Every year on the day before Halloween, people across the United States observe National Candy Corn Day. The date, October 30, is no coincidence. Instantly recognizable, the tri-colored confection shaped like a kernel of corn—white, orange, and yellow—is closely associated with Halloween.
Although Halloween and other late-October observances like National Cat Day attract more attention, candy lovers, confectionery companies, and Halloween enthusiasts still embrace the day.
When Is National Candy Corn Day Observed?
National Candy Corn Day is celebrated every year on October 30, the day before Halloween. The date never changes, giving candy lovers a sweet lead-in to the spookiest night of the year.
| Year | Day of the Week | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Thursday | October 30, 2025 |
| 2026 | Friday | October 30, 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday | October 30, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday | October 30, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday | October 30, 2029 |
| 2030 | Wednesday | October 30, 2030 |
Origins and Popularity of National Candy Corn Day
Candy corn was created in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderlee Candy Company and later made famous by the Goelitz Confectionery Company, which is known today as Jelly Belly. Over time, the tri-colored candy became a fall favorite, symbolizing the colors of the harvest season.
Candy makers produce an astonishing 35 million pounds—nearly 9 billion pieces—of candy corn each year. Surveys by the National Confectioners Association consistently place it among the top three Halloween treats. According to the same survey, Gen X and Baby Boomers are most likely to enjoy it, while younger generations respond more mixedly.
Although many Americans enjoy candy corn, few actually celebrate the day, and the hashtag #NationalCandyCornDay shows only 14.6K posts as of October 2025.
What Is Candy Corn Made Of?
Candy makers use just a few simple ingredients to create candy corn’s distinctive sweetness and texture. The classic recipe includes:
- Sugar – the main ingredient, providing sweetness and structure.
- Corn syrup – adds smoothness and prevents crystallization, giving candy corn its chewy texture.
- Confectioner’s glaze (shellac) – creates the shiny outer coating.
- Marshmallow or gelatin – adds softness and helps the candy hold its shape.
- Honey – used in many modern recipes to enhance flavor and aroma.
- Artificial flavoring and coloring – responsible for the vanilla-honey taste and the signature yellow, orange, and white layers.
Traditionally, candy corn was made by hand, with each color layered in molds using a process called “corn starch molding.” Today, large confectionery machines replicate the same layering technique, ensuring the familiar look of each tiny kernel.
How You Can Observe National Candy Corn Day
As October 30 gets closer, people start finding easy ways to enjoy this classic Halloween candy. Whether it’s a quick snack or a fun baking idea, National Candy Corn Day is a lighthearted way to add some sweetness to the season.
- Enjoy a small treat – Grab a seasonal bag of candy corn or one of the newer varieties like Harvest Corn or Autumn Mix. A small handful is enough to bring back Halloween memories.
- Bake or decorate with it – Sprinkle candy corn on cupcakes, cookies, or other desserts for a pop of color and to add some crunch.
- Share on social media – Post a candy-themed photo or ask your followers if they’re on Team Love or Team Hate when it comes to candy corn using #NationalCandyCornDay. It always gets people chatting.
- Surprise your coworkers – Bring a small bowl or treat bag to the office and share it around. It’s an easy way to spread a bit of pre-Halloween cheer.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, celiac & gluten-free days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025-2026 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
