Jan. 23 is National Pie Day: Here’s how to celebrate

Credit: Chip Somodevilla

Credit: Chip Somodevilla

Whether your preferred pie is pizza or the sweet kind, Jan. 23 is a day to celebrate both.

>> Read more trending news

National Pie Day started around 1975, when Boulder, Colorado, schoolteacher Charlie Papazian told his students he was declaring his birthday, Jan. 23, National Pie Day, the Denver Post reported. Forty-four years later, the holiday endures.

The American Pie Counsel has a "baker's dozen" list of 12 suggested ways to celebrate National Pie Day, which include baking a pie to share with others, taking pie to work and telling stories of pie-related memories.

Want to celebrate the holiday with a slice of pie, but baking isn’t your thing? Several restaurants are offering discounted or free slices.

Grand Traverse Pie Company and Cantina Laredo locations are offering free slices of pie specifically for the holiday, Thrillist reportedGrand Traverse Pie Company customers can get a free slice of apple crumb or cherry crumb pie with any purchase, while Cantina Laredo customers just need to show a promo image available online to get a free slice of Mexican apple pie.

For those who want to celebrate with a pizza pie, Davanni's Pizza is offering 20 percent off any one pizza with the code "PieDay19."

Other restaurants are offering free pie as part of ongoing promotions. Village Inn is offering customers a free slice of pie from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. -- although it should be noted the restaurant chain offers this deal every Wednesday, and National Pie Day happens to be on a Wednesday this year.

Customers of Corner Bakery Cafe can get a "free sweet" -- which includes pie -- if they sign up for the bakery's e-newsletter. Marie Callendar's is offering discounted, whole pies ordered to-go as part of an ongoing promotion through Feb. 28.

As it turns out, it's also a good time of year for ongoing discounts on pizza. Pizza Patron is offering its Super Bowl deals early, known as "MVP Deals." Hungry Howies is offering a medium, one-topping pizza for $1 with the purchase of a large, one-topping pizza at regular price when customers use the code MEDIUM1.

Check for details at the businesses’ respective websites.

When National Pie Day is over, pie enthusiasts will have “Pi Day” to look forward to -- March 14.

About the Author