2024 National Food Holidays Calendar
HOW TO MAKE THE NATIONAL FOOD HOLIDAY CALENDAR WORK FOR YOU YEAR-ROUND
National Boston Cream Pie Day? World Vegetarian Day? National Biscuit Month?
As anyone with a Twitter feed knows, it’s the golden age of food holidays. Whatever you’re serving, there’s likely a food holiday to help promote it.
Operators who dismiss these celebrations are likely losing out, considering that a few low-cost specials and some simple online marketing can attract droves of customers on an otherwise slow day. If you’re planning a trip down Holiday Road, look out for these possible roadblocks.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT UPSCALE DINERS
Lunar New Year (late January or early February) is a major event for the Michelin-star restaurant chain Hakkasan, says its executive vice president of global restaurants, Gert Kopera. Hakkasan, which has 12 locations, develops special menu items, fashions innovative décor features and books traditional Chinese lion dancers. The promotion is marketed on social media with influencers and VIPs. And no expense is spared, as Hakkasan often sees a 10% jump in reservation requests for that day.
DO WHAT YOU ALREADY DO WELL
For Truk’t, in Beloit, Wisconsin, celebrating National Margarita Day (Feb. 22) is an easy sell, because margaritas are already its most popular cocktail. Patrons can upgrade their margaritas with a premium tequila for the regular price of $10. Typically, the upgrade would cost $4. “So basically, we discount the mixers,” says Klaus Nitsch, vice president of restaurant operations for Geronimo Hospitality Group, which owns Truk’t. Because diners ordered food with their drinks, sales increased significantly.
ADOPT A FREEBIE STRATEGY
The 4 Star Restaurant Group always capitalizes on National Pizza Day (Feb. 9) at Frasca Pizzeria in Chicago. Diners are offered one free pizza per table with the order of any entrée. More food resulted in additional drink sales, generating a 49% increase in sales. “A free pizza was a huge incentive that brought in both regulars and diners who had never visited us before,” says Josh Rutherford. “The overall sales easily made up for the cost of the extra pizzas.” Marketing the event was simple: a few media placements and TV segments, social media and emails to its rewards member list.
GIVE THEM WHAT THEY CAN’T HAVE
Rich Clark’s C&S Chowder House in Roswell, Georgia, runs its Clam Jam on March 31, National Clam Day. For the past two years, the event boosted revenues by 30% – thanks to special menus, $5 pints, live music and two discounted specialty cocktails that sell for $8 rather than $15. Good clams aren’t easy to find in the Atlanta area, which attracts Northeastern transplants. Clark promotes the event a month in advance with table tents, check inserts, social media blasts and media mentions with help from a PR firm. “I always pooh-poohed these national holidays,” Clark says, “but now, when I look at our Clam Day numbers, all I can say is, ‘Wow.’"
National Food Holidays by Month
JANUARY
- January 2: National Buffet Day
- January 4: National Spaghetti Day
- January 7: National Tempura Day
- January 13: National Gluten-Free Day
- January 15: National Bagel Day
- January 19: National Popcorn Day
- January 23: National Pie Day
- January 30: National Croissant Day
- January 31: National Hot Chocolate Day
FEBRUARY
- February 1: National Baked Alaska Day
- February 2: National Tater Tot Day
- February 3: National Carrot Cake Day
- February 4: National Pork Rind Appreciation Day
- February 9: National Pizza Day
- February 18: National Drink Wine Day
- February 20: National Muffin Day
- February 28: National Chilli Day
MARCH
- March 4: National Pound Cake Day
- March 8: International Women's Day
- March 9: National Meatball Day
- March 13: National Chicken Soup Day
- March 16: National Artichoke Day
- March 23: National Chip and Dip Day
- March 24: National Cheesecake Day
- March 25: National Waffle Day
- March 27: World Whiskey Day
APRIL
- April 6: National Carbonara Day
- April 7: National Beer Day
- April 8: National Empanada Day
- April 12: National Grilled Cheese Day
- April 16: National Eggs Benedict Day
- April 17: World Malbec Day
- April 24: National Prime Rib Day
MAY
- May 9: National Shrimp Day
- May 13: National Hummus Day
- May 14: National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
- May 25: National Wine Day
- May 28: National Brisket Day
- May 30: National Mint Julep Day
JUNE
- June 2: National Rotisserie Chicken Day
- June 4: National Cheese Day
- June 7: National Ice Cream Day
- June 12: National Falafel Day
- June 15: National Lobster Day
- June 16: National Fudge Day
- June 19: National Martini Day
- June 22: National Onion Ring Day
JULY
- July 4: National Barbecue Day
- July 6: National Fried Chicken Day
- July 13: National French Fry Day
- July 24: National Tequila Day
- July 29: National Chicken Wing Day
- July 31: National Avocado Day
AUGUST
- August 3: National Watermelon Day
- August 5: National Oyster Day
- August 8: National Frozen Custard Day
- August 11: National Panini Day
- August 16: National Rum Day
- August 19: National Hot and Spicy Day
- August 19: National Potato Day
- August 27: National Burger Day
- August 31: National Eat Outside Day
September
- September 2: National Bacon Day
- September 3: National Baby Back Ribs Day
- September 10: National Hot Dog Day
- September 13: National Peanut Day
- September 16: National Guacamole Day
- September 25: National Quesadilla Day
- September 26: National Pancake Day
- September 29: National Coffee Day
- September 30: National Mulled Cider Day
OCTOBER
- October 1: National Vegetarian Day
- October 4: National Taco Ribs Day
- October 6: National Noodle Day
- October 12: National Gumbo Day
- October 16: World Bread Day
- October 21: National Apple Day
- October 22: National Nut Day
- October 27: National Beer Day
- October 28: National Chocolate Day
NOVEMBER
- Novermber 1: World Vegan Day
- Novermber 3: National Sandwich Day
- Novermber 5: National Doughnut Day
- Novermber 9: International Stout Day
- Novermber 14: National Pickle Day
- Novermber 21: National Cranberry Day
- Novermber 26: National Cake Day
DECEMBER
- December 2: National Fritters Day
- December 4: National Cookie Day
- December 5: National Comfort Food Day
- December 8: National Brownie Day
- December 9: National Pastry Day
- December 13: National Cocoa Day
- December 14: National Bouillabaisse Day
- December 17: National Maple Syrup Day
- December 21: National Hamburger Day
