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National Pretzel Day Freebies & Deals (Updated for 2023)

Celebrate National Pretzel Day (April 26) with free pretzels, pretzel recipes, and more.

For more ways to save, check out all of our frugal posts.

Two people eating pretzels

One of Pete’s favorite snacks is a soft pretzel, so we look forward to National Pretzel Day every day. Each year, a bunch of pretzel shops give out free pretzels to celebrate. 

The day happens every year on April 26, so mark your calendar, pretzel lovers, and enjoy this every year.

To help you celebrate, we put together this list of pretzel freebies and the best deals on pretzels that we’ve found. Some of the pretzel chains require you to be a part of a rewards program and others require you to have the shop’s app. And some are just deals. We’ve made note of all that fine print, and the days of the promotion (if it’s not just April 26), so be sure to read through the details before running out to your nearest location.

A calendar open to June 2023 with the words "Top 20+ National Days For Freebies And Deals" digitally written on top.

National Pretzel Day is just one of the fun National Days that popular shops and restaurants celebrate annually. Check out our list of the Top 20+ National Days For Freebies And Deals to make sure you don’t miss any fun days this year.

National Pretzel Day Freebies & Deals

Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

If you know of any National Pretzel Day deals, freebies, or offers that we missed, be sure to let us know in the comments so we can add them to the list.

The outside of an Auntie Anne's mall location.

Auntie Anne’s

Auntie Anne’s is offering three deals for its Pretzel Perks members (it’s free to join, so definitely do that).

First, Pretzel Perks app users can get a free original or cinnamon sugar pretzel, no purchase necessary, in store on April 26. Second, if you add a dip or drink to your free pretzel offer, you’ll get a surprise offer in your app, valid on your next purchase in the next 14 days. And finally, if you can’t get to a shop, you can get $0 delivery fees on orders of $12 or more.

Ben’s Soft Pretzels

You can get a free pretzel at Ben’s Soft Pretzels locations when you make a donation to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. This is valid in-store. The organization, if you’ve never heard of it, builds mortgage-free homes for injured veterans and first responders. Each home is built specifically for the recipient and his or her unique needs.

And, not specific to National Pretzel Day, but you can get a free pretzel when you download the Ben’s Soft Pretzels app and sign up for a new account.

Eastern Standard Provisions

Save up to 50% off orders in honor of National Pretzel Day. This is online only, no code is needed, and sale prices are already reflected on the website before you even add any items to our cart.

The company is also hosting a giveaway in honor of National Pretzel Month on its Instagram page. You can enter for a chance to win an ESPCo hat, sweatshirt, and pretzel-filled snack box through April 24.

Ibotta

Ibotta users can get a free bag of Flipz STUFF’D Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels at Walmart. 

Sign up for Ibotta for free, then purchase the Flipz. Upload your receipt to Ibotta and get $2.54 back into your Ibotta account.

Milwaukee Pretzel Company

Get 25% off online orders at Milwaukee Pretzel Company now through April 26 when you use the promo code NPD25 at checkout.

Philly Pretzel Factory

Get one free soft pretzel, no purchase necessary, on April 26.

Even better, the first 100 VIPs at participating Philly Pretzel Factory stores who reserve their spot in advance, will get a punch card for a free pretzel every day in May.

Pilot/Flying J

Purchase a bag of Snyder’s of Hanover hard pretzels and get a second bag for 50% off with the coupon in the app.

Pretzelmaker

Get free small pretzel bites at Pretzelmaker on April 26. This is valid on salted and unsalted pretzel bites.

Sonic Drive-In

In the past, Sonic app users could get a Soft Pretzel Twist for only $1. We are still waiting for the 202 announcement.

Thirst Drinks

Everyone gets a full-size free pretzel bite cup from 5 pm to close on April 26.

Wetzel’s Pretzels

Get a free original pretzel after 3 pm on April 26 at all participating Wetzel’s Pretzels locations.

And, there’s more. Wetzel’s Pretzels is hosting a contest in honor of National Wetzel Day (still, April 26). Following the chain’s TikTok account and post a TikTok video with the hashtag #WetzGo showing how you adventure. The video with the most likes will win a Wetzel’s Beach Cruiser, Wetzel’s Merch Box, and a Wetzel’s Picnic Cooler.

A s'mores soft pretzel.

Pretzel Recipes

If you don’t have any of these pretzel shops around you, but now you want to make your own special pretzel to celebrate today, check out our S’mores Soft Pretzel recipe. It’ll be a big hit with all the pretzel fans in your house.

We also have some pretzel recipes using bagged pretzels, so check those out as well.

Pretzels on a silicone baking mat.

National Pretzel Day: Frequently Asked Questions

How did National Pretzel Day start?

In 2003, Ed Rendell, who was the governor of Pennsylvania at the time, declared April 26th National Pretzel Day because of the significance the pretzel had to the state and its economy.

Where did the pretzel originate?

Not in Pennsylvania. As pretzel lore has it, the pretzel was invented by an Italian monk. He formed leftover bread dough into a shape that resembled prayer (a hand on each opposite shoulder) as a way to remind children to say their prayers. The three holes represent the Holy Trinity. He named his creation “pretiola,” which is Latin for “little reward.” So pretzels were basically little rewards for children remembering to pray.

The first hard pretzel factory in the United States was in Lititz, Pennsylvania, by German immigrants, which is how pretzels became associated with the Keystone state.

When is National Pretzel Day?

National Pretzel Day is always April 26. This is not to be confused with Eat A Pretzel Day, which happens annually on October 22. There aren’t any food deals or online discounts to celebrate that version of the holiday, so you definitely want to get your fix now.

Where are you celebrating National Pretzel Day today?

Aria

Tuesday 26th of April 2022

Only one entry per account allowed for the Snyder's instagram sweeps, missy!

drugstore diva lisa

Tuesday 26th of April 2022

Oops. I also didn't follow them, so my entry is void that way anyway haha.