Comprehensive Guide To Birthday Freebies In Minneapolis Food Entertainment More

Birthdays in Minneapolis offer more than just cake and candles—they provide opportunities to enjoy complimentary food, entertainment, and retail products from numerous businesses throughout the Twin Cities area. Many local and national establishments offer special birthday promotions ranging from free meals and drinks to entertainment experiences and retail discounts. This guide details the various birthday freebies available in Minneapolis and the surrounding region, helping residents and visitors maximize their birthday celebrations without spending extra money.

Food & Dining Birthday Freebies

Minneapolis boasts an impressive array of dining establishments that reward customers on their birthdays with complimentary food and beverages. These offers span various cuisines and price points, ensuring there's something for every taste and budget.

National Chain Restaurants

Several national restaurant chains operating in the Twin Cities area provide birthday perks to loyalty program members:

  • Applebee's offers Club Applebee's members a free dessert with a $15 purchase on their birthday.
  • Arby's provides Rewards members with a free dessert, which can be a shake, cookie, or turnover, on their birthday.
  • Buffalo Wild Wings rewards its members with free bings (typically a 6-wing order) on their birthday through the Buffalo Wild Wings Rewards program.
  • Denny's gives Denny's Rewards members a complimentary Grand Slam Breakfast on their actual birthday.
  • Firehouse Subs offers members of the Firehouse Rewards program a free medium sub when they join on or before their birthday. Parents can also register children for this promotion online.

Local Dining Establishments

Minneapolis's vibrant local restaurant scene includes numerous establishments that celebrate customers' birthdays:

  • Breadsmith rewards members of its Breadsmith Rewards program with a free loaf of bread added to their account on their birthday.
  • Buca di Beppo provides e-club members with a free Colossal Brownie on their birthday, along with $20 off a purchase of $40 or more. This offer is available at their Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, and St. Paul locations.
  • Caribou Coffee allows customers who sign up for perks points either online or at any Caribou location to receive a free drink on their "bou" day.
  • Crooked Pint Ale House offers a free Juicy Lucy of choice to those who sign up for the Crooked Rewards program. This offer is available at their metro locations in Apple Valley, Chaska, Maplewood, Minneapolis, and Savage.
  • Green Mill rewards program members receive a certificate for a small one-topping deep-dish pizza on their birthday.
  • Grizzly's Wood-Fired Grill & Bar provides e-club members with a free appetizer upon registration and a free entrée on their birthday. Participants must be 21 or older to register and sign up at least ten days before their birthday. Locations are available in Baxter, Mankato, Plymouth, Waite Park, and Willmar.
  • Houlihan's offers Eagan and Chanhassen locations that provide $10 when you sign up and a free entrée on your birthday for all email club members.
  • Lindey's Restaurant in Arden Hills sends a birthday postcard in the mail worth $25 off dinner at the steakhouse for those who sign up online.
  • The Local Minneapolis, The Local West End, and Kieran's Irish Pub all offer the Pub Club, which provides members with a free $10 when they register and $15 toward a meal on their birthday.
  • The Freehouse offers Blue Plate Rewards members a $10 credit on their birthday. Note that Blue Plate Rewards is shared with Groveland Tap, so customers only receive one $10 credit between the two restaurants.

Cafes, Bakeries, and Quick Bites

For those with a sweet tooth or preference for lighter fare, several establishments offer birthday treats:

  • 6Smith in Wayzata provides free bubbles or a small chocolate cake on your birthday with no sign-up required.
  • Baskin Robbins offers a free scoop of ice cream to customers who download the app and create an account.
  • Bruegger's Bagels gives customers who sign up for the Inner Circle email list a free bagel and cream cheese.
  • GODIVA Chocolates provides members of their chocolate rewards club with a free offer that changes from month to month.
  • Nadia Cakes offers those who sign up for the mailing list a free birthday coupon good for a free cupcake at their Maple Grove or Woodbury locations.

Unique Dining Offers

Some restaurants provide distinctive birthday experiences:

  • Acapulco Restaurante Mexicano offers Xperience Rewards loyalty program members a free entrée for their birthday at one of their locations in Andover, Blaine, Ham Lake, Maplewood, New Brighton, Ramsey, Stillwater, or Woodbury.
  • Broadway Pizza provides a special deal just for children—kids 10 and under who join the Broadway Pizza Kids Birthday Club receive a portcard during the month of their birthday for a free pizza, ice cream sundae, and a birthday gift.
  • Red's Savoy Pizza rewards members of the Thank You Rewards program with a $15 bonus on the day of their birthday.

Entertainment & Experience Freebies

Minneapolis's entertainment scene includes numerous venues that offer birthday freebies, ranging from comedy shows to music venues and unique attractions.

