National Smores Day 2017 Free Treats Special Offers And Celebration Ideas

National S'mores Day, celebrated annually on August 10, provides an opportunity for Americans to enjoy the beloved campfire treat in various forms. In 2017, the occasion was marked by numerous freebies, special promotions, and unique celebration opportunities across the country. From complimentary s'mores at resort hotels to free candy bars and themed giveaways, consumers had multiple options to participate in the festivities without cost. This article explores the various ways individuals and businesses celebrated National S'mores Day 2017, highlighting available free samples, promotional offers, and celebration ideas.

Food Retailer Freebies

One of the most direct opportunities to obtain free s'mores-related items came from food retailers participating in National S'mores Day celebrations. Birmingham Candy Company stood out by offering complimentary S'mores Bars to customers. The company set up a stall at The Pizitz food court in downtown Birmingham, where they provided free treats while roasting marshmallows on-site. According to promotional information, the event began at 11 a.m. and continued while supplies lasted. This hands-on approach allowed attendees to experience the traditional s'mores-making process with professional assistance, creating an interactive freebie experience beyond simply receiving a pre-packaged product.

The Birmingham Candy Company's promotion was specifically timed to coincide with National S'mores Day, demonstrating how local retailers can leverage food-themed holidays to attract customers. The company promoted the event through their Facebook page, indicating the importance of social media channels in distributing information about time-sensitive free offers. For consumers, this represented an opportunity to enjoy a high-quality s'mores experience without cost, while the business benefited from foot traffic and potential future sales from individuals who discovered their products during the promotion.

Hotel Special Offers

Hospitality businesses also embraced National S'mores Day with special promotions. The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa featured a notable celebration that extended beyond the single holiday date. The resort offered complimentary s'mores every night throughout the summer and most weekends during the rest of the year at their numerous fire pits spread across the 600-acre property.

For the specific celebration of National S'mores Day 2017, the resort introduced a special twist to their traditional offering by adding bacon to the s'mores. According to resort representatives, this addition created "a unique and tasty summer treat" that combined the classic s'mores elements—chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker—with the salty finish of bacon. The resort framed this as an "elevation" of the traditional s'mores experience, designed to make the holiday celebration particularly memorable.

Guests at the resort could enjoy the s'mores while roasting marshmallows around fire pits and making treats with family and friends. The experience was positioned as part of a broader vacation package, with the resort highlighting their 9-acre water park, River Bluff Water Experience, as complementary attractions. The resort's seasonal approach to s'mores offerings, including variations like peppermints and sprinkles during the holiday season, demonstrated how hospitality businesses can create recurring promotions around food-themed holidays.

Product Giveaways and Promotions

Beyond retail locations, several companies used National S'mores Day as an opportunity for promotional giveaways and product demonstrations. Malvimallow, a producer of uniquely flavored marshmallows made with all-natural ingredients, received attention through a giveaway promotion. As part of the "First Friday Freebies" series in August 2017, Malvimallow products were included in prize packages that also featured #tieksgirl cups and nail polish.

The giveaway, hosted by a blogger, offered three prize packages to randomly selected email subscribers. Each package contained Malvimallow marshmallow treats, with the suggestion that recipients could roast them like traditional s'mores over a fire pit or prepare them in a toaster oven or microwave to intensify flavors. This promotion not only provided free samples to winners but also educated consumers about alternative ways to enjoy marshmallow products beyond s'mores assembly.

Malvimallow's participation in this giveaway highlighted how specialty food manufacturers can leverage food-themed holidays for product exposure. By positioning their marshmallows as suitable for s'mores preparation, the company connected their product to the traditional celebration while emphasizing their unique selling points—natural ingredients and distinctive flavors.

Retailer Promotions

Several food retailers incorporated s'mores-themed products into their regular offerings around National S'mores Day. Dunkin' Donuts, for example, unveiled a new S'mores Donut as part of their product lineup. While not explicitly framed as a National S'mores Day promotion, the timing of this product launch coincided with the holiday, suggesting a strategic connection to the increased consumer interest in s'mores during August.

Dunkin' Donuts has a history of introducing limited-time flavor combinations that capitalize on seasonal trends and food holidays. The S'mores Donut represented an extension of this strategy, allowing customers to experience a s'mores-inspired product in a convenient, ready-to-eat format. This approach demonstrates how food retailers can participate in food-themed holidays through product innovation rather than explicit free offerings.

Other retailers incorporated s'mores elements into their promotions as well. Post, for example, brought back Oreo O's and launched new S'mores-flavored products around this time, though specific details about free samples or promotions were not included in the source materials.

Printables and DIY Resources

For consumers interested in celebrating National S'mores Day at home, numerous free printables and DIY resources became available. Bloggers and creative professionals offered downloadable s'mores-themed materials that could be used for parties, gifts, and educational activities.

One blogger compiled a collection of 30 free s'mores printables categorized by use case: - Party favors - Gifts - Teacher gifts - Party or activity decorations

These printables allowed individuals to create themed decorations and packaging without cost, facilitating home celebrations of National S'mores Day. The availability of such resources demonstrates how digital content creators can participate in food holiday celebrations by providing free materials that enhance the consumer experience.

Educational resources also incorporated National S'mores Day themes. One kindergarten teacher created s'mores-themed materials for the first day of school, which coincided with National S'mores Day 2017. These materials included tags for treats and leadership activities with a s'mores theme, showing how the holiday could be integrated into educational settings beyond simple celebrations.

Other Celebration Ideas

Beyond specific promotions and free offers, several other suggestions for celebrating National S'mores Day emerged in the source materials. For families and outdoor enthusiasts, visiting locations with fire pits or grilling facilities provided opportunities to make traditional s'mores at no cost beyond any potential park or facility fees. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama, for example, hosted a free reptile show on National S'mores Day weekend, combining educational activities with the outdoor context where s'mores are traditionally enjoyed.

The source materials also suggested various creative ways to incorporate s'mores flavors into other foods and beverages. Dunkin' Donuts S'mores Iced Coffee and S'mores Pop-Tarts were mentioned as products that allowed consumers to experience s'mores flavors outside the traditional campfire context. This reflects a broader trend of s'mores-inspired flavors appearing in various food and beverage products throughout the year, not just around the holiday.

Conclusion

National S'mores Day 2017 provided numerous opportunities for consumers to enjoy free treats and special promotions. From complimentary s'mores bars at retail locations to hotel celebrations with unique twists, businesses across several sectors embraced the occasion. Product giveaways from companies like Malvimallow offered free samples to lucky winners, while retailers introduced s'mores-themed products to capitalize on the holiday's popularity. Additionally, free printables and DIY resources enabled home celebrations without additional expense.

The variety of ways to celebrate National S'mores Day demonstrates how food-themed holidays have become significant marketing opportunities for businesses while also providing genuine value to consumers through free samples, special offers, and unique experiences. For deal seekers and sample enthusiasts, these occasions represent prime opportunities to enjoy products and experiences without cost, making them an important part of the consumer landscape.

Sources

  1. International Business Times - Nurses Week 2017 Freebies

  2. Christie Dedman - Savvy Shopper August 9 Free S'mores

  3. Learning with Mrs. Brinn - Ready for S'more Fun in Kindergarten

  4. Do210 - National S'mores Day

  5. TS Loves - First Friday Freebies August 2017

  6. Not in Jersey - Free S'mores Printables

  7. Brand Eating - 2017 National Ice Cream Day Deal Round Up