National Pretzel Day 2025: How to Get Free Auntie Anne's, Wetzel's and More
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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On Saturday April 26, pretzel fans nationwide will have reason to celebrate: National Pretzel Day returns with a range of promotions from major chains including Auntie Anne's, Wetzel's Pretzels and Philly Pretzel Factory.
The food holiday is offering an array of freebies and deals on pretzels. Offers vary by location and brand, with some requiring apps or membership programs, while others provide walk-in deals with no strings attached.
A stock image shows three homemade Bavarian soft pretzels with dip. Several pretzel retailers are offering freebies and deals for National Pretzel Day on April 26, 2025.
A stock image shows three homemade Bavarian soft pretzels with dip. Several pretzel retailers are offering freebies and deals for National Pretzel Day on April 26, 2025.
Getty Images/bhofack2
Chains Offering Free or Discounted Pretzels
Several national and regional chains are offering promotions on April 26:
Auntie Anne's : Members of the Auntie Anne's Rewards program can receive a free Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel on April 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, according to a social media post from the seller. No purchase is required, but the offer must be redeemed in-app. Only at participating locations.
: Members of the Auntie Anne's Rewards program can receive a free Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel on April 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, according to a social media post from the seller. No purchase is required, but the offer must be redeemed in-app. Only at participating locations. Wetzel's Pretzels : Customers who visit a Wetzel's location between 3 p.m. and close on Saturday will receive a free Original Pretzel with no purchase necessary. Until April 25, Wetzel's offered a buy-one-get-one promotion when foodies use the code HOMERUN at checkout in store or online.
: Customers who visit a Wetzel's location between 3 p.m. and close on Saturday will receive a free Original Pretzel with no purchase necessary. Until April 25, Wetzel's offered a buy-one-get-one promotion when foodies use the code HOMERUN at checkout in store or online. Philly Pretzel Factory : The chain is offering one free pretzel per customer on April 26, as well as double points for rewards members. Free stickers are also available at participating locations, while supplies last.
: The chain is offering one free pretzel per customer on April 26, as well as double points for rewards members. Free stickers are also available at participating locations, while supplies last. Ben's Soft Pretzels: A social media post from the chain indicates that customers who make a donation to nonprofit organization Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports American first responders and veterans, will receive a free Original Jumbo Pretzel.
When Was National Pretzel Day Created?
National Pretzel Day was officially recognized in the United States in 2003 when Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declared April 26 as a day to honor the snack food's significance to the state.
Rendell's proclamation acknowledged Pennsylvania's deep roots in pretzel baking, which date back to the 18th century, and its role in producing the majority of the pretzels consumed in the U.S. today. According to Pretzels.com, Pennsylvania makes 80 percent of America's pretzels.
Who Invented the Pretzel?
The origins of the pretzel are debated, but legend traces it back to European monks as early as the 6th or 7th century. One widely circulated story suggests that monks created pretzels as a reward for children who learned their prayers, with the dough's twisted shape meant to resemble arms crossed in prayer. This story, though popular, is likely more myth than fact.
The earliest documented evidence of pretzels may come from a 12th-century illustration in the Hortus deliciarum, a manuscript compiled in Alsace (then part of the Holy Roman Empire, now in northeastern France), which depicts pretzels in religious settings. The treat spread across Europe and eventually made its way to the U.S. with German immigrants, particularly the Pennsylvania Dutch, who helped popularize the hard pretzel.
According to a post from Pretzels.com, pretzels became a commercial success in the 19th century when Julius Sturgis established the first pretzel bakery in Pennsylvania in 1861.
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