Got a bucket? Cinemark wants to fill it with popcorn. Here's how.

National Popcorn Day is approaching, and Cinemark is again asking customers to get creative and bring in bags, buckets, purses, and more to have them filled up with the salty snack.

The "Bring Your Own Bucket" (BYOB) event, which took off last year, allows customers to spend $5 plus tax and fill up any container measuring up to 400 ounces with popcorn – that’s just over 3 gallons of popcorn.

This year, the theater chain has teamed up with home improvement store Lowe’s to offer the deal on Jan. 18, and on Jan. 19, which is National Popcorn Day.

Here’s what to know about Cinemark’s "Bring Your Own Bucket" event for National Popcorn Day this year.

How exactly does the 'Bring Your Own Bucket' deal at Cinemark work?

According to Cinemark, the deal allows customers to fill up their containers with popcorn or its sugary cousin, kettle corn, available at select locations.

The limit is 400 ounces (the same as two XL popcorn buckets). Customers who bring in a blue 5-gallon Lowe’s bucket are exempt from the 400-ounce rule and can get even more popcorn. Customers who bring in the Lowe's buckets will also get coupons for future popcorn orders, valid from Feb. 1 to Feb. 26.

Customers can also get a free medium popcorn when they buy any medium fountain drink, Cinemark said.

Cinemark added that food-grade bucket liners are available upon request, and all buckets must be cleaned beforehand.

What if I forget my bucket, or I don’t want to see a movie?

According to Cinemark, those who don’t have buckets will be able to get any size popcorn for $5.

Cinemark also said guests do not have to have a movie ticket to participate in the $5 popcorn deal.

How can I participate in 'Bring Your Own Bucket' on social media?

Cinemark said the company wants those who participate to show off their buckets and tag @Cinemark on social media.

Can I win anything for participating in 'Bring Your Own Bucket'?

The company also has multiple online opportunities for moviegoers to win prizes or get discounts, such as:

• Win a year of free popcorn by playing a popcorn kernel game on Cinemark.com until Jan. 19. Players have 30 seconds to catch 10 falling popcorn pieces while avoiding unpopped kernels advance to the final round.
• Win a free large popcorn on Jan. 19. Those who follow Cinemark’s official Instagram account can tag three friends in the comments of the National Popcorn Day sweepstakes post.
• Win 10,000 Cinemark Movie Rewards points. Members can check their rewards center and enter the sweepstakes to win rewards points. 
• Get 10% off on online gift card orders. The deal is good for Jan. 18 and 19.

Cinemark's 'Bring Your Own Bucket' is coming back for a second year

Footage from last year's event, which was hugely popular, shows guests with gym bags, pots, cauldrons, Christmas tins, Halloween Jack-O'-Lantern trick-or-treating buckets, and more.

Wanda Gierhart Fearing, Cinemark Chief Marketing and Content Officer, said in a news release that last year’s event was such a hit because it showed how creative moviegoers can be.

“This year, we are thrilled to build on that fun by teaming up with Lowe’s to make the experience even bigger and better,” Fearing said. “With two full days of festivities as well as special sweepstakes and promotions, we cannot wait to see how much this year’s celebration will heat up.”

For more details on Cinemark's National Popcorn Day event, visit www.cinemark.com/popcornday.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [email protected].