On Monday, April 8, 2024, we’ll experience the first solar eclipse since 2017 – and the last one to happen until 2044. So naturally, MoonPie is making sure you remember they’re the main draw during this astral event, not any other treat company. And they’re doing that with special limited edition assortment boxes, as well as branded eclipse glasses.
A little bit of a recap in case the events of 2017 are foggy in your memory. All those seven years ago, Hostess tried to claim that their iconic chocolate-covered Golden Cupcakes were the “official snack cake of the eclipse.” To which MoonPie tweeted (it was called tweeting back then, leave me alone): “Lol, ok.”
And so, everyone decided they loved MoonPie instead of Hostess. The end! Except it was far from the end, because solar eclipses can’t stop, won’t stop. And this year, MoonPie is better prepared than a viral clapback to a cupcake.
"The solar eclipse of 2017 was massive for us, but we knew we had to go even bigger this time," said Tory Johnston, vice president of sales and marketing at Chattanooga Bakery, Inc. via press release. "It's the day the moon wins, and the sun goes down! So we wanted to make something that got people as excited about the eclipse as we are."
Just want to highlight “It’s the day the moon wins,” which is a great quote I’m going to be using in everyday conversation from now until the next eclipse in 2044, at the very least.
Anyway, what is MoonPie doing, you may wonder after that little wind-up? Great question, reader! Beyond a social media campaign where they’re plugging the ultimate battle between the sun and the moon, they’ll also be offering an Eclipse 2024 Box on their online store for $9.99, which includes four chocolate minis and two pairs of branded eclipse glasses. You can also snag the eclipse glasses on their own for $1.99, but they are far less tasty.
If you want to splurge, though, you can also grab an Eclipse Survival Kit, which is 12 boxes of 6 chocolate minis each, for $36.99. If you can finish all of those MoonPies in the four and a half minutes of the eclipse, you’ll also win a special prize: a horrible stomach ache. Don’t do that.
You can snag all of this MoonPie swag for a limited time at Dollar Tree, participating Walmarts, or at moonpie.com while supplies last. Let’s see how Hostess responds to this one.