Summertime freebies: where to get free ice cream, meals, and more
Nothing beats getting things for free. July is a great time for freebies, with many companies offering food and other items at no cost. Here is our list of the top freebies and discounts offered this month:
Places to get free food
Free chicken entrée at Chick-fil-a
Availability Dates: Tuesday, July 9th
Special Details: Visit a location dressed in cow costume or related attire
In honor of Cow Appreciation Day, Chick-fil-a offers a free entrée to anybody who walks through the doors sporting a cow-like outfit (a black and white spotted t-shirt, cow hat, or spotted accessory would all qualify). Visit any location between opening and 7 pm to receive your free chicken.
Availability Dates: Thursday, July 11th
Special Details: Arrive early—the deal is good while supplies last
Stop by your nearest 7-Eleven location on July 11th, between the hours of 11 am and 7 pm for a free, 12 oz Slurpee! This tradition started back in 2002 to celebrate the 75th birthday of the company and has continued ever since.
Free hot dog day
Availability Dates: Wednesday, July 17th
The third Wednesday of July has officially been named National Hot Dog day. This year, it is July 17th. Many companies offer free hot dogs on this day, so keep an eye out for deals as the date gets closer. Places known to offer freebies and discounts on this day last year included 7-Eleven, Sonic, Dog Haus, Wienerschnitzel, Burntzilla, and others.
National Ice Cream Day
Availability Dates: Sunday, July 21st
This annually observed holiday is celebrated on the third Sunday of July each year. Many restaurants and ice cream shops provide free ice cream or discounted items on this day. Announcements have not yet been made by specific companies, but last year Baskin Robbins, Dairy Queen, McDonald's, Cold Stone Creamery, and many others offered some sort of deal. Stay on the lookout for more information the week before.
Availability Dates: Monday, July 21st
Founded in the City of Buffalo during 1977, National Chicken Wing day celebrates the huge amount of chicken wings consumed by Americans each year. Many restaurants celebrate this day with free and discounted chicken wings. Some places that offered deals last year include Wingstop, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Hooters. To stay updated on all things chicken wing related, you can visit the National Chicken Wing Day website here.
Availability Dates: Tuesday, July 30th
To commemorate National Cheesecake Day, the Cheesecake Factory will be offering guests a slice of cheesecake for half price. All 30 flavors are included in the deal, along with the newly released Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake.
Kid-specific activities & freebies
Availability Dates: Various dates through summer
Special Details: Register in advance and check website for participating locations
Kids between 8 and 12 can enjoy a free, three-day long camp that teaches creativity and technology skills through hands-on projects. Camps include song making, design, coding, and movie making.
Availability Dates: All summer
Special Details: Visit the library calendar for specific events
The OC Public Libraries offer tons of free events for children throughout the summer. From story time to workshops and movies, there’s something for every child.
Summer reading programs
Availability Dates: Various dates throughout the summer
Special Details: Check with provider for details
Many places offer free books and prizes to kids who complete a certain amount of reading over the summer. OC Public Libraries offers the Summer Library Challenge through July 28th, where kids can earn points and collect badges for their reading. Barnes and Noble gives a free book to any child that reads eight books and records them in their Summer Reading Journal before August 31st. Other companies like Amazon and Pizza Hut offer programs as well.
Free bowling games
Availability Dates: All summer
Special Details: Find a participating bowling center here
Parents can sign kids up for up to two free bowling games a week with kids bowl free. Many bowling alleys in Orange County area are a part of this program, but you can look on their website for the full list.
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