• by Teresa Buyikian , December 3, 2024

Forget looking forward to Starbucks’ “red cup” launch  -- KFC has a yearly release of its own chicken-loving fans can get excited about this holiday season.

For its December chicken bucket, KFC leans into its trend of using artists to design the colorful container. This year the chain tapped the German design team of Yeye Weller to create the Buckets of Joy, covered with colorful illustrated characters amid a winter backdrop.

The team is known for creating bright and humorous art that focuses on happiness and positivity, and have created designs for brands like The New York Times, Adidas and Samsung.

Along with the Buckets of Joy, Yeye Weller also created a new line of streetwear merchandise for the brand. The KFC Holiday Collection features T-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, beanies, socks and more festive items, now available at KFCShop.com.

A sweater perfect for the next “ugly Christmas sweater” party depicts a similar scene as the holiday bucket, with bright characters (including some jolly anthropomorphized KFC food items) against a red and blue snow scene. Also among the holiday merch is a hilarious drumstick ornament, which is wearing a Santa hat.

For those looking for an escape from the kitchen, the chain is also running several holiday meal deal specials, including the Festive Feast Deal, featuring the 2024 holiday bucket, containing six pieces of fried chicken, six of KFC's new Original Recipe Tenders, plus three sauces and two large homestyle sides of choice for $25.99.