As the World Rediscovers its Love for the Banana, Dole Appears at National Banana Split Day 2026
August 21, 2026 | 3 min to read
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As bloggers, recipe-developers and the world’s tastemakers celebrate everything banana in 2026, Dole Food Company releases the latest details on its long involvement with National Banana Split Day, the annual Aug. 25 holiday devoted to the iconic dessert created by a Latrobe, Pa., drug store soda jerk in 1904.
The world’s largest banana provider will return as brand sponsor of the Great American Banana Split Celebration, Aug. 21-23, a three-day destination festival in Latrobe featuring a Yellow-Tie Gala, 5K Banana Run, baking contest, car show and other ripe banana- and banana split-themed activities.
DOLE® Bananas will also be title sponsor of the 3rd Annual Dole Great American Banana Challenge on Aug. 22which will award the Dole Banana Challenge Championship Belt to the banana fan who peels and eats the most DOLE® Bananas in 125 seconds. Last year, Latrobe resident Leo Sun was crowned the Challenge winner for the second consecutive year after eating 11 ½ bananas, topping his own record of 11 bananas set in 2024.
Bobby Banana, Dole’s 7-foot mascot and healthy-eating ambassador, will be present throughout the festival including serving as an unofficial Banana Challenge judge and top cheerleader for contestants.
“Dole worked with the City of Latrobe to help organize the inaugural Great American Banana Split Celebration back in 2013 – and we’ve been honored to be part of the annual festivities ever since,” 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 and Honey Pomegranate Banana Split recipes, and to a how-to blog post by Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Dole’s health, wellness and communications manager.
This year, Dole is also spotlighting its Pineapple Dole Whip® Sundae, a new recipe created for last month’s Dole Whip Day that combines the iconic Banana Split with the best of a Dole Whip®.
Beyond Latrobe
Beyond its involvement with the Great American Banana Split Celebration, Dole will be hosting a DIY Banana Split Bar on National Banana Split Day on Aug. 25, at its U.S. offices in Charlotte, N.C. Dole employees will be encouraged to make one of Dole’s featured banana split-inspired recipes or create their own unique dessert.
For details on the Great American Banana Split Celebration and to register for specific events, visit the 2026 event website.
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 14th annual edition is Aug 21-23, 2026, culminating two days before National Banana Split Day on Aug. 25. For details, go to bananasplitfest.com.
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.