National Corndog Day

The story

National Corndog Day, an American celebration intertwined with the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, venerates the iconic fusion of flavors that is the corn dog. This beloved culinary delight features a hot dog encased in a thick cornmeal batter, deep-fried to perfection, and often served on a stick. The roots of the corn dog extend into the rich tapestry of American culinary heritage, where Native Americans cherished cornmeal, and hot dogs, descendants of a German classic, found their place in American cuisine.

The corn dog's chronicle dates back to 1929 with the Krusty Korn Dog machine, and in 1941, Portland's Pronto Pup stand popularized the cornmeal-swathed, stick-bound hot dog. The Fletcher brothers introduced 'Corny Dogs' at the Texas State Fair in 1942, and on June 16, 1946, the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Illinois claimed the first sale of corn dogs on a stick. In 1992, National Corndog Day emerged in Corvallis, Oregon, as an informal celebration initiated by Brady Sahnow and Henry Otley, combining corndogs and basketball.

The festivities expanded over the years to include tater tots and beer, reaching numerous cities and garnering support from corporate sponsors like Foster Farms and Jones Soda. By 2007, celebrations were held at 113 locations across more than 30 U.S.

states, the District of Columbia, and even Antarctica, showcasing the enduring spirit of reveling in the delectable corn dog.