National Pizza Party Day (3rd Fri. in May)
National Pizza Party Day, celebrated every third Friday in May, is a delicious excuse to gather your favorite people and indulge in a few cheesy slices.
It’s not just about food—it’s about connection, creativity, and pure joy.
Whether you host a backyard pizza bash or sample your local favorites, it’s a day to celebrate one of the world’s most loved foods. It also happens to be one of the weird holidays in May.
When is the Holiday?
National Pizza Party Day is always on the third Friday in May. Upcoming dates:
- May 16, 2025
- May 15, 2026
- May 21, 2027
- May 19, 2028
- May 18, 2029
- May 17, 2030
- May 16, 2031
- May 21, 2032
Who Invented It?
No single creator. The holiday likely grew from America’s deep love of pizza and the social nature of sharing it. It became a fun way for families, offices, and schools to celebrate together.
The History of the Holiday
Pizza has ancient roots—flatbreads with toppings go back to Greece and Egypt. But the modern pizza as we know it began in Naples, Italy in the 18th century.
Immigrants brought it to the U.S., and by the 1900s, it was a working-class staple in places like New York and Chicago.
As delivery boomed in the mid-1900s, pizza became a party food. Eventually, an unofficial day to celebrate pizza parties emerged—because, why not?
Top 5 Facts About the Holiday
Pizza is a $46 billion industry in the U.S. alone—enough reason to celebrate.
93% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month.
The world’s largest pizza was made in Rome and measured over 13,500 square feet.
Pepperoni is the most popular topping in the U.S.
The first online pizza order was placed in 1994—a Pepperoni Pizza from Pizza Hut, marking the start of internet food delivery.
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Activities to Celebrate
DIY Pizza Bar at Home: Set up a make-your-own pizza station with different sauces, cheeses, and toppings. Kids can shape their own dough and decorate it like a face, a flag, or even a favorite animal.
Pizza Bingo Game: Create custom bingo cards with ingredients (pepperoni, olives, mushrooms), pizza-related actions (cheese pull, slice cutting), or trivia. Great for parties or classrooms.
Pizza Taste-Off Challenge: Order from three local pizzerias or use different frozen brands and score them on crust, flavor, and creativity. Kids can rate each on scorecards and declare a winner.
Coloring Corner: Keep kids busy with printable pizza-themed coloring pages. Offer crayons, markers, and stickers so they can decorate slices and whole pizzas.
Pizza-Themed Craft Time: Use paper plates to craft pizza slices. Add construction paper “toppings,” glue, and glitter for extra flair. Great for preschoolers.
Host a Pizza & Pajamas Movie Night: Turn your living room into a mini theater. Let the kids eat pizza in their PJs while watching a fun food-themed movie like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Pizza Box Relay Race: For outdoor fun, use empty pizza boxes for a goofy relay. Players balance them on their heads or run with them as “trays.”
Pizza Trivia Night: Mix food fun with brainpower. Ask questions like “What country eats the most pizza per capita?” or “When was the frozen pizza invented?”
Pizza Shop Roleplay: Set up a pretend pizzeria using cardboard boxes as ovens, notepads for taking orders, and play dough for pizza-making. Fun and educational.
Links to Resources
- Pizza Craft Kit – Includes felt pizza shapes and toppings, perfect for preschoolers to assemble their own pizza repeatedly.
- Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig – A beloved picture book that turns a grumpy kid into a pizza. Great for storytime on this themed day.
- Wooden Pizza Play Food Set (Melissa & Doug) – Reusable toy pizza slices with toppings. Kids can “bake,” slice, and serve while learning fine motor skills.
- Pizza Party Game – A fast-paced, dice-rolling game for two players. Race to match your dice to the toppings on your pizza slice cards.
- Pizza Fraction Game (Learning Resources) – Turn party time into learning time with this visual way to explore fractions and math concepts using pizza slices.
- Pizza Party Decorations – Find cute banners, placemats, and party signs to add a festive touch to your celebration.
Related Holidays
National Deep Dish Pizza Day (April 5) – A celebration of the iconic Chicago-style pizza, known for its thick, buttery crust and generous layers of cheese and chunky tomato sauce. It’s a great excuse to try making your own or visit a local pizzeria that specializes in deep dish.
National Pizza Day (February 9) – Possibly the most well-known of the pizza-themed days, this holiday honors all styles and flavors. Many restaurants offer deals, and it’s often used to spotlight regional pizza variations across the U.S.
National Cheese Pizza Day (September 5) – A day devoted to the pure, simple pleasure of cheese pizza. Whether it’s a New York-style slice or a personal pie, this day is all about celebrating pizza in its most classic, no-frills form.
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