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The holidays are upon us and we’ll be operating under a special schedule this week so that our wonderful team members can spend the season with their loved ones. Read on to get all the details so you can plan your holiday takeout accordingly!

Christmas Hours

Santa Claus is coming to town and we will be closing up shop at 3PM on Christmas Eve so we can go to sleep extra early! We will also be closed on Christmas Day and will resume normal hours on December 26. 

New Year’s Hours

To help our team members celebrate the start of the New Year, all of our locations will close at 9PM on December 31 and will reopen at their normal time on January 1. 

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Need another Christmas activity this week for the  kiddos? Enter our Christmas Star coloring contest for your chance to win a $25 gift card! 

Simply print out our coloring sheet below or draw your best picture of our classic Christmas Star commercial, then post your artwork in the comments of this Facebook post by 10AM on 12/30 to enter. 

Entries from all ages are welcomed and we’ll be reposting our favorites! 

Print your coloring sheet here!

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We have some SOUPER NEWS: $5 Soup Quarts are back for a limited time!  Stock up for the upcoming snowstorm and buy a few for your neighbors! (#BestGiftEver) In addition to our homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and Chili, which are available every day, here’s our daily soup schedule to help you plan your next order. 

• Sunday: Potato  
• Monday: Stuffed Pepper  
• Tuesday: Cream of Broccoli  
• Wednesday: Potato  
• Thursday: Wedding  
• Friday: Clam Chowder  
• Saturday: Potato 

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Make your last-minute Christmas shopping a breeze this year with Eat’n Park Gift Cards! For a limited time, when you purchase $25 in gift cards, you’ll receive $25 in savings for 2021, while supplies last! 

That’s right, for every $25 spent, we’ll give you a sheet of 12 coupons (one for each month) with $25 worth of savings to use throughout the new year! The more you spend in gift card purchases, the more coupons you’ll receive, making Eat’n Park gift cards the gift that keeps on giving! So, cross a few people off your shopping list, and look forward to treating yourself all year long.  

*Not available with e-gift card purchases. 

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We’re excited to announce some great news… we’ve added a few new items to our menu! Read on to learn all the details about some of our new favorites!

Mile-High Meatloaf

Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad

Chili Cornbread Combo

The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Reese's Cheesecake

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We know that our classic Christmas Star commercial is a cherished tradition for many. To spread even more smiles this holiday season, we’ve created several ways for you to bring the magic of our classic commercial with you wherever you go!

Christmas Star Masks 
Spreading holiday cheer has never been easier with our new Christmas Star face masks! Make a friend smile, even if they can’t show their smile! Available  only at your local Eat’n Park, these light and breathable masks are just $10.    

Ceramic Mugs 
For the perfect stocking stuffer, look no further than our classic Christmas Star Ceramic Mugs! Perfect for morning coffee, late night hot chocolate, or even a cup full of milk to enjoy with your Smiley Cookies, you can pick one up today at your local Eat’n Park for just $7.99!

Christmas Star Cookie Kits
Need a festive activity for those who are young and young at heart? Cue our Christmas Tree Smiley Cookie decorating kits! Complete with 6 uniced Christmas Tree Cookies, holiday icing, sprinkles, and sparkly sugar, you can bring home this fun kit for just 10.99! 

Ordering online from your local Eat’n Park? You can find our Christmas Star Masks and Ceramic Mugs in our “Groceries & Merchandise” category. Head to the “Pies & Smiley Cookies” section for our variety of Cookie Decorating Kits.

T-Shirts from Steel City 
We’ve partnered with our friends at Steel City to bring you the perfect gift idea for the Pittsburgher in your life... an Eat’n Park Christmas Star T-Shirt! Available to order only on shopsteelcity.com, this exceptionally soft, heathered green t-shirt, featuring the one and only Christmas Star Tree, has a textured look that adds to its vintage charm.

Shop Steel City here!  

Christmas Star Cookies - Only at SmileyCookie.com!

You can now send the star near and far with this Christmas Star Smiley Cookie Gift Pack, available exclusively at SmileyCookie.com! All cookies are nut-free and come individually wrapped, making for a safe and delicious holiday surprise!

