There’s a chill in the air, and pumpkin-flavored drinks are back on menus. Fall is here, bringing with it a slew of national food holidays for your restaurant to celebrate. Whether you’re looking to switch up your marketing strategy or you simply want to bring in more customers, these fun celebrations are the perfect opportunity.

What are national food holidays?

National food holidays are micro-holidays — unofficial observances often popular on social media — that focus on a specific food or cuisine. They encourage people to come together and show their appreciation for popular dishes, obscure treats, and everything in between. October food holidays are remarkably varied, celebrating everything from pumpkin spice (October 1) to potatoes (October 27).

For restaurants, national food days are the perfect excuse to create an irresistible promotion that gives customers an incentive to place an order. Just pick a relevant observance from the national food calendar; then, use it to showcase existing menu items or inspire new, one-day-only specials. While National Chocolate Day (October 28) and National Caramel Apple Day (October 31) might not make the federal calendar of holidays, they can infuse an ordinary weekday with a sense of excitement. 

Why your restaurant should celebrate national food holidays

Everyone loves having something to celebrate, which is why food holidays are so important for restaurants. They’re a great way to build interest and excitement around your restaurant and your fall menu ideas. And unlike many official holidays, these days don’t have deep cultural, historical, or religious roots — they’re purely for fun. That means when you host a promotion for National Candy Corn Day (October 30) or National Oatmeal Day (October 29), all your customers can participate. 

Food holidays are also an effective way to increase brand visibility and relevance. They often become trending topics on social media; when you use the right hashtags to promote your celebration, it can bring a rush of traffic to your profiles and restaurant website. If the promotion is compelling enough, some of those visitors will convert into paying customers. In fact, 53% of millennial TikTok users reported visiting a restaurant after seeing it on the TikTok app.

Once you get customers interested in October food holidays, you can start planning for November holidays and December holidays, including National Cookie Day (December 4).

6 tips for marketing national food holidays

Successful food-holiday promotions rely on marketing — you’ll need to build a buzz a few days before the event. Here are a few tips for marketing food holidays at your restaurant:

1. Pile on the promotions. To get customers in the door, you need a great deal. It doesn’t have to be complicated. For example, you could offer a $3 pecan sticky bun for National Nut Day (October 22). Other options include meal deals, daily specials, or bundles. 
2. Highlight online ordering. Every time you promote a food-holiday deal, include a link to your online ordering website. That way, customers can click right through to check out the menu and order for takeout or delivery. This is particularly important if you’re choosing one of the October food holidays that fall on weekdays, when people tend to rely heavily on delivery to get dinner on the table.
3. Get social. Because food days are fleeting, social media is the perfect way to market them. There’s no need to invest in flyers or other printed items — just whip up a set of photos and graphics you can post across all your platforms. Focus on capturing beautiful food photos and videos that will catch customers’ attention as they scroll. If you’re new to design, use Grubhub’s social media templates to save time.
4. Collaborate with local businesses. Get other businesses in on the food-holiday fun — and get in front of a bigger audience — by creating an attention-grabbing partnership. On National Mushroom Day (October 15), you could work with a local farmer to create an exclusive farm-to-table menu featuring seasonal mushrooms. It’s a great way to boost exposure for both brands.
5. Create email campaigns. If your restaurant has an email list, send out a special message in advance of your chosen food holiday. Explain the promotion you’re running and invite recipients to join you in celebrating. You can also include an exclusive discount code or a special treat to make the event even more irresistible to subscribers. For example, offer a free gourmet chocolate for everyone who shows your staff the email on National Chocolate Day (October 28).
6. Host virtual or in-person events. If you have the budget and the staffing, host an event for a food holiday. Capture the fall magic by leaning into the classic elements and themes of the season. On National Pumpkin Spice Day (October 1), for example, you could hold a “welcome fall” party complete with autumn decor, flickering candles, and every pumpkin spice treat you can think of.

Food holidays are casual by nature, which means this is the perfect time to get creative with your marketing. Don’t be afraid to try out new formats and events to see what your customers respond to.

What makes October the perfect time to promote your restaurant?

In many areas of the United States, October is the beginning of the fall season. The temperatures cool down, and customers are in the mood to stay home and order in. You can use this cozy mood as inspiration for food-holiday promotions focused on delivery and takeout. In combination with your existing holiday promotions and game day menu ideas, this strategy is a fun and engaging way to increase restaurant sales across all demographics.

October food holidays

Whether you run a bakery or a neighborhood cafe, it’s easy to find a food day in October to fit your restaurant’s vibe. And with holidays nearly every day of the month, there’s an option for every calendar. Here are a few to consider:

• National Pumpkin Spice Day (October 1)
• National Taco Day (October 4)
• National Kale Day (October 5)
• National Noodle Day (October 6)
• National Frappe Day (October 7)
• National Angel Food Cake Day (October 10)
• National Sausage Pizza Day (October 11)
• National Gumbo Day (October 12)
• National Dessert Day (October 14)
• National Mushroom Day (October 15)
• National Pasta Day (October 17)
• National Chocolate Cupcake Day (October 18)
• National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day (October 21)
• National Boston Cream Pie Day (October 24)
• National Greasy Foods Day (October 25)
• National Pumpkin Day (October 26)
• National Potato Day (October 27)
• National Chocolate Day (October 28)

National food days aren’t the only things you can celebrate — world food days are also an option. Take International Beer and Pizza Day (October 9), which is tailor-made for a restaurant promotion. If one pizza day isn’t enough, October is also National Pizza Month.Throughout the month of October, food holidays are an engaging way to build brand visibility and get more orders. Make sure your takeout and delivery customers can participate by using Grubhub’s promotional and loyalty tools. Setting up an October food holiday promotion can get your restaurant in front of diners who are always in the market for a deal.

To boost more orders with national food holiday promotions, sign up for Grubhub today.