National French Fry Day 2026
food drinkTuesday, July 13, 2027
301 days from today · next occurrence
About National French Fry Day
National French Fry Day arrives every year on July 13, celebrating the golden, crispy, salty side dish that has become the universal companion of burgers, hot dogs, and road-trip snacks. Few foods inspire such devoted loyalty: people argue passionately about crinkle cuts versus shoestrings, curly fries versus waffle fries, and whether ketchup, vinegar, mayo, or gravy is the only acceptable dip.
Fast-food chains lean into the day with free fry giveaways and loyalty-app deals, often requiring little more than a purchase or an app download. At home, fans mark the occasion by air-frying, oven-baking, or deep-frying a fresh batch, or by taste-testing frozen brands to crown a household favorite.
There is also a fun geography debate baked into the day. Belgians and French cooks both claim to have invented fried potatoes, and the name's origin remains genuinely disputed. Whatever the truth, the potato strip in all its forms has conquered menus on every continent, making this one of the tastiest unofficial holidays of summer.
When is National French Fry Day?
| Year | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | July 13, 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | July 13, 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | July 13, 2028 | Thursday |
| 2029 | July 13, 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | July 13, 2030 | Saturday |
History of National French Fry Day
Fried potatoes have been enjoyed since at least the late seventeenth century, with Belgian villagers along the Meuse River often credited as early pioneers who fried small fish substitutes when the river froze. French street vendors were selling pommes frites on the Pont Neuf by the time of the French Revolution, and it was likely American soldiers stationed in Belgium during the First World War who brought the dish home and attached France's name to it. Thomas Jefferson helped popularize potatoes served in the French manner at a White House dinner in 1802. Fast-food culture turned the fry into a global icon in the twentieth century, and the drive-thru made it a daily habit for millions. The origin of National French Fry Day itself is murky, but by the 2010s it was firmly fixed on the food-holiday calendar, with chains competing over who gives away the most fries.
How to Celebrate National French Fry Day
- Grab free or discounted fries from a chain running a July 13 app deal.
- Air-fry or oven-bake a homemade batch and test two seasoning blends side by side.
- Host a dip bar with ketchup, garlic aioli, malt vinegar, and cheese sauce.
- Stage a household taste-off of crinkle, shoestring, waffle, and curly fries.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is National French Fry Day?
- National French Fry Day is celebrated every year on July 13, a fixed date that lands in the middle of summer grilling and road-trip season.
- Is National French Fry Day a public holiday?
- No. It is a fun food observance rather than a public holiday, so work and school carry on as usual. The main effect is a wave of fry giveaways at fast-food counters.
- How do people celebrate National French Fry Day?
- People celebrate by claiming free fry deals through restaurant apps, frying or air-frying a homemade batch, debating the best cut and dip, and sharing gloriously golden fry photos online.
- Why is it called French fry day if Belgium may have invented fries?
- The name is a long-running mystery. American soldiers stationed in French-speaking Belgium during World War I likely popularized the term back home, and the debate has been part of the fun ever since.