Learn more fun facts on the National Gummi Worm Day Video Page.
- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- FoodFunSweet Food
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every July 15
- Holiday emoji:
- 🐛
National Gummi Worm Day wiggles its way onto the calendar every July 15. This day celebrates the beloved chewy candy that brings joy with its fruity flavors and playful shapes. Grab a bag, share with friends, or get creative with your favorite gummi worm recipes!
Want to sponsor National Gummi Worm Day? Learn how
Expected National Gummi Worm Day Deals
As National Gummi Worm Day approaches, expect major candy retailers and grocery stores to roll out sweet promotions. In previous years, brands like Haribo, Trolli, and Black Forest have offered discounts on their popular gummi worm varieties, sometimes even BOGO deals. Keep an eye out for special seasonal flavors or limited-edition packaging from confectioners. Online candy shops may also feature bulk discounts or themed gift sets. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 15 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Gummi Worm Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #GummiWormDay. Film a creative stop-motion video of your gummi worms wiggling or a taste test of different brands.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalGummiWormDay. Share vibrant photos of your favorite gummi worm treats, whether in a dessert or on their own.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #GummiWorms. Post a poll asking followers about their favorite gummi worm flavor or color.
National Gummi Worm Day Hero
Hans Riegel Sr.
History of National Gummi Worm Day
We can trace National Gummi Worm Day to the marketing minds at Trolli, the German confectionery candy that created them in 1981— on July 15, according to some sources. They were a cheeky response to the reigning gummi candi, the popular gummi bear, which originated in1920 in Bonn when Hans Riegel began making candy in his kitchen.
Riegel’s company, HARIBO, produced soft, fruity gelatin dancing bears that evoked entertainment at European circuses and festivals. The bears became worldwide favorites. Trolli wanted to give kids something that had a gross-out factor they could play up with their parents, so they created gummi worms. Gummi historians don’t agree on this, but some claim that Trolli introduced the gummi worms on the anniversary of the birth of the bears in Bonn — July 15.
After the bears became popular, there were gelatin candies in other shapes, but nothing could beat the bears until the worms emerged. So Trolli celebrated their success by giving the worms their own special day.
In 2004, Trolli decided to break the mold with another non-bear form — roadkill. They produced gummi squirrels, chickens, and snakes with tire tracks giving evidence of their demise. By then, Kraft Foods had bought the Trolli U.S. brand, and they had to take the product off the market the next year in response to consumer protest.
Today, gummi worms are sweet and sour. They can be dual-color and dual-flavor, and they’ve been served in ice cream, used to make vodka shots, and poked half-way down into the frosting of chocolate cake to make dessert even more fun.
National Gummi Worm Day timeline
Scott Albanese opens his first candy store in Merrillville, Indiana when regional unemployment was 16%, and the business thrives.
Hans Riegel Jr. turns down a buyout offer for HARIBO from Warren Buffett.
The French Foreign Legion inducts Hans Riegel into the Legion of Honour as a Chevalier — a rare recognition for a foreigner.
Trolli partners with PlayStation® in ‘The Deliciously Dark Escape,’ in which players help gummi worms disappear into a monster's mouth to win prizes.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Gummi Worm Day
Local businesses can celebrate National Gummi Worm Day by incorporating these fun treats into their offerings. Bakeries could create gummi worm-themed cupcakes or cookies, while ice cream shops might offer gummi worm toppings for sundaes and shakes. Candy stores can run special promotions on bulk gummi worms or host a ‘guess the number of worms in a jar’ contest. Even non-food businesses can join in by offering small bags of gummi worms as a fun treat with purchases, adding a sweet touch to customer experiences.
National Gummi Worm Day FAQs
When is National Gummi Worm Day?
National Gummi Worm Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, July 15. It’s the perfect mid-week treat to break up your routine with some chewy, fruity fun.
Who invented gummi worms?
Gummi worms were invented by the German candy company Trolli in 1986, following the success of gummi bears which were created by Haribo’s Hans Riegel Sr. in 1922. Trolli’s playful approach to candy led to the creation of the squiggly, multi-colored treats.
How popular are gummi worms?
Gummi worms are incredibly popular, consistently ranking among the top-selling non-chocolate candies in the United States and globally. Millions of pounds are consumed annually, appealing to both children and adults with their diverse flavors and textures.
What are gummi worms made of?
Gummi worms are primarily made from gelatin, sugar, corn syrup, and various flavorings and colorings. Gelatin gives them their characteristic chewy texture, while the other ingredients contribute to their sweet taste and vibrant appearance.
How To Celebrate National Gummi Worm Day
Make worms with weed
You'll need 1 cup of fruit juice or fruit puree, thoroughly strained; 1 tablespoon of lemon juice; 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, agave, or sugar; 1 tablespoon agar-agar powder and about 5 to 10 milligrams of THC, to taste. But remember, cannabis candy is not for the kids!
Shop and share 'em
Buy a bag of gummi worms and shake 'em out by the handful to feed your friends. Taste-test all the flavors and find your favorite.
Improve adult beverages
Dump a bag of gummi worms into a 5-gallon aquarium and fill it with your favorite liquor — vodka, gin, single-malt Scotch. The gummies soak up the spirits, and you pop them in your drinks with a swizzle stick.
5 Facts About Gummi Worm Sizes That Will Blow Your Mind
The biggest worm's a whopper
Vat19.com sells sour, 4,000-calorie gummi worms that are 26 inches long, 5 inches around, and weigh in at almost 3 lbs.
Someone used geometry to calculate gummi mass
The whopper worm is equivalent to 128 regular gummi worms.
Minis have many flavors
Top brand Albanese makes Mini Gummi Worms in 12 fruity flavors: Cherry, Pink Grapefruit, Watermelon, Strawberry, Orange, Blue Raspberry, Lime, Grape, Green Apple, Mango, Pineapple, and Lemon.
There's a party python
The world's largest gummi worm grew up to become a 7-foot, 26-lb., 36,720-calorie snake that will take a $150 bite out of your budget.
Basic worms are bait-size
A regular gummi worm is 2 inches long.
Why We Love National Gummi Worm Day
Gummi worms are fun
You can roll 'em, stretch 'em, and pull 'em apart before you eat 'em. Take 'em to work, instead of doughnuts. Have worm wars with your friends. What other food is this fun to play with?
Gummi worms are among candy's best sellers
A research firm that follows the confectionery industry reports that gummi brands represent almost one-third of the top 20 non-chocolate chewy candy brands.
Some gummies are healthier than others
Today you can buy gummi worms that contain more than 91% organic ingredients, packaged in facilities free of the most common allergens. They're fat-free, gluten-free, and made with organic cane sugar instead of high fructose corn sugar. You can even find Kosher and vegan gummi worms.
Social Media Tips for National Gummi Worm Day
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