- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- CandyFunSweet Food
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every February 15
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍬
National Gumdrop Day arrives every February 15, inviting everyone to celebrate the vibrant, chewy candy. These delightful treats are perfect for snacking, baking, and even decorating. Gather your favorite flavors and colors, and prepare for a day of sweet indulgence and creative fun.
Want to sponsor National Gumdrop Day? Learn how
Expected National Gumdrop Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that National Gumdrop Day often brings sweet deals from candy retailers and grocery stores. Expect discounts on bulk gumdrops and candy mixes at stores like Party City and Bulk Candy Store. Specialty candy shops such as Dylan’s Candy Bar and Sugarfina might offer limited-edition gumdrop assortments or themed gift boxes. Major grocery chains like Kroger and Walmart could feature sales on popular candy brands that produce gumdrops, like Brach’s. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as February 15 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Gumdrop Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalGumdropDay. Share vibrant photos of your favorite gumdrop creations, from edible crafts to colorful dessert toppings.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalGumdropDay. Film a quick tutorial on making homemade gumdrops or a fun challenge involving gumdrop stacking.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalGumdropDay. Ask followers to share their favorite gumdrop memories or recipes in the comments.
National Gumdrop Day Hero
Percy S. Truesdell
History of National Gumdrop Day
Gumdrops, one of America’s most beloved sweets, is a chewy, gelatin candy, most often flavored with fruit or spices. In their most traditional form, gumdrops are sugar-coated and shaped like a small dome or ‘drop.’ But they have evolved, and you can now find them with smooth coatings and in tons of fun shapes and sizes.
Debates abound as to the history of gumdrops. Some credit Percy Trusdale as the inventor of gumdrops in 1801. The term ‘gumdrop’ was first seen in an Illinois newspaper mentioning a local candy shop owner, George Julier, in the 1850s.
The National Confectioners Association lists National Gumdrop Day as one of the many candy-focused holidays we can celebrate and on which we can buy more candy while we’re at it, of course!
With the popular trend of gourmet candies hitting the market, you can now find gumdrops beyond the traditional orange, cherry, grape, and lemon flavors. Whole Foods offers rather large gumdrops (1 inch tall x 1 inch wide) in exotic flavors such as key lime, tangerine, grapefruit, and pomegranate.
The classic gumdrop paved the way for what we know today as gummy candies in general, like gummy bears and -worms, and even gummy vitamins (remember, the vitamins are not candy!).
Gumdrops, if kept in an unopened package and stored in a cool place, will last for up to 12 months. If you choose to use them for crafting, they will, of course, become hard but that’s ok, as long as you don’t try to eat them later!
National Gumdrop Day timeline
Frenchman Denis Papin discovers gelatin, a pure protein product, through research and experimentation.
The wildly popular Hasbro board game debuts with an appropriate reference to the ever-popular gumdrop — players go through the Gumdrop Mountains and can take the shortcut, Gumdrop Path.
Haribo introduces the bear-shaped gummy in Germany — made out of licorice, they were called ‘dancing bears.’
The first gummy worm candy is introduced to the U.S. in 1981 by Trolli, a German confectionery brand, who, today, makes neon gummy crawlers.
National Gumdrop Day FAQs
When is National Gumdrop Day?
In 2027, National Gumdrop Day is observed on Monday, February 15, offering a delightful start to the week. It’s an ideal day to share gumdrops with colleagues or classmates.
What are gumdrops made of?
While classic gumdrops use gelatin, many modern versions, particularly those labeled ‘gummy’ or ‘jelly,’ may use pectin or other plant-based gelling agents. This allows for a wider range of textures and dietary options.
How many types of gumdrops are there?
The world of gumdrops extends beyond the traditional, with innovations like sour gumdrops, chocolate-covered gumdrops, and even artisanal versions. This diversity ensures there’s a gumdrop to suit almost every palate and occasion.
What's the difference between a gumdrop and a jelly bean?
Both are chewy candies, but gumdrops are generally larger and more uniform in shape, often dome-like or conical. Jelly beans are smaller, bean-shaped, and famously come in a vast array of distinct, often unusual, flavors.
Ways to Celebrate National Gumdrop Day
Get crafty!
There are so many fun things you can make with classic gumdrops. Make a gumdrop garland, ornaments, sculptures, drink garnishes, or a fun centerpiece that guests can pick gummies from. While often reserved for the Christmas season, there’s no reason you can’t make these things for a birthday party or other festive occasion any time of the year!
Make your own
Homemade gumdrops are quite simple to make and really taste better than store-bought ones. Buy a few inexpensive molds to create fun shaped gumdrops and search for a recipe online!
Merge science with food
Using gumdrops and toothpicks, test your engineering skills by building structures; make it a contest with your kids or friends to see who can build the tallest structure.
5 Fun Facts About Gummy Candies
Largest gummy candy
The largest gummy candy of any shape was made in 2014 in Germany; it weighed 1,128 pounds and 12 ounces, and took six days to set during refrigeration.
Most popular flavor
Cherry is the most popular gumdrop flavor followed by grape, orange, and lemon.
Largest gumdrop
Brach’s Candy holds the world record for largest gumdrop (in the traditional shape) at just over 10 pounds.
Most eaten in one minute
Kevin ‘L.A. Beast’ Strahle set the record in 2017 by eating 31 gummy bears in one minute.
Largest gummy bear
So far, the largest gummy bear on record was made in 2011 in Texas; weighing in at 81 pounds, it was 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
Why We Love National Gumdrop Day
We love candy
The average American eats 22 pounds of candy each year. Wow – that’s a lot of candy. No wonder we’re excited to celebrate National Gumdrop Day!
We love to play with our food
Gumdrops are a go-to food when it comes to crafts so it’s totally acceptable to play with gumdrops as you create gingerbread houses or use them in science projects.
Variety is the spice of life
If you are quickly bored eating the same candy, day after day, gummies can certainly keep you entertained due to their variety. With so many shapes, sizes, and flavors to choose from, there will always be something new to try.
National Gumdrop Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | February 15 | Monday |
| 2028 | February 15 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | February 15 | Thursday |
| 2030 | February 15 | Friday |
| 2031 | February 15 | Saturday |
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