• The Story of the Eat’n Park Christmas Star Commercial
• 2020 Eat’n Park Christmas Star Commercial TV Air Dates
• Free Christmas Star Fun
• Watch our classic Christmas Star commercial and “Send the Star” via email to your friends and family

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Our Christmas Star commercial is a beloved favorite for young and old. Its simple, timeless message has resonated with viewers for over 35 years. Read on to see when it will be airing on TV in the Pittsburgh area! Check your local listings for times.

WTAE-TV

• CMA Country Christmas (11/30)
• Great Christmas Light Fight (12/9, 12/16)
• Disney Olaf’s Frozen Adventure/Shrek the Halls (12/18)
• Disney Christmas Day Parade (12/25)
• The Great Holiday Baking Show (12/19)

KDKA-TV

• Robbie The Reindeer (11/28)
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (12/1, 12/12)
• Frosty/Frosty Returns (12/12)
• I Love Lucy Christmas Special (12/18)

WPXI-TV

• Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (11/26)
• SNL Christmas Special (12/16)
• It’s a Wonderful Life (12/24)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (12/25)

The CW

• Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (11/27)
• The Christmas Caroler Challenge (12/11, 12/18)

Not in the Pittsburgh area? No worries! You can watch our Christmas Star commercial anytime, anywhere – ahh, the magic of YouTube!

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It’s hard to believe that December is here and the holidays are already upon us. While there are busy schedules and stress that sometimes come along with this time of year, there are also long-beloved traditions that we look forward to all year long.

One long-running tradition here at Eat’n Park is our cherished Christmas Star commercial. Every year, we are moved by the comments we hear about this classic spot. Many of you have told us that it is what gets you in the holiday spirit, and that it reminds you of what the holidays are all about. We’ve even heard that the commercial has been referenced in Christmas Eve sermons!

This year marks the 38th anniversary of the commercial – and because it’s so timeless, it’s hard to believe that it has been around for so long. And just how did this classic come to be?

It all started in early 1982. Eat’n Park was just beginning to blossom into the family restaurant chain that you’re now familiar with, and the company was prospering. Our CEO at the time, Jim Broadhurst, wanted to create a holiday card on video to thank the city of Pittsburgh for their support of Eat’n Park.

So, Jim charged Ketchum, our ad agency at the time, with creating a message that would “last for 20 years.” Easy, right? Craig Otto, then a young Art Director, and Cathy Bowen, a fledgling Copy Writer at the time, lead the project. The pair worked for 3 weeks to generate over 30 ideas, none of which were met with approval. Eventually, they hit upon the idea of an animated commercial, but they still weren’t sure where they were going with it.

One Sunday shortly thereafter, Craig decided to come into the office. He sketched out a star, a traditional holiday image, and then stopped. “How does the star get to the top of the tree?” He played around with a few ideas until deciding that, of course, the star would need some help from the tree itself. In a fateful coincidence, Cathy had also decided to come in to the office that Sunday. So, while Craig worked out the illustrations, Cathy devised a simple, yet perfect sentiment to wrap up the commercial.

Jim immediately loved the spot, and an ageless favorite was born. Even better, the commercial has outlasted his original expectations. The idea of the relationship between the tree and the star illustrates a timeless holiday lesson – by helping another, you’re helping yourself, and you’re making the world a better place.

So, from everyone here at Eat’n Park, here’s hoping that the special lift you get this holiday season lasts all year long!

• Free Christmas Star Fun
• 2020 Eat’n Park Christmas Star Commercial TV Air Dates
• New! Christmas Star Merchandise
• Watch our classic Christmas Star commercial and “Send the Star” via email to your friends and family

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It’s going to be a different kind of holiday season this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be as memorable as in the past! Since we could all use a special lift this year, help us spread the magic of the Christmas Star over zoom, email, traditional mail, and more!

• Watch our classic Christmas Star commercial and “Send the Star” via email to your friends and family.
• Add some magic to your daily Zoom calls with our Christmas Star Background.*
• Download our Christmas Star Cell Phone Background for your mobile device.*
• Create some homemade artwork with our printable Christmas Star Coloring Pages, fun for people of all ages!*
• Print a Christmas Star Christmas Card at home to send your own special lift!*

*If on desktop, right click images and click "Save As".

Craving even more Christmas Star magic? Check out our other featured blogs:

• The Story of the Eat’n Park Christmas Star Commercial
• 2020 Eat’n Park Christmas Star Commercial TV Air Dates
• New! Christmas Star Merchandise
• Watch our classic Christmas Star commercial and “Send the Star” via email to your friends and family

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