I love holidays.
I’m stating the obvious here, but the global pandemic has made 2020 a not-so-great year for celebrations.
St. Patrick’s Day was skipped. April Fool’s Day was too soon. Cinco de Mayo was me eating tacos on the couch (actually not terrible). Weddings, birthdays, graduations are all a little different than we hoped.
And as we read the news and see the devastating losses in our country, you may not even feel much like celebrating.
But if you need to take a moment for a quick pick-me-up or a fun thing to do with your kids, I have good news: National Donut Day!
National Donut Day was originally a fundraiser for The Salvation Army to help others during the Great Depression and to honor its members who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. The holiday is still honored the first Friday in June.
Here are a few tasty ways to celebrate
Support Your Local Charleston Donut Shops
Our Charleston donut shops are small businesses or local franchise owners that need our community’s support more than ever. Buying a dozen from them is a win-win. Check out our complete list of Charleston area donut shops here. Local dessert shop Swank Desserts is re-opening its doors on National Donut Day after being closed for the past two months. They’ll be serving coffee & doughnut milkshakes, peach fritters, blueberry jam doughnuts, and brownie sundae doughnut ice cream sandwiches. Yum!
Order Donut Delivery
A global pandemic is a great excuse to get donuts delivered to your door.
Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts has made your wildest dreams come true by delivering their made-from-scratch donuts to your door. With classic flavors, fresh seasonal ingredients, and even gluten-free and vegan selections, there is truly something for everyone. Delivery orders open at 1 p.m. for the next day, and they always sell out! Set your alarms if you want to get in on this action for National Donut Day.
You can also find many of your favorites on DoorDash, such as Duck Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts, and Fractured Prune.
Honestly, donuts should be eaten in your pajamas anyway.
Decorate Your Own Donuts
Get in touch with your creative side by decorating your own donuts, or better yet, have your kids decorate their donuts while you drink your coffee in peace for ten minutes.
- In Mount Pleasant, local neighborhood spot, Joey Bag A Donuts, offers DIY kits with their classic ring donuts, icing, and sprinkles. The best way to secure your kit is to order in advance by emailing [email protected].
- In West Ashley, Duck Donuts sells DIY kits by the dozen and half dozen, complete with icings and toppings of your choice. The kits are made-to-order, so call ahead 843-724-9917 before you pick up.
Eat Free Donuts
In case you’re wondering, yes, free donuts do taste better.
- Joey Bag A Donuts is offering a free donut with the purchase of any breakfast sandwich. They also have another special that day that might be even better: a free medium coffee with the purchase of a half dozen donuts. Yes, please!
- At Dunkin Donuts, score a free donut with the purchase of any beverage on June 5th. See more details here.
- Duck Donuts is giving its registered members a free cinnamon sugar donut anytime from June 5th through June 7th. You need to register and download their app before June 4th at 11:59 p.m., so get on that.
- Krispy Kreme is celebrating National Donut Week from June 1st through June 5th by giving customers a free donut of their choice. There is a very reasonable limit of one free donut per customer per day. For more details, see their website.
