National Good & Plenty Day

National Good & Plenty Day is celebrated every year on October 24, honoring the classic pink‑and‑white candy‑coated black licorice known as Good & Plenty.

History of National Good & Plenty Day

The candy Good & Plenty was first manufactured in 1893 by the Quaker City Confectionery Company in Philadelphia, and over the decades it became known as one of America’s oldest branded sweets.

The observance of National Good & Plenty Day emerged as a fun, unofficial celebration of this nostalgic treat, inviting fans to remember the candy, its distinctive packaging and the classic “Choo Choo Charlie” train‑engineer advertising campaign of the 1950s.

Why is National Good & Plenty Day important?

This day gives us a chance to pause and appreciate the simple pleasures and enduring cultural moments that a candy like Good & Plenty represents. While it might seem light‑hearted, recognising such a treat helps us recall the ways food links to memory, tradition and shared childhood experiences.

It also underscores how certain small items—an iconic box of candy, the sound of pieces rattling inside—can become part of collective cultural identity, connecting generations, reminding us of pass‑down snacks and moments of delight that might otherwise go unremarked.

• It celebrates a long‑running candy brand in American history
• It brings back memories of childhood, commercials and snack time
• It reminds us how sensory details (colour, sound, texture) matter in food
• It encourages small moments of joy and nostalgia in everyday life
• It invites us to share something simple and fun with others

How to Celebrate National Good & Plenty Day

Celebrating this day can be as simple and sweet as opening a box of Good & Plenty and enjoying the familiar flavours and textures. You might shake the box to hear the candy rattling inside, just like in vintage adverts.

You could also share a box with friends or family and talk about memories associated with snacks, commercials and childhood treats. If you want to go a little further, use the candy in a creative way—maybe as a topping for ice cream, or as part of a nostalgic snack platter while watching vintage TV ads or childhood favourites.

• Grab a box of Good & Plenty and savour it slowly
• Shake the box and listen to the rattling sound for fun
• Share the candy with someone and talk about snack memories
• Use the candy as a topping or mix‑in for dessert
• Revisit or show a vintage ad featuring Choo Choo Charlie and enjoy a trip down memory lane

National Good & Plenty Day Dates Table