This Friday is a special one because it's Fry Day. National French Fry Day, that is.

The annual event happens each year on the second Friday in July, which makes it July 12 this year.

For years, the made-up holiday was held on July 13. But in 2022, fast-food chains Checkers and Rally's organized an online petition to get the National Day Calendar to move National French Fry Day so that it would always fall on a – wait for it – Fry-day.

Whatever the day, french fries hold a special place in the appetite of most Americans. Only hamburgers rank above french fries, according to YouGov's regularly updated list of The Most Popular American Dishes. Hamburgers get an 85% popularity rating, while french fries get 84% (so does grilled cheese sandwiches).

French fries rank highly on several media site Ranker polls including No. 1 as The Best Deep Fried Food and The Most Delicious Way To Eat Potatoes.

Many restaurants have specials on french fries to celebrate the occasion – with Burger King, Jack in the Box, McDonald's and Wendy's having free fries on Friday for the rest of 2024. Here's a roundup of them, but remember to check the social media accounts of your local favorite food haunts and you may find more deals.

McDonald's: Free fries this Friday and Saturday

Get the McDonald's app and get a deal for a free medium order of fries with any purchase of $1 or more on Friday, July 12, and every subsequent Friday through Dec. 27, 2024.

And on Saturday, July 13, McDonald's is giving away any size order of fries free, no purchase necessary, in the McDonald’s app. When you download the McDonald's app, you also get a free Big Mac with your first purchase of $1 or more.

For dipping purposes, the restaurant chain also just launched Special Grade Garlic Sauce, which is available only in the app.

Burger King: Free fries on Fridays

On National French Fry Day, members of the restaurant chain's Royal Perks loyalty program can get a free order of any size fries with a purchase of $1 or more – and every Friday for the rest of the year. From Friday to Sunday, July 12-14, Royal Perks members also get 2x Crowns in rewards with purchases containing fries.

And, to celebrate July's designation as National Grilling Month, Royal Perks members can also get a free hamburger with a purchase of $1 or more on Friday, July 12.

Taco Bell: Nacho Fries Lover's Pass is back

If Taco Bell's Nacho Fries is your jam, through Monday, July 15, join the Taco Bell Rewards loyalty program and buy a Nacho Fries Lover’s Pass for $10. The pass entitles you to a regular size order of Nacho Fries every day for the next 30 days in the Taco Bell app.

KFC: Free Secret Recipe fries on National Fry Day

Members of the KFC Rewards loyalty program can get a free order of Secret Recipe fries of any size with any online purchase on Friday, July 12. Also with your online purchase – on the KFC app or KFC.com – you can get 50% off Chicken Sandwiches including the new KFC Saucy Sandwich, through Aug. 25.

Wendy's: Free fries on Fridays – this week and all year

Since National French Fry Day falls on a Friday, that means you can get a free order of any size fries with a purchase at Wendy's. The deal, found in the Wendy's app, began backin April and runs through the rest of the year. Just redeem the offer in the app every Friday (app download and account registration required).

French fry-flavored yogurt? Yes, at 16 Handles

You've heard about folks dipping their french fries into milkshakes or Wendy's Frostys? Well, the frozen dessert chain 16 Handles, which has 30-plus locations, is riffing on that food fad with limited-time French Fry Frozen Yogurt.

The company describes the treat as "a bright yellow soft serve that tastes like crisp, salty fries (with) … real potato french fry pieces mixed in." And the dish is also a dig at McDonald's, which has a reputation for having ice cream machines out of order.

New customers get a bargain on their 16 Handles order – whether you opt for the ice cream or not: Get $5 off in-store on this day by scanning their 16 Handles app at the register or using the code FRENCHFRY on the app.

More National French Fry Day deals

• Arby's: Starting on Friday, July 12, and through the rest of July, members of the Arby's Rewards loyalty program can get any size order of fries for $1 any size fry all month long. When you join, you also get 25% off your first order. Also on the menu for a limited time are the chain's Potato Cakes.
• Bar Louie: Get the restaurant's truffle fries for 50% off during happy hour (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) on Friday, July 12.
• Checkers & Rally’s: Through Friday, July 12, you can enter to win one of 100 Fully Loaded Fry Passes, which gets you free Fully Loaded Fries for a year. Visit the Checkers contest website to enter. Then, from Friday, July 12, to Sunday, July 14, members of Checkers & Rally's Rewards Program can get a free regular size order of Fully Loaded Fries with any purchase in the Checkers & Rally’s Rewards app.

• Elevation Burger: Get a free order of the burger chain's free Classic Olive Oil Fries with any purchase through Sunday, July 14. Offer good in-store or online with the code FRY-YAY.
• Fatburger: For National French Fry Day (and through Sunday, July 14), get one free order of Fat or Skinny Fries with any purchase made in-store or online with the code FRYDAY24.
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Download the Freddy's app on Friday, July 12, and get a free order of regular fries with any purchase on Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14. To get the deal, order on the Freddy's app.

• Friendly’s: Friendly’s Fan Club members get $2 off large sundaes, includes the new Fries N’ Ice Cream Dipper on Thursday, July 11.
• Jack in the Box: You can get a free order of any size or style of fries – french, curly, or halfsies – with a $1 purchase in stores or on the Jack app on Friday, July 12, and every Friday the rest of 2024. To get the Friday Fry Day deals, sign up for the Jack Pack Rewards Program; offers are good for new and existing members of the loyalty program.
• Krystal: Get a free order of Chili Cheese Fries with the purchase of Original or Cheese Sackful or Steamer Pack (combos included), through Aug. 18, as part of the chain's Krystalpalooza promotion.
• Penn Station East Coast Subs: On Friday, June 12, get a free order of Fresh-Cut Fries with any sub purchase in stores and online with promo code FRYDAY at participating locations.
• Raising Cane’s: Members of the Caniac Club loyalty program get a free order of fries Friday, July 12. The offer will be loaded onto their Caniac Club account and can be redeemed by swiping their club card, placing an order online or scanning their QR Code within the mobile app. New members can join and register Thursday, July 11, to get the offer.
• Smashburger: Get a free regular size order of Smash Fries with any purchase all day on Friday, July 12 (good in stores and online with code FRYDAY24). Prefer tots? Get tots for just $1 with the purchase of any entrée on Thursday, July 11 (in-store only at participating locations).
• Wahlburgers: The burger chain, founded by Donnie Wahlberg, Mark Wahlberg and Executive Chef Paul Wahlberg, is giving members of its WahlClub loyalty program free fries from Friday, July 12, to Monday, July 15. Just make a purchase of $10 or more. Use code "fryday" online or in the app; or in person, present or mention the WahlClub with an email or push notification. (Not good for third-party delivery.)
• Wayback Burgers: Get a free regular size order of fries with the purchase of a burger or sandwich on Friday, July 12. By next year's National French Fry Day, the Cheshire, Connecticut-headquartered may be offering what it calls the world’s first ketchup-infused french fry, which it plans to launch in the U.S. in 2025.

• Whataburger: Subscribers to DashPass get $10 off their order of $30 or more from the restaurant.
• Wing Snob: Members of the chain's Snob Perks loyalty program will get a free order of fries, with no purchase required, on Friday, July 12.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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