National Pretzel Month

Categories:: Food & Beverage
Tags:: Cooking Food
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every October
Holiday emoji:: 🥨

National Pretzel Month dedicates the entire month of October to celebrating the beloved pretzel. From the classic soft-baked varieties to crunchy hard pretzels, there’s a shape and flavor for everyone. Grab a pretzel, try a new recipe, or visit your favorite pretzel shop to join the celebration!

Deals
Platforms
Social
Hero
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected National Pretzel Month Deals

As National Pretzel Month approaches, expect a flurry of promotions from major pretzel purveyors and snack brands. While we await official 2027 announcements, history shows that companies like Auntie Anne’s often offer free pretzels or BOGO deals, especially on National Pretzel Day within the month. Snyder’s of Hanover and Utz typically feature discounts on their bagged pretzels at grocery stores. Regional favorites like Philly Pretzel Factory and Wetzel’s Pretzels are likely to roll out special combos or limited-time flavors. Keep an eye on local bakeries and breweries, which often pair pretzels with craft beers. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October approaches.

Platform Guide for National Pretzel Month

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalPretzelMonth. Film a ‘pretzel taste test’ video with different flavors or brands, or show off your favorite pretzel dipping sauces.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalPretzelMonth. Share aesthetically pleasing photos of your pretzel creations, from gourmet soft pretzels to pretzel-crusted desserts.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalPretzelMonth. Ask your community to share their favorite pretzel memories or where they find the best pretzels.

National Pretzel Month Hero

Monks

The invention of the pretzel is often attributed to European monks, possibly in the 7th century. Legend suggests a monk twisted leftover dough into the shape of children's arms crossed in prayer, offering them as rewards for learning prayers. This simple, prayer-inspired shape became a beloved snack.

National Pretzel Month timeline

1993

A snack worthy of a museum

There was once a Philadelphia museum dedicated entirely to pretzels.

1935

Mass production

The Reading Pretzel Machinery Company in Pennsylvania introduced the first automated pretzel maker, which made 245 pretzels-per-minute instead of the 40-per-minute an individual worker could make by hand.

1861

First bakery

Julius Sturgis opened America’s first commercial pretzel bakery in the town of Lititz in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

1710

Pretzels came to America

German immigrants brought pretzels with them when they began settling in Pennsylvania.

1510

Pretzels to the Rescue

Monks baking pretzels in the basement of a monastery in Vienna, Austria overheard invading Ottoman Turks trying to build tunnels under the city walls. The monks alerted the rest of the city, helping to defeat the attack.

National Pretzel Month FAQs

When is National Pretzel Month?

National Pretzel Month 2026 runs throughout October, dedicating the entire month to celebrating this iconic twisted snack.

How many pretzels are consumed in the U.S. each year?

Americans consume approximately 1.5 pounds of pretzels per person annually, totaling over $1.2 billion in sales. This makes pretzels a significant part of the snack food market.

What states are known for their pretzels?

Pennsylvania is undeniably the pretzel capital of the United States, producing 80% of the nation’s pretzels. Other states with strong pretzel traditions include Ohio and New York.

What is the origin of the pretzel shape?

The distinctive twisted shape of the pretzel is believed to represent arms crossed in prayer. This design originated in early European monasteries, where pretzels were given as rewards to children who had learned their prayers.

National Pretzel Month Activities

Eat some
Go to your local bakery for chewy ones, or your local grocer for the hard sticks. Or you can order artisanal soft pretzels from a place like Sigmunds in New York, topped with everything from truffle oil to herbs and seeds.
Make some
Here's where you can get creative. How about a cheese-stuffed pizza pretzel? Or a s'mores pretzel? Or a spinach, artichoke and bacon pretzel? The recipes are out there — and don't forget the accompanying dipping sauce.
Share some
Try subbing in homemade soft pretzels for bread during a dinner party. Or get your gang together for a potluck pretzel-and-beer party and have a best-made pretzel contest. Where there are pretzels, twisty good times aren't far off.

5 Twisted Facts About Pretzels

Symbolic snack
The pretzel has been used as an emblem of bakers in southern Germany since at least the 12th century.
Pretzel-vania
Pennsylvania is the American pretzel-making capital, producing 80% of U.S.-made pretzels.
Lots of Pretzels (and Dough)
The average American eats about one-and-a-half pounds of pretzels every year, and the US pretzel industry is worth over $550 million annually.
Probably a bit stale
The world's oldest pretzel fragments — unearthed during an excavation in Regensburg near the Danube River — date back over 200 years.
Open wide
It's believed that Mississippi's Andrew Dunn holds the world's record for number of pretzel sticks held in the mouth, with a total of 110.

Why We Love National Pretzel Month

Pretzels have history
They have religious significance among Catholics. Plus, their lineage runs through the settling of Swiss German immigrants in Pennsylvania.
Pretzels are versatile
Large soft pretzels with all kinds of sweet or savory toppings/fillings. Small pretzels coated with everything from chocolate to yogurt. Pretzel sticks ready to dip. And don’t forget peanut butter-filled pretzel bites! Pretzels are one of the most adaptable snacks out there.
Pretzels have clout
Whether it’s the city of Freeport, Illinois calling itself “Pretzel City USA,” or the city of Philadelphia renaming a facility “Pretzel Park,” it’s obvious that this crunchy/chewy snack food has a popularity that's truly, twistedly singular.