaching. Her death inspired Adam Peterson to write a book in her remembrance called Yellow. The movement “Be the Yellow” kicked off on her birthday the next year.

Yellow Day in Chillicothe, Ohio, is dedicated to spreading positivity on May 1, 2026. This year’s event is organized by Southern Ohio Survivors, a local nonprofit organization. The day encourages community members to be involved through acts of kindness, even if that means wearing yellow or simply saying hello to a stranger. #BeTheYellow.