Thursday marks National Cheese Pizza Day 2024.

Each September 5 is dedicated to cheese pizza. Though widely acknowledged, the origin of the day is unknown, according to National Day Calendar, the business that tracks celebratory days and works with companies, brands and organizations to get days recognized.

Pepperoni pizza gets love later this month, on Sept. 20; and sausage pizza is feted on Oct. 11. National Pizza Day is Feb 9, while National Pizza Month is October. Go figure.

Here are five primo spots to visit to hold the toppings on National Cheese Pizza Day.

Chicago-style at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria

loumalnatis.com

Go solo with your one personal pizza or with a group for Chicago deep-dish or thin-crust pies to take advantage of deals at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria.

Get meal deals on pizzas and salads, and options for Carol’s Cookies, for as little as $10 per person.

Its $9.95 lunch specials include a personal Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria locations in Indiana

• 11435 Spring Mill Rd., Suite 170, Carmel

• 10706 Broadway, Crown Point

• 791 S. State Rd. 135, Greenwood

• 6320 Ferguson St., Indianapolis

Free pizza for a year from Toppers Pizza

toppers.com

Toppers Pizza is giving free pizza for a year to three lucky newlywed couples who enter its social media contest through Sept. 22 by sharing photos or videos from their ceremonies or receptions that include Toppers Pizza. Details are at toppers.com/sweepstakes. 

Not getting hitched soon? There’s still the $7.99 large one-topping pie carryout-only special among the deals currently offered. 

Toppers Pizza locations in Indiana

• 910 W. 10th St.,  Indianapolis

• 212 S. Indiana Ave., Bloomington

Detroit-style pizza at Sam’s Square Pie

2829 E. 10th St., Indianapolis

order.toasttab.com

After years of operating as a pop-up, Jeffrey Miner opened his own brick-and-mortar in 2024, a year that also saw him scoring national honors for his Detroit-style pie. His High Plains Drifter pie, made with hot Italian sausage, a brick cheese blend, pesto, jalapeno garlic ricotta and smoked maple syrup, took fifth place in the Pan Division at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas this year.

But keeping things cheesy, there’s Sam’s Square’s Crush Pie, made with a brick cheese blend, red sauce, Mike’s Hot Honey, pecorino and parmesan. A large (feeds four to six people)is $32. A small (feeds two to three) is $18.

New thick crust at Donatos Pizza

donatos.com

This Ohio-based chain just debuted its Bakery Crust Pizza, featuring a square cut, thicker bakery-style crust with smoked provolone cheese and fresh toppings.

With its introductory offer, customers can get two one-topping Bakery Crust Pizzas for $19.99 (or one for $11.99).

Donatos Pizza locations in Indiana

• 813 E. Main St., Brownsburg

• 4100 W. 106th St., Carmel

• 1311 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel

• 8235 E. 116th St., Suite 230, Fishers

•  11760 Olio Rd., Suite 600, Fishers

• 825 W. 10th St., Indianapolis

• 5620 Crawfordsville Rd., Suite AA, Indianapolis

• 5688 Georgetown Rd., Indianapolis

• 2357 E. 62nd St., Indianapolis

• 5835 Madison Ave., Indianapolis

• 1465 W. 86th St., Indianapolis

• 7460 N. Shadeland Ave., Suite 600, Indianapolis

• 5650 S. Franklin Rd., Suite 100A, Indianapolis

• 10919 E. Washington St., Indianapolis

• 125 Fields St., Mooresville

• 2205 Conner St., Noblesville 

• 1645 E. Main St., Plainfield

Free pizza challenge at Rockstar Pizzeria 

922 E. Main St., Brownsburg

rockstarpizza.net

Here’s another shot at free pizza, and prizes.

Grab a friend and take the 30” Pizza Challenge. If the two of you can finish off a massive one-topping pie within 45 minutes, the pizza’s on the house, and you get two $25 gift cards and T-shirts.

If you don’t finish, you pay $50; but you get to take the leftovers home.

Chicken crust at Azzip Pizza

azzippizza.com

This Subway-modeled pizza place lets customers build their own individual-size pies and see them baked in a conveyor belt oven in about 2.5 minutes.

The setup at the Evansville, Indiana-based Azzip (pronounced “Ay-Zip”) chain, founded in 2014 by a Purdue University student, allows for 16 million variations including gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Among crust selections is the ZeroCarb Chicken Pizza Crust made with 100% premium chicken breast and seasoned with salt, olive oil and spices.

Azzip Pizza locations in Indiana

• 2894 E. 3rd St., Bloomington

• 2121 N. Green River Rd., Evansville

• 5225 Pearl Dr., Evansville

• 4660 N. First Ave., Evansville

• 1120 E. Stop 11 Rd., Indianapolis

• 9321 Michigan Rd., Indianapolis

• 105 Farabee Dr. S., Lafayette

• 8850 High Pointe Dr., Newburgh

• 4432 S. US-41, Terre Haute

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson.