dailyloe.com – Hooters is celebrating its annual Founders Day on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, according to a company press release. The event coincides with April Fools’ Day, a tradition the restaurant chain has embraced since 1983. Andrea Hill, HMC Hospitality Group Executive Vice President, commented on the origins of the celebration.
Hill stated that the day started as a bold, tongue-in-cheek idea in 1983. She noted it has since turned into an iconic tradition. The company continues to have fun with the concept each year.
The celebration is a way to engage with guests at their local Texas Hooters locations. The company ties its founding story directly to the spirit of April Fools’ Day. This creates a unique marketing and cultural event for the brand.
The exact historical origins of April Fools’ Day itself remain uncertain. Most accounts attribute it to 16th-century France’s calendar change. The switch from the Julian to Gregorian calendar moved New Year’s Day to January 1.
People who celebrated the new year in late March or April 1 were called ‘April fools’. This is according to historical sources like The Library of Congress. The History Channel also supports this explanation.
Another potential origin is the medieval ‘Feast of Fools’. This New Year’s tradition predates the French calendar reform. The day has evolved into a global occasion for lighthearted pranks.
Hooters leverages this shared cultural history for its brand narrative. The company’s Founders Day is now a fixed point in its promotional calendar. It blends corporate history with a widely recognized informal holiday.[]
Source: El Paso Times
