Dole is at Center of Banana Split Celebration and Banana-Eating Contest on National Banana Split Day
August 14, 2025 | 5 min to read
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dole Food Company is once again representing the signature fruit at the center of the Great American Banana Split Celebration, the annual three-day celebration in Latrobe, Pa., marking the invention of the iconic dessert by a local drugstore soda jerk in 1904.
Dole renewed its sponsorship of this year’s celebration, scheduled for Aug. 22-24, 2025, as well as the 2nd annual Dole Great American Banana Challenge which the produce leader initiated last year in honor of its 125th Banana-Versary.
According to Banana Challenge rules, the banana fan who peels and eats the most DOLE® Bananas at 2:00 p.m. on Aug. 23 on the event’s Robindale Main Stage will receive the Dole Banana Challenge Championship Belt, created by Wildcat Championship Belts, Dole and event organizers exclusively for the competition. Last year, Leo Sun of host city Latrobe took home the first-ever belt after eating 11 bananas in 125 seconds.
The Great American Banana Split Celebration has been an annual destination for banana and dessert fans since 2013 when the Pennsylvania Historical Society unveiled a marker at the downtown Latrobe site where the banana split was invented. Dole helped organize the inaugural celebration in conjunction with Aug. 25’s designation as National Banana Split Day, and sent Bobby Banana, the company’s 7-foot mascot and healthy-eating ambassador as representative.
This year, in addition to serving as an unofficial Banana Challenge judge and all-around banana enthusiast, Bobby will again attend the Aug. 22 Yellow Tie Gala at the Latrobe Art Center and cheer-on participants in the annual 5K Banana Run Aug. 23 at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.
“Dole is proud to be able to sponsor this increasingly popular celebration – and prouder still that DOLE® Bananas will be featured in splits served at the Great American Banana Split Celebration,” said William Goldfield, Dole’s director of communications. “We’ve had fun over the years challenging public perceptions of a banana split by introducing great-tasting new versions that add fresh berries, pineapple, banana ice cream, Greek yogurt, pomegranate seeds and other healthier alternatives to the traditional split.”
Banana split lovers wanting to celebrate with a more wholesome version of the famous dessert are directed to Dole’s Berry Banana Splitz, Honey Pomegranate Banana Splitand True Original Mickey Mouse Chocolate-Banana Split recipes, and to a how-to blog post by Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Dole’s health, wellness and communications manager.
For details on the Great American Banana Split Celebration and to register for specific events, visit the 2025 event website.
About the Great American Banana Split Celebration
The Great American Banana Split Celebration has been an annual staple in Latrobe, Pa., since 2013, when the Pennsylvania Historical Society unveiled a marker at the former site of Tassel’s Pharmacy where a 23-year-old soda jerk named David Strickler invented a new dessert in 1904 called the banana split. Since then, the three-day festival has grown into one of the largest free food celebrations in the country. The 13th annual edition is Aug 22-24, 2025, culminating on the day before National Banana Split Day on Aug. 25. For details, go to https://bananasplitfest.com/.
About Dole plc
Dole plc, is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education. For more information, visit www.dole.com.