Program for Unique Holidays: February 2025
by David Klemt
AI-generated image.
Do you want to stand out from from other restaurants and bars in your area? Change how you think about your February 2025 holiday programming.
Several holidays are set against every date on the calendar, and this month is no exception. These holidays range from mainstream to esoteric.
Pay attention to the “weird” or unique holidays to raise eyebrows, carve out a niche for your restaurant or bar, and attract more guests. Why do what everyone else is already doing? Why program only around the same holidays as everyone else?
To provide a handful of examples, February boasts National Pizza Day, National Cheddar Day, and National Retro Day. Those are all things you can get creative and program around, and celebrate with your guests.
Of course, you shouldn’t try to celebrate every holiday, strange or otherwise. Focus on the days that are authentic to your brand; resonate with your guests; and help you grab attention on social media.
You’ll find suggestions for promotions below. However, the idea behind our monthly holiday promotions roundup is to inspire you and your team to get creative and come up with unique programming ideas.
For our January 2025 holidays list, click here.
February 7: Rose Day
Rose presents interesting flavor and scent profiles. It can also be difficult to perfect; too little and it likely won’t register, too much and it will overpower. Notably, it doesn’t take much for rose to go in either direction. However, if your kitchen and bar teams are up to the task, rose dishes and drinks can be quite intriguing for your guests.
Of course, you can also go a different direction and celebrate Rose Day as Rosé Day with all manner of wine, spirits, and beers.
February 8: National Kite Flying Day
As one would expect, there are several drinks with “kite” in the name. Cocktails (including zero-proof versions), beers, and wines. Further, there’s the similar paper airplane, so you can feature the Paper Plane, as well.
February 9: National Pizza Day
Is programming around pizza unusual, unexpected, or unique? On its face, no, of course not.
However, restaurant and bar operators can make National Pizza Day an unusual food holiday by featuring unique ingredients, and interesting pizza styles.
February 10: National Cream Cheese Brownie Day
Much like pizza, most brownies aren’t considered unique. That said, your culinary team’s interpretation can become a signature dessert (or appetizer
February 13: National Cheddar Day
Is everything better (or “beddar”) with cheddar? No, not everything. But there sure are a lot of menu items that are great with this hard cheese.
I’m confident that you and your kitchen team can find plenty of ways to feature cheddar on an LTO menu.
February 14: Start of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Education Week
This week is dedicated to Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness and education, along with raising funds for charitable organizations looking for a cure. If you think you can organize a charity drive, be it for one day or the entire week, go for it.
One way to execute is to donate proceeds from an LTO item or menu. If you have signature drink or dish, that item can lead the charge for raising charitable donations. This important week has a hashtag, so be sure to include it to spread the word: #AlzheimersDementiaCareEducationWeek.
February 20: National Comfy Day
Sure, operators can go for comfy dress to celebrate this holiday. It can be “cute” to have staff show up in comfy gear, or encourage guests to do so.
Or, operators can go a different direction: focusing on the comfort foods on their menus. Whether they’re traditional or creative takes on comfort classics, a comfort food LTO menu is perfect for February 20.
February 24: National Tortilla Chip Day
Who doesn’t love a tortilla chip, particularly when it’s carrying an array of delicious toppings? You know what to do: highlight your nachos (if you have them on your menu), and get creative with the presentation (we like to go sky high), proteins, and other ingredients.
February 27: National Retro Day
It seems like the phrase, “Everything old is new again,” is always relevant. National Retro Day is one of the best times to dive into vintage F&B recipe books and select classics that work with your theme and resonate with guests. Grasshoppers, anyone?
February 28: National Floral Design Day
Edible flowers are visually appealing, and can also enhance the dining and drinking experience. You know what to do!
Image: Microsoft Designer
