How Will You Celebrate America's National Hamburger Day?

What better way to top off the Memorial Day Weekend than to celebrate our favorite food, the hamburger? America’s love affair with burgers spans more than a century. Across the country, many have claimed to be the first to make the beefcake sandwich, and it’s doubtful the question will ever be answered. But the very fact that there are so many states and cities and towns vying for the title, is a testament to the hamburger’s popularity.

TRIVIA TIDBIT #1:   In the United States, we consume over 50 billion burgers a year, which is more than half of all sandwiches sold in this country. McDonald’s alone sells 75 burgers every second – that’s 270,000 per hour!                                                              

Source: http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-burgers/

So it seems only fitting that there should be a day set aside to honor the beloved hamburger. (Actually, there are several days – National Hamburger Day, officially celebrated on May 28th, National Burger Day on July 28th, and National Cheeseburger Day on September 28th.) What’s more, “National” Hamburger Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, making it International Hamburger Day!

TRIVIA TIDBIT #2:   Adding cheese to a burger became popular in the 1920s. According to National Today, the top five cheeses for burgers are:   American, Cheddar, Swiss, Pepper Jack, and Provolone.       

(Source: https://nationaltoday.com/national-hamburger-day/)

Celebrate America’s Favorite Fast-Food By Visiting Some Burger-Themed Attractions

While New Haven, Connecticut does not have an official Burger Day celebration, it prides itself on being the home of Louis Lunch, said to be the place where the hamburger originated. Founded more than 120 years ago by Louis Lassen, it is recognized as the longest operating hamburger restaurant in America. (Not counting its annual closure in August for “counting spoons”.)

Source: https://aht.seriouseats.com/2008/07/louis-lunch-new-haven-connecticut-ct-home-of-the-hamburger.html

Speaking of Miami, why not plan a visit to Burger Beast’s Burger Museum, the only American museum devoted solely to burgers. Located in the Magic City Casino, the 1,200 square foot space houses an enormous collection of fast food and restaurant memorabilia. (That may sound dull, but visitors’ reviews have raved about the colorful and interesting displays.)

Source:   www.burgerbeastmuseum.com

If you are near Seymour, Wisconsin in August, don’t miss their annual Burger Fest, celebrating their own Charlie Nagreen (1880 – 1951), who also claimed to be the inventor of the hamburger when he was just 15 years old! As the story goes, he wanted to sell meatballs at the Seymour Fair in 1885. As people passed by his stand without stopping, he got the idea to flatten them and put them between two pieces of bread, enabling fairgoers to eat while they strolled around the park. Nicknamed “Hamburger Charlie”, he returned to sell his hamburgers at the Seymour Fair every year, for 65 years, until his death in 1951. Seymour honors him and his creation with an annual Burger Fest, featuring a Hamburger Parade and balloon rides among the many attractions.

Source:   www.homeofthehamburger.org/hamburger-charlie

How would you like to take a selfie with a six foot tall naked kewpee doll? Kewpee Hamburgers has been in business in Ohio for more than 90 years. Originally an extension of a chain in Michigan, it is now headquartered in Lima, Ohio, with three locations in that city. But the one that draws the crowds is the Downtown restaurant at Market and Elizabeth Streets – the shiny white Art Deco-style building with a big naked kewpee doll standing on the ledge, ready to welcome you! And that’s not the only one, as there are more inside. A visiting comedian called it “the naked baby restaurant”. But the kewpees aren’t the only attraction. Their hamburgers have consistently received great reviews, due in part to the locally-grown beef delivered to the restaurants daily.

Source: https://kewpeehamburgers.com/

TRIVIA TIDBIT #3:   According to National Today’s survey of 1000 people, the Top Five Hamburger-Loving Cities are Seattle, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, and Miami.

Here are a few other hamburger celebrations that do not fall on National Hamburger Day, but are worth a second look by any self-respecting burger aficionado:

  • The Denver Burger Battle, Stanley Marketplace in Denver, CO, August 1st – This is the ninth year for the “bloody, beefy showdown” between dozens of restaurants battling for the crown, Best Burger in Denver. And you can taste the samples!   https://denverburgerbattle.com

  • Taste of Hamburg-er Festival, Hamburg, PA, August 31st – Fabulous food and wonderful entertainment for Hamburg-er lovers of all ages.   https://www.tasteofhamburger.com/

 Ideas for Celebrating National Hamburger Day at Home

If you prefer to stay at home, check your local newspapers for restaurants offering special deals for Burger Day. Better yet, plan your own event. You could host a hamburger-eating contest, with donations going to a charity of the winner’s choice. Or invite friends for a barbeque and play hamburger trivia or other games, such as Pictionary or Charades, with all of the questions and challenges related to hamburgers.

Create a new “Family Recipe” burger and invite friends to come and enjoy its debut. Post photos from your event on Facebook or start a Burger Blog.

After your meal, throw a few more burgers on the grill, add some yummy toppings, wrap them individually in aluminum foil, and top with a bow and a tag saying, “Happy National Hamburger Day!” Then go for a nice, healthy after-dinner walk with your family and friends, and give your gift-burgers to people you meet along the way!

And don’t forget to pick up some extra Sizzle King frozen quarter pound beef and turkey patties at your local grocery store. Have you tried our beef blends yet? Sweet Onion, Cheddar & Bacon, and Spicy Jalapeño – all perfect for creating that new “Family Recipe” or for gifting to neighbors.

From all of us at Sizzle King, we wish you and your family a Happy National Hamburger Day. Find our frozen premium hamburgers and turkey burgers at Publix, and other fine grocers, and remember to stock up early before Memorial Day.

Harrison Young