National Potato Day in 2019 provided consumers with an opportunity to access various freebies and promotional deals centered around the popular vegetable. Observed annually on August 19, the day celebrates the potato, a crop grown in all 50 states. In 2019, the holiday fell on a Thursday, August 19, 2019. While the day itself is a celebration of the starchy, vitamin-packed vegetable, various brands and restaurants have historically utilized the date to offer food-related incentives. The following guide details the specific offers available for National Potato Day in 2019, alongside broader information regarding freebies and meal deals accessible during that time period.
National Potato Day Context and Significance
National Potato Day is dedicated to recognizing the potato as a staple in the American diet. The potato is described as "America's crop" due to its cultivation across the entire country. It is a versatile vegetable, often prepared in various forms such as chips or baked goods. The celebration encourages consumers to "pick up a bag, choose a recipe and feast with friends."
While National Potato Day is the primary focus, the holiday shares the calendar with other observances. For example, March 5th is recognized as "Potato Head Day," and October 26th is "National Pumpkin Day." However, the specific date of August 19 is solely dedicated to the potato.
Verified Deals for National Potato Day 2019
Based on available documentation regarding food deals in 2019, specific offers directly tied to National Potato Day were confirmed for two major establishments: McDonald's and Wayback Burgers.
McDonald’s
On July 13, 2019, which was designated as National French Fry Day (a variation of National Potato Day), McDonald's launched a significant promotion. Although this occurred slightly prior to the August 19 observance, it is the most prominent verified potato-based freebie of the year.
- The Offer: McDonald's offered a free medium-size order of fries to everyone.
- Requirements: To redeem the free fries, customers were required to download the McDonald's app and opt-in to MyMcDonald's Rewards. The deal had to be added to the cart within the app.
- Context: This promotion coincided with the launch of McDonald's loyalty program and was termed "World Famous Fan Day."
- Additional Contest: McDonald's also ran a contest where 66 fans (representing the company's 66-year history) could win 1 million rewards points. One winner received free fries for life. To enter, customers had to tweet why they were the most loyal fan, tagging @McDonalds and using the hashtag #MyMcDonaldsFanContest along with their state abbreviation. This contest ran from July 13 through July 20, 2019.
Wayback Burgers
Wayback Burgers participated in National French Fry Day on July 13, 2019, with a specific offer relevant to potato products.
- The Offer: Customers received a free side order of French fries with any burger or sandwich ordered through the Wayback Burgers app.
- Context: This deal was available on July 13, 2019. While distinct from the August 19 National Potato Day, it falls under the umbrella of potato-centric freebies available in 2019.
Broader Freebies and Meal Deals (2019 Context)
While National Potato Day offers are specific, consumers in 2019 had access to a variety of other freebies and meal deals throughout the year. The following offers were verified during the 2019 calendar year, providing context on how brands structure promotional giveaways.
January 2019 Specials
January 2019 offered a variety of free food and meal deals, often tied to "National" food holidays.
- Burger King: In early January 2019, Burger King offered a free order of Chicken Fries with a $5 spend on DoorDash (valid through January 6). This required the promo code NEWYEAR and was limited to the first 30,000 orders.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill: Chipotle offered a $10 special on specific pasta dishes (Spaghetti Pomodoro, Penne Alfredo, Linguine Positano) through January 4, 2019.
- Dunkin’: From January through March 3, 2019, Dunkin’ offered medium lattes or cappuccinos (hot or iced) for $2 between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Popeyes offered a limited-time deal of three pieces of chicken tenders or bone-in chicken with a biscuit for $3.99.
- Taco Bell: Taco Bell provided a free drink with any purchase via their app or website once per day through February 1, 2019. This was valid for participating locations and web/app pay-ahead orders only.
- Wendy’s: Wendy’s brought back the Giant Junior Bacon Cheeseburger (Giant JBC) and a signature $5 meal deal.
February 2019 Specials
February 2019 featured celebrations for various food holidays, including National Frozen Yogurt Day.
- BurgerFi: To celebrate its February anniversary, BurgerFi offered a week of deals starting February 4, 2019.
- February 4: Double points for loyalty members.
- February 5: BurgerFi Cheeseburger, VegeFi, or chicken sandwich for $5.
- February 6: Free Freestyle beverage with any purchase.
- February 7: Shakes for $2.50 (Shake Day).
- February 8: Free order of regular, hand-cut fries with purchase (coinciding with National Potato Lovers Day).
- TCBY: On February 6, 2019 (National Frozen Yogurt Day), TCBY offered specials to celebrate.
Other Special Days and Freebies
The documentation also highlights various other "National Days" that historically trigger freebies, though specific 2019 offers for these days were not detailed in the provided chunks.
- National Popcorn Day (January 19): Historically, movie theater chains have offered deals on popcorn.
- National Pie Day (January 23): Distinct from Pi Day (March 14).
- National Poultry Day (March 19): Associated with 28+ poultry freebies.
- National Puppy Day (March 23): Associated with 35+ puppy freebies.
- National Radio Day (August 20): Associated with 18+ radio freebies.
- National Puzzle Day (January 29): Associated with 38+ puzzle freebies.
Accessing Freebies and Promotional Offers
Consumers looking to access freebies like those offered on National Potato Day generally need to follow specific steps to ensure eligibility. Based on the 2019 offers, the following methods were required:
- Digital App Usage: Many offers, such as the McDonald's free fries and Taco Bell free drink, required the use of a branded mobile application.
- Account Registration: Users often needed to create an account or opt-in to loyalty programs (e.g., MyMcDonald's Rewards, Burger King DoorDash integration).
- Promo Codes: Specific codes were sometimes necessary to redeem offers, particularly for third-party delivery services (e.g., NEWYEAR for Burger King on DoorDash).
- Geographic and Location Restrictions: Offers were typically valid only at participating locations. For delivery offers, restrictions applied based on the delivery service's zone (e.g., DoorDash delivery zones).
- Time Sensitivity: Most freebies were limited-time offers, valid only on specific dates or within a set window (e.g., 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for Dunkin’).
- Purchase Requirements: Some offers required a minimum spend (e.g., $5 at Burger King) or the purchase of another item (e.g., free fries with a burger at Wayback Burgers).
Conclusion
National Potato Day 2019 offered specific opportunities for consumers to enjoy potato-based products, primarily through National French Fry Day promotions by McDonald's and Wayback Burgers. While the August 19 holiday itself did not yield widespread verified restaurant deals in the provided data, the broader landscape of 2019 freebies included significant offers from major chains such as Burger King, Chipotle, Dunkin’, Popeyes, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, BurgerFi, and TCBY. To maximize access to such offers, consumers are advised to monitor brand apps, sign up for loyalty programs, and verify participation at local locations prior to visiting.