The Ultimate Calendar of 2019 Freebies
December 4, 2018
During the past year, you may have noticed restaurants offering meal deals or freebies around little-known days like “National Cheeseburger Day” or “National Ice Cream Day.” These aren’t self-proclaimed holidays or restaurant sponsored events — they’re what’s known as “National Deal Days,” freebie holidays that happen on or around the same date each year.
During these days, restaurants and retailers offer freebies and discounts centered around the theme of the holiday. And while some deal days may be straightforward (National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, for example), others are less-so, like Superhero Day, which will get you a free donut from Krispy Kreme. Still, others don’t deal with food at all: event-focused days include National Bowling Day and the National Park Service birthday.
To help you take advantage of all the deal days coming up, we put together the ultimate list of 2019 freebie days, complete with a printable calendar so you never miss a deal. Read on to learn more about what each day offers, or jump to our calendar below.
January
National Popcorn Day: January 19
National Popcorn Day falls on January 19 every year — a Saturday in 2019. Promotions vary by year; in 2018, Regal Cinemas celebrated with half-priced popcorn.
February
National Frozen Yogurt Day: February 6
National Frozen Yogurt Day is held annually on February 6, a Wednesday in 2019. In the past, yogurt chains including 16 Handles, TCBY and Yogurtland have given away free yogurt to celebrate the day; places including Menchie’s, Pinkberry, Red Mango and Sweet Frog offered discounted deals.
National Bagel Day: February 9
Every February 9 is National Bagel Day, when different bagel chains offer free or discounted bagels. In 2018, Einstein Bros. Bagels gave away a free bagel and shmear with purchase to celebrate the day; Bruegger’s Bagels typically celebrates the day by giving away free bagels to customers. The National Bagel Association keeps a running list of different chains and their offers. In 2019, February 9 falls on a Saturday.
National Pizza Day: February 9
Also on February 9 is National Pizza Day, which features deals from various pizza chains, typically including national chains such as Domino’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut and Round Table Pizza. In the past, National Pizza Day deals have included everything from discounted menu items to completely free pizza. Additionally, Baskin Robbins often offers a “dessert pizza” for a sweeter way to celebrate the holiday.
National Margarita Day: February 22
National Margarita Day is February 22, which happens to be a Friday in 2019. Restaurants that offered discounts and specials on the holiday’s namesake drink in 2018 included Chili’s, Chuy’s, Margaritaville and Tony Roma’s, among others.
March
National Pancake Day: March 5
National Pancake Day — also known as IHOP’s National Pancake Day — falls in early March each year; in 2019 it falls on Tuesday, March 5. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., IHOP offers customers a free short stack of their buttermilk pancakes. Patrons who partake in National Pancake Day are encouraged to make a non-mandatory donation to charity; since 2006, the day has raised nearly $30 million annually.
Pi Day: March 14
March 14 is “Pi Day,” during which we celebrate “pi,” which is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter — also known as 3.14. The day is usually celebrated with both sweet treats and pizza pies; in 2018, participating retailers included Bakers Square, Blaze Pizza, Bojangles, Cici’s, Papa Murphy’s, Whole Foods and more.
Free Cone Day at Dairy Queen: Mid-March
Every year in mid-March, Dairy Queen hosts annual Free Cone Day, where they offer a free small vanilla cone to each customer.
Rita’s First Day of Spring
Every first day of spring, Rita’s Italian Ice gives free Italian ices to customers. In 2019, the first day of spring falls on Wednesday, March 20.
April
Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s: Early April
Ben & Jerry’s hosts their free cone day in mid-April each year (the “holiday” was held on April 10 in 2018). Ben & Jerry’s began their Free Cone Day in 1979, the same year the chain was founded, to thank customers for helping the company survive its first year. Today, shops all around the country give out free ice cream in celebration.
National Beer Day: April 7
End your weekend right with National Beer Day, which falls on a Sunday in 2019. Held each year on April 7 to celebrate the Cullen-Harrison Act, which allowed the sale of beer and wine with an ABV lower than 3.2 percent, the holiday features deals from taprooms around the country, as well as national chains.
Free Cone Day at Carvel: Late April
Carvel’s Free Cone Day is held every year in late April — in 2018, it was hosted on April 27. The day includes a free junior soft ice cream cone filled with your choice of select flavors. Carvel also sells $1 coupon books, the sale of which benefits the American Red Cross.
National Park Week: April 20–April 28
For one week in late April, the National Parks Service joins the National Park Foundation to celebrate National Parks Week, which features a variety of special programs, events and free admissions. National Park Week 2019 runs from Saturday, April 20 to Sunday, April 28.
Earth Day: April 22
Earth Day falls on April 22 each year; for 2019, the day falls on a Monday. While the promotional deals and discounts vary by year, 2018 Earth Day deals included discounts at Goodwill, free tote bags from Whole Foods and samples of sustainable products from Target.
National Pretzel Day: April 26
National Pretzel Day occurs on April 26 each year; national chains such as Auntie Anne’s and Wetzel’s Pretzels give away free pretzels to celebrate the occasion. In 2018, other participants included Godiva, which gave away free chocolate pretzels with an online order; Sonic, which discounted their soft pretzel twists to $1.99; and others. In 2019, National Pretzel Day will fall on a Friday.
Superhero Day: April 28
Krispy Kreme’s interestingly named “Superhero Day” is celebrated on April 28. Each year, the donut chain hosts the holiday and gives away a free dozen donuts with the purchase of a dozen. In 2019, you’ll be able to take advantage of this deal on a Friday.
May
Free Cone Day at Haagen-Dazs: Early May
Haagen-Dazs hosts their free cone day annually in early May (in 2018, it was hosted on May 8) where you can get a free ice cream cone from the shop, no purchase necessary. In recent years, Haagen-Dazs has dedicated the day to the diminishing population of honey bees.
Free Comic Book Day: First Saturday in May (May 4)
Free Comic Book Day is held annually on the first Saturday in May, which in 2019 falls on Saturday, May 4. During the day, participating comic book stores around the country offer a free selection of comic books. You can find out more about where to get the comics on the official Free Comic Book Day website.
National Public Gardens Day: Friday Before Mother’s Day (May 10)
On the Friday before Mother’s Day, which falls on May 10 in 2019, public gardens around the country offer free admission. You can learn more about participating locations on the National Public Gardens website.
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day: May 15
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is celebrated every May 15 — and shouldn’t be confused with December’s National Cookie Day. Last year, 7–11 and Potbelly gave away free chocolate chip cookies with enrollment to their mailing list, while BJ’s and Nestle offered discounts.
National Hamburger Day: May 28
National Hamburger Day is held on May 28 each year; in 2019, this falls on a Tuesday. Deals vary by year, but in 2018 participating restaurants included BurgerFi, Burger King, Carl’s Jr., Chili’s, Jack in the Box, McDonald’s, Smashburger, Sonic, Steak ‘n Shake and Wendy’s, among others.
June
National Donut Day: First Friday in June (June 7)
National Donut Day is held annually on the first Friday of June, which falls on June 7 in 2019. Participating chains in 2018 included Dunkin Donuts, Cumberland Farms, Krispy Kreme, Papa John’s and others. Deals range from free donuts to discounted deals.
National Iced Tea Day: June 10
National Iced Tea Day falls on June 10 each year, which is a Monday in 2019. Iced tea day freebies for 2018 included $1 Long Island Iced Teas from Applebee’s, 20% off Mighty Leaf and offers from the likes of Starbucks and Teavana.
National Flip Flop Day: Third Friday of June (June 21)
The third Friday of June is National Flip Flop Day, during which Tropical Smoothie Cafe hands out free smoothies to customers wearing the holiday’s namesake footwear.
July
Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day: Early July
Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day falls each year in early- to mid-July (in 2018, it was July 10). On this day, customers who show up to the fast-food chain wearing something “cow-like” receive a free entrée.
National Slurpee Day: July 11
On National Slurpee Day, also known as “7/11 Day,” convenience store chain 7-Eleven offers free slurpees from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
National Hot Dog Day: Third Wednesday in July (July 17)
The third Wednesday in July, which in 2019 falls on July 17, is National Hot Dog Day, which features freebies and discounted hot dogs from restaurants and convenience store chains. Participating locations in 2018 included 7-Eleven, Dog Haus, Sonic and others.
National Ice Cream Day: Third Sunday in July (Sunday, July 21)
On the third Sunday of July (July 21 in 2019), restaurants and ice cream chains offer special deals, freebies and giveaways. Participating locations in 2018 included Arby’s, Baskin Robbins, Carvel, Cold Stone Creamery, Dairy Queen, Dippin’ Dots, Halo Top, Marble Slab and more.
National Chicken Wing Day: July 29
National Chicken Wing Day is celebrated on July 29 every year. In 2018, restaurants giving away free or discounted wings included Buffalo Wild Wings, Hooters, Pluckers, Wingstop and Wing Zone, among others.
