A little reason to celebrate
National Something on a Stick Day
Food · Fun · March 28
A look at food served on a stick, from corn dogs and kebabs to frozen treats, and easy ways to put a stick in your own next meal.
National Something on a Stick Day falls on Sunday, March 28, 2027. That is 152 days away.
Put almost any food on a stick and it becomes easier to carry, easier to share and a little more interesting to eat. That simple idea is the whole subject here: food you hold by a handle instead of a plate.
The list is long. Corn dogs, kebabs, satay, candy apples, ice pops and roasted marshmallows all belong. Fairs and festivals lean on them because a stick keeps hands clean and lets people eat while they walk. At home, a skewer turns cubes of fruit or vegetables into something that looks planned.
Making your own is mostly a matter of choosing a stick and a heat source, if any. Wooden skewers are cheap and work well on a grill or under a broiler, though soaking them in water for a while first helps keep them from burning. Metal skewers can be reused and conduct heat into the food. For meat, chicken or seafood, cook every piece all the way through, and keep raw meat away from fruit or anything served uncooked. Pieces of similar size cook more evenly.
Cold versions take even less work. Freeze juice in a mold with a stick for ice pops, or thread grapes, melon and cheese cubes for a snack tray. Dipping a frozen banana in melted chocolate gets you a dessert in a few minutes.
One practical note for anyone serving children: sharp skewer tips can be snipped off with kitchen shears before the food goes on.
Ways to celebrate
- Thread fruit, cheese and vegetables onto skewers for a snack platter.
- Freeze juice into homemade ice pops with craft sticks.
- Grill kebabs, cooking meat pieces all the way through.
- Dip frozen banana halves on sticks into melted chocolate.
- Roast marshmallows over a safe, supervised fire or grill.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, March 28 |
| 2027 | Sunday, March 28 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, March 28 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, March 28 |
| 2030 | Thursday, March 28 |