Here are all the corny things brands are doing to celebrate the eclipse
As the world prepares for the moon to completely cover the sun next week, brands are elbowing to get their eclipse-themed promotions in front of you.
From chocolate-glazed donuts to luxury campsites, major companies are doing their best to commercialize the rare astronomical phenomenon.
Next Monday will herald the first total solar eclipse visible from the U.S. since 1979--and the first one in a century to span the width of the entire contiguous United States--as the moon blots out the sun and casts a shadow on the Earth.
Businesses have already made a killing on protective glasses, which have more than tripled in price on Amazon in the last two weeks.
And the corporate milking won't stop there. Here's a brief rundown of all the celestial sales promotions:
Denny's
Denny's is offering unlimited "mooncakes" all day for four dollars. The breakfast chain claims mooncakes are "fluffy, buttermilk pancakes that are shaped just like the moon," a.k.a. normal pancakes.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is drizzling its signature glazed donut in chocolate for the first time to mark the occasion. The limited-time treat will be available all-day Monday and during evening hours throughout the weekend.
Casper
Casper is offering a stay in "Camp Casper" in Casper, Wyoming, where luxury tents will be set up with the company's mattresses inside. All of the $500 tickets are now sold out, but there's a waitlist.
Chiquita
Chiquita has installed a giant glowing banana near the Flatiron building in New York to celebrate the point at which only a sliver of the sun is visible, which it is calling the "banana sun." The banana brand will also hold a Facebook livestream show on Sunday, in collaboration with Funny or Die if you're into that sort of thing.
Nike
Nike is having an eclipse-themed promotion on Monday that centers on all-black products.
Hostess v. MoonPie
We also love nothing more than a little tête-à-tête between brands.
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Looks like the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has MoonPie's back.
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Pizza Hut
Unable to get your hands on a pair of glasses for the eclipse? Pizza Hut has you covered... sort of.
The restaurant chain produce a video of how to turn a pizza box into an eclipse viewer with some household items.
Nickleodeon
OK this is just fun.
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Other brands
Protective glasses are selling out fast everywhere from Amazon to Walmart. But a list of reputable eclipse eyewear retailers from NASA and the American Astronomical Society also includes some more unexpected places you might find them:
7-Eleven
Best Buy
Bi-Mart
Casey's General Store
Hobby Town
Kirklands
Kroger
Walmart
Lowe's
Maverik
McDonald's (Oregon only)
Pilot/Flying J
Toys "R" Us
Patrick Kulp is a Business Reporter at Mashable. Patrick covers digital advertising, online retail and the future of work. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in political science and economics, he previously worked at the Pacific Coast Business Times.
