EASTON, Pa. — To mark National Crayon Day, Crayola began its fifth annual million-crayon giveaway Monday, offering free crayons at the company's store in downtown Easton.
It also introduced a human-sized yellow Dandelion crayon character.
Through May 23, crayon aficionados can reserve a ticket to visit a Crayola Experience store and assemble a free 32-count box of crayons from the company’s extensive stock.
Visitors must reserve a time slot ahead of time to participate.
“This is the first time in Crayola’s 122-year history that we're un-retiring eight crayons. We stuck to our roots with an eight-count box.”Crayola Marketing and Sales Manager Abby Dentner
This year, the selection includes eight colors the company previously discontinued, now back in production for a limited time.
“This is the first time in Crayola’s 122-year history that we're un-retiring eight crayons,” company Marketing and Sales Manager Abby Dentner said.
“We stuck to our roots with an eight-count box.”
To celebrate the colors’ return from retirement, the Easton Crayola Experience on Monday held the first public appearance of Dan D., a human-sized yellow Dandelion crayon character.
Dan D., who lives in Philadelphia, loves surprises, enjoys travel and can’t wait to return to Yellowstone National Park, according to Crayola, will make regular appearances in Easton through May 11.
Color characters to tour
Dan D. is among four retired crayon characters “on tour” through the end of Summer, Dentner said, visiting Crayola Experience stores across the United States to “tell their stories of their travels and what they've been up to in retirement.”
Three of his fellow retirees will visit through the end of Summer.
“We’re seeing [fans] come out of the woodwork.”Crayola Marketing and Sales Manager Abby Dentner
Blizz, a bright-blue Blizzard Blue crayon, will visit Easton’s Crayola store from May 12-June 22; followed by Mully, a dark red-violet Mulberry crayon appearing June 23 through Aug. 3.
Magic, a light green Magic Mint crayon, will be in Easton from Aug. 4 to Sept. 14.
Crayola’s focus on formerly retired colors began a few years ago with TikTok user _lakenzo_, whose videos documenting her passion for collecting Dandelion crayons have been viewed millions of times.
“She's referred to as Dandelion Girl — she is on the hunt for the Dandelion crayon, and so that caused a huge resurgence in that crayon,” Dentner said.
“Dandelion kind of led the way, and we brought back other popular colors.”
It is not the only retired color with a devoted following. Blizzard Blue and Mulberry have proven especially popular, Dentner said.
“We’re seeing [fans] come out of the woodwork,” she said.
