National Bobblehead Day – Jan. 7, 2027

National Bobblehead Day
Categories:
Tags:
ActivitiesFun
Where:
United States
Date change rule:
Every January 7
Holiday emoji:
🕺

National Bobblehead Day bobs into action every January 7, celebrating the iconic, head-nodding figures that have captured hearts for centuries. These delightful collectibles, ranging from sports heroes to pop culture icons, bring a unique blend of nostalgia and humor. Join the fun by sharing your favorite bobbleheads, discovering new additions to your collection, or even designing a custom creation!

Want to sponsor National Bobblehead Day? Learn how

Expected National Bobblehead Day Deals

While official 2027 promotions are still under wraps, National Bobblehead Day typically sees a surge in collector-focused deals. Expect specialty retailers like the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum and online giants such as Amazon and eBay to offer discounts on popular and rare figures. Brands like Funko and FOCO often unveil new limited-edition bobbleheads or run flash sales on existing lines. Sports teams, especially those in Major League Baseball and the NBA, might announce upcoming bobblehead giveaway nights for the season ahead. Look for custom bobblehead makers like Bobbleheads.com to feature special pricing on personalized creations. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as January 7 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Bobblehead Day

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalBobbleheadDay. Film a creative video showcasing your favorite bobbleheads in action or unboxing a new one.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalBobbleheadDay. Share visually appealing photos or reels of your bobblehead collection, perhaps with a fun backdrop.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalBobbleheadDay. Tweet about your most prized bobblehead, or share news about upcoming releases and deals.

Social Media Tips for National Bobblehead Day

Individuals

Display your favorite bobblehead prominently on your desk or shelf, and share a photo with friends and family. It's a great conversation starter!

Creators

Produce a stop-motion animation or a short skit featuring your bobbleheads. Create a 'Top 5 Bobbleheads' listicle video for your audience.

Brands

Run a 'Guess the Bobblehead' contest on social media, or offer a limited-time discount on bobblehead-related merchandise. Partner with a custom bobblehead maker.

Top Brands for National Bobblehead Day

  1. National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

    Founded by Phil Sklar and Brad Novak, this Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based museum opened in 2019 and is the world's only permanent home for over 10,000 unique bobbleheads. It celebrates the history and cultural impact of these iconic figures.

  2. Funko

    Established in 1998, Funko is a leading pop culture lifestyle brand known for its licensed collectible products, including the immensely popular Funko Pop! vinyl figures. They produce bobbleheads across countless franchises.

  3. FOCO

    Forever Collectibles (FOCO) is a leading manufacturer of sports and entertainment merchandise, specializing in high-quality, officially licensed bobbleheads. They are well-known for their extensive range of sports team and athlete figures.

  4. Major League Baseball (MLB)

    MLB teams have a long-standing tradition of bobblehead giveaways, making them a significant part of baseball fan culture. Many of the earliest modern bobbleheads were of baseball players.

  5. Disney

    The Walt Disney Company, founded in 1923, is a global entertainment conglomerate. Disney characters and franchises are frequently immortalized as bobbleheads, appealing to a vast audience of fans and collectors.

  6. Bobbleheads.com

    As a prominent online retailer, Bobbleheads.com specializes in creating custom bobbleheads from customer photos, allowing individuals to transform themselves or loved ones into personalized, wobbly-headed figures.

  7. Royal Bobbles

    Royal Bobbles is known for its high-quality, intricately detailed bobbleheads, often featuring historical figures, political leaders, and pop culture icons. Their collectibles are sought after by serious collectors for their craftsmanship.

National Bobblehead Day Hero

Phil Sklar and Brad Novak

Phil Sklar and Brad Novak are the visionary co-founders of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. Their passion for these unique collectibles led them to establish the world's only museum dedicated to bobbleheads in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2019. Through their efforts, they have cataloged and celebrated the vast history and cultural significance of bobbleheads, fostering a global community of enthusiasts and ensuring the legacy of these beloved figures.

National Bobblehead Day timeline

1700s
First Record of Bobbleheads

Called "temple nodders," the earliest known bobbleheads are modeled after Buddha and other religious figures.

1760s
Bobbleheads Make Their Way West

Made from ceramics, bobbleheads are imported to Europe from China in the 1760s.

1920s
The First Sports Bobbleheads

The first sports bobblehead made features a generic basketball player.

