National Banana Split Day

History & origins

National Banana Split Day is an informal food observance in the United States, celebrated each year on August 25. The banana split itself is widely credited to David Evans Strickler, a pharmacist’s apprentice in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, who created the dessert in 1904. The holiday celebrates that classic American soda fountain treat rather than a formal national holiday.

Why it matters

National Banana Split Day keeps a nostalgic American dessert in the spotlight and gives ice cream shops, diners, and home cooks a fun seasonal promotion. It also highlights a piece of food history that helped define soda fountain culture, especially the old-fashioned mix of ice cream, fruit, syrup, and whipped cream.

How to celebrate

Visit a classic ice cream parlor for a banana split. Make homemade banana splits with creative toppings. Host a banana split bar party. Learn the history of this American dessert. Share your banana split creations on social media.

Facts

• The banana split was invented by David Strickler in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
• The original banana split cost 10 cents
• A traditional banana split has three scoops of ice cream
• Wilmington, Ohio claims to be the birthplace (disputed)
• The longest banana split ever made was over 5 miles long