• by Teresa Buyikian , 7 hours ago

Wendy’s is putting out the call to redheads (and red wig wearers) for a chance to win free burgers for a year.

The chain is again celebrating World Redhead Day on May 26, this year challenging fans with a Wendy’s logo look-alike contest in New York City on May 26. All fans (18 and over) of the brand are encouraged to participate, “from natural red hues and pigtails to wigs, freckles and the iconic blue and white collared dress.”

The event pays homage to the OG Wendy; Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas, the red pigtailed and freckled 8-yeaar-old daughter of the chain’s founder Dave Thomas, whose name and likeness have been used in various iterations since Wendy’s launched in Ohio in 1969.

The Wendy’s look-alike contest takes place May 26 at Seaport Square in New York City , a nod to the chain’s square-shaped burger patties.

After check-in, contestants will first showcase their “Wendy’s look” on stage. The contestants must then prepare and read aloud their “best social-media-worthy post channeling the brand's witty, playful tone” for upcoming National Hamburger Day on May 28. In the last round, three to five finalists will perform an “original, Wendy's-style commercial,” with the winner determined by crowd applause and judge scores.

The winner of the look-alike contest will receive a year’s supply of free Dave's Single hamburgers. The event, which is open to the public, will also include live music, giveaways, photo ops and other entertainment.

Wendy’s began to lean into Global Redhead Day in 2024, with the chain’s first “Redhead Redemption” campaign recognizing redheads with food giveaways.