1964
The Beatles Bobbleheads

As one of the first sets of human bobbleheads that aren't athletes, the Fab Four pioneer the U.S.'s pop culture bobblehead explosion.

1999
Bringing Bobbleheads Back

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Candlestick Park, the San Francisco Giants give 20,000 visitors a Willie Mays bobblehead, bringing bobbleheads back in style after interest waned in the 1970s.

2015
National Bobblehead Day

The first ever National Bobblehead Day is celebrated.

2015
Turning Heads

One of two surviving bobbleheads of the 1961-1962 New York Yankees team is auctioned for almost $60,000.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Bobblehead Day

Local businesses can celebrate National Bobblehead Day by embracing the fun and novelty of these collectibles. Retail stores could host a ‘Bring Your Favorite Bobblehead’ day, offering a small discount to customers who participate, or set up a display of themed bobbleheads relevant to their industry. Restaurants might create a special ‘Bobblehead Burger’ or a menu item named after a famous bobblehead figure, encouraging photo ops. Online shops could run a social media contest asking customers to share photos of their bobbleheads in creative settings, using #NationalBobbleheadDay, with prizes for the most imaginative entries. Consider partnering with a local sports team for a bobblehead giveaway or a custom bobblehead raffle.

National Bobblehead Day FAQs

When is National Bobblehead Day?

In 2027, National Bobblehead Day is observed on Friday, January 7, setting the stage for a weekend full of bobblehead appreciation and fun activities. Get ready to celebrate these iconic collectibles at the start of the year.

How many bobbleheads exist in the world?

The bobblehead market is vast, with estimates suggesting hundreds of millions of individual bobbleheads produced and sold worldwide. Major manufacturers like Funko and FOCO contribute significantly to this ever-growing number, releasing thousands of new designs annually.

What was the first bobblehead ever made?

While the concept of nodding figures has ancient roots, the first mass-produced bobbleheads in the United States were often ceramic baseball players, with generic player models emerging in the 1960s before specific player likenesses became common. These early figures laid the groundwork for today’s diverse market.

Is the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum real?

Absolutely, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is a legitimate and popular attraction for collectors and pop culture enthusiasts alike. It features an extensive array of bobbleheads across various categories, providing an immersive experience into their history and cultural impact.

National Bobblehead Day Activities

  1. Visit the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

    The National Bobblehead Museum is still in the planning stages, but you can visit its website and learn more about the history of bobbleheads. You can also see the growing list of bobblehead dolls that have been given away in recent years. Eventually, the museum expects to have a physical presence in Milwaukee. There’s been no official word yet on whether the roof will bounce up and down, though.

  2. See how many heads you can bobble simultaneously

    Bobblehead dolls are supposed to be fun, right? So line up a few dozen bobbleheads and see if you can get all of their heads bouncing at the same time. Who knows? Maybe the Guinness Book of World Records will have a new entry when you’re finished.

  3. Visit a sports stadium on bobblehead giveaway day

    Nearly every professional sports team, from the major leagues to the minors, offers a bobblehead giveaway day at some point. Purchase some tickets and receive your free gift! Just be sure to get there early. Such giveaways usually have a limited number, and because some people have been known to take their bobblehead collections pretty seriously, you don’t want to be fighting a cutthroat collector for one of the last bobbleheads in the box.

Why We Love National Bobblehead Day

  1. They’re sure to make you smile

    Bobblehead dolls are designed to be goofy looking, so they’re great for taking a break during a tough day. It’s impossible to look at a bobblehead and not crack a smile. Keeping a bobblehead on your desk is a surefire way to help yourself feel better and relieve some stress.

  2. They're a great addition to any kind of collection

    You don’t have to be a bobblehead collector to enjoy these dolls. If you collect items related to a specific sports team, for example, add a few bobbleheads to your collection, and they’ll fit right in with the other items. If you collect super hero figures, bobbleheads give you quite a few options to round out your collection.

  3. They can be really valuable

    We wouldn’t recommend spending your retirement plan on your bobblehead collection, but there are some figure out there that have some value. This can be a fun item to collect that also will potentially pay off in appreciation value over the long haul… if you can bring yourself to sell your favorites down the road.

National Bobblehead Day dates

Year Date Day
2027 January 7 Thursday
2028 January 7 Friday
2029 January 7 Sunday
2030 January 7 Monday
2031 January 7 Tuesday