Music and Performance Venues

Music lovers can enjoy complimentary admission and other perks on their birthdays:

  • First Avenue and its associated venues provide what many consider the best birthday deal in the Twin Cities. On your actual birthday, you and a guest receive free admission to any show at the First Avenue Mainroom, 7th St Entry, Turf Club, or Fine Line. This offer applies even to sold-out shows and includes a voucher for a free bottle of champagne. Patents simply need to show a valid ID. Note that this offer is not valid for shows at the Palace Theatre, The Fitzgerald Theater, or Surly Brewing Festival Field.
  • Benihana offers members of The Chef's Table a $30 gift certificate during their birthday month to use at locations in the Mall of America, Maple Grove, or Golden Valley. Specific terms and conditions apply to this offer, as noted on the gift certificate provided via email.

Comedy Clubs

For those who enjoy humor, several comedy clubs in the Twin Cities provide birthday entertainment:

  • ACME Comedy Company in Minneapolis offers you and three guests free tickets to a show during your birthday month. Requests must be submitted online by 3:00 pm the day before your desired show.
  • Stevie Ray's Comedy Cabaret in Chanhassen provides the birthday person with a free dinner and show ticket during their birthday month.

Unique Attractions

Minneapolis features unique attractions that offer birthday freebies:

  • Crayola Experience at Mall of America gives free admission to visitors on their birthday. Patrons must present a valid ID or birth certificate to receive free admission within seven days of their birthday.
  • Mall of America itself, while not explicitly mentioned as offering birthday freebies in the provided sources, is a major destination where many of the participating businesses are located.

Retail & Shopping Birthday Offers

Several retail establishments in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities area provide birthday benefits to their customers:

  • Arc's Value Village adds $5 to your Village Rewards account when you shop in-store within 30 days of your birthday.
  • Groveland Tap offers Blue Plate Rewards members a $10 credit on their birthday. However, this was noted as a reader tip that hadn't been confirmed by the source.
  • Benihana provides members of The Chef's Table with a $30 gift certificate during their birthday month for use at their Twin Cities locations.

Gaming & Casino Birthday Perks

For those who enjoy gaming and casino entertainment, several venues offer birthday promotions:

  • Grand Casino provides birthday offers to Grand Rewards members at their two locations. Mille Lacs offers food discounts or sweet treats, birthday match points, and Grand Play Mystery Swipes (rewards ranging from $5-125 based on tier). Meanwhile, Grand Casino Hinckley offers Spin to Win specials, match points, and a tier-based Grand Play reward.

Special Offers for Children

Several businesses in the Twin Cities area provide special birthday offers for children:

  • Broadway Pizza offers a dedicated Kids Birthday Club for children 10 and younger, providing them with a free pizza, ice cream sundae, and birthday gift during their birthday month.
  • Crayola Experience at Mall of America welcomes children with free admission on their birthday, making it an excellent destination for birthday celebrations.

Tips for Maximizing Birthday Freebies

To make the most of birthday freebies in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, consider the following strategies:

  1. Sign Up Early: Many offers require enrollment in loyalty programs or email lists, sometimes up to 30 days before your birthday. It's advisable to enroll well in advance to ensure eligibility.

  2. Bring Proper Identification: Several venues require a valid ID or birth certificate to verify your birthday, especially for high-value offers like free admission to venues or special events.

  3. Check Location Restrictions: Some offers are available only at specific locations within the Twin Cities area. Verify which locations participate before making plans.

  4. Understand the Terms: Carefully review the terms and conditions for each offer, including any purchase requirements, age restrictions, or expiration dates.

  5. Combine Offers: Some programs, like Blue Plate Rewards, work across multiple venues, allowing you to maximize benefits while visiting different establishments.

  6. Plan Ahead: For offers like free comedy show tickets, advance planning is necessary as requests must be submitted by specific deadlines.

Conclusion

Minneapolis and the Twin Cities area offer an impressive variety of birthday freebies across numerous categories, from dining and entertainment to retail and gaming. Whether you're looking for a complimentary meal, free entertainment, or retail discounts, businesses throughout the region are eager to celebrate your special day with special offers. By understanding the available options, planning ahead, and taking advantage of loyalty programs, Twin Cities residents and visitors can enjoy memorable birthday celebrations without breaking the budget. The key to maximizing these benefits lies in early enrollment, understanding the terms of each offer, and verifying specific location restrictions before visiting.

Sources

  1. 100 Birthday Freebies in Minnesota
  2. 40 Birthday Freebies in the Twin Cities
  3. Ultimate Guide to Birthday Freebies in Minnesota
  4. Ultimate Guide to Birthday Freebies in the Twin Cities