August
National Root Beer Float Day: August 6
A&W hosts National Root Beer Float Day every August 6. The chain gives away a small root beer float to all their customers from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., no purchase necessary. All donations go to the Disabled American Veterans.
National Bowling Day: Second Saturday in August (August 10)
On the second Saturday in August, bowling alleys around the country offer specials including free bowling games and food and drink deals. In 2019, National Bowling Day falls on August 10.
National Waffle Day: August 24
National Waffle Day is held annually on August 24 to celebrate the day in 1869 that American inventor Cornelius Swartwout was awarded a U.S. patent for the waffle iron. Participating locations vary; for example, in 2018, Waffle House didn’t participate, but White Castle did, giving patrons a free Belgian Waffle Slider. Cold Stone Creamery has also given away free waffle cones and bowls in the past.
National Park Service Birthday: August 25
Each year on August 25, the National Park Service celebrates its official birthday (August 25, 1916) with free admission.
September
National Cheeseburger Day: September 18
National Cheeseburger Day is celebrated annually on September 18, which falls on a Wednesday in 2019. The day features everything from free cheeseburgers to $1 deals and more; participants last year included BurgerFi, Burger King, IHOP, Red Robin, Ruby Tuesday, Sonic, Wendy’s, White Castle and more.
International Talk Like a Pirate Day: September 19
International Talk Like a Pirate Day has been hosted on September 19 every year since 2002. While the “international holiday” was originally started as an inside joke by friends, Long John Silver’s has taken to honoring the holiday with different promotions; in 2018, the chain gave out free deep-fried Twinkies.
National Public Lands Day: Saturday in Late (September 28)
National Public Lands Day is held each year on a Saturday in late September; in 2019, it’s slated to fall on September 28. On this day, you can gain free admission to national parks and forests, as well as state parks.
National Coffee Day: September 29
National Coffee Day is held annually on September 29, which is a Sunday in 2019. The freebie day includes free and discounted coffee deals; Cinnabon, Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, McDonald’s, Starbucks and Wawa were all among participating chains in 2018.
Museum Day: Late September
Museum Day is hosted each year by the Smithsonian Magazine in late September. Participating museums and other institutions around the country provide free entry to patrons with an official “Museum Day ticket,” which are available for download on the Smithsonian Magazine website.
Moe’s Free Queso Day: Late September
Moe’s Free Queso Day is held in late September each year (in 2018, it was held on September 20). On this day, the restaurant gives away free cups of their queso and holds a “Free Queso For Life” sweepstakes.
October
National Taco Day: October 4
National Taco Day falls on October 4, which is a Friday in 2019. The day features a ton of discounted taco deals from retailers like Baja Fresh, Chuy’s, Del Taco, El Pollo Loco, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Taco Cabana and more.
National Dessert Day: October 14
October 14 is National Dessert Day, which offers discounted and free desserts from restaurants across the country. In 2018, chains like BJ’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Corner Bakery, Dairy Queen and Wendy’s dished out deals such as BOGO sundaes and free pizookies. In 2019, this deal day will fall on a Monday.
November
National Sandwich Day: November 3
National Sandwich Day is held each November 3, which is a Sunday in 2019. In 2018, meal deals were offered from restaurants including Firehouse Subs, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Quiznos, Schlotzsky’s Deli, Smashburger, Subway, Which Which and more.
National Nachos Day: November 6
National Nachos Day is celebrated annually on November 6, a Wednesday in 2019. Last year, restaurants including Moe’s Southwest Grill, Ruby Tuesday, Salsarita’s, Taco John’s and even Olive Garden featured specials to celebrate the day.
National Fast Food Day: November 16
November 16 is National Fast Food Day, which features free and discounted grub from quick stop restaurants. In 2018, specials included discounted meals from Burger King, a free burger from Jack in the Box, limited time offers from McDonald’s, BOGO coupons from Wendy’s and more. In 2019, November 16 is a Saturday.
December
National Cookie Day: December 4
Each December 4 is National Cookie Day, which typically features free treats from retailers such as Insomnia Cookies, Great American Cookies, Mrs. Fields and Toll House.
Free Shipping Day: Mid-December
Free Shipping Day is held annually in mid-December. During this day, participating websites offer free shipping and delivery by Christmas Eve. You can see the small and large retailers taking part in this day on the Free Shipping Day website.
Ready to make 2019 the year of freebies? Print out our calendar of 2019 freebie days. Your wallet, and your stomach, will thank you