2018 Seasonal Freebies Holiday Promotions And Special Offers

Nov. 19, 2025, 1:08 p.m.

The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.

This article examines the promotional offers and freebies available during various holidays and events throughout 2018. The information is compiled from multiple sources that documented special deals, discounts, and complimentary items offered by businesses across different categories including food and beverage, retail, entertainment, and services.

Tax Day 2018 Freebies and Discounts

Tax Day 2018, which fell on Tuesday, April 17, prompted numerous businesses to offer special deals and free items to customers. These promotions were designed to provide relief from the stress of tax filing and included a variety of offers across different sectors.

Food and Drink Specials

Several restaurant chains and food establishments provided complimentary items and special pricing:

Applebee's offered the Dollarita promotion throughout April, specifically timed for Tax Day
Firehouse Subs provided a free medium sub with the purchase of a medium or large sub, chips, and drink. This offer was valid at participating locations from April 17 through April 19 and could be redeemed online with promo code TAXDAY2018
Great American Cookies distributed free Cookies & Cream cookies to customers at participating stores on April 17, with a limit of one free cookie per customer
Hardee's gave away free Sausage Biscuits between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time on April 17 to customers who used the passphrase "Made from Scratch"
Hot Dog on a Stick offered one free Original Turkey or Veggie Dog per customer at participating locations nationwide on April 17
Kona Ice celebrated Tax Day, which they dubbed "National Chill Out Day," by providing free shaved ice to each customer
Mazzio's Italian Eatery featured a Triple Play special for Tax Day, including any medium two-topping pizza, any signature Calzone Ring, and 9-inch Cheese Dippers for $20
Mrs. Fields offered 10% off any order with code SAVETEN until midnight on April 16
Noodles & Company provided $4 off a $10 purchase online only from April 11 through 18. Customers needed to be signed into their online loyalty account and use coupon code TAXDAY18 to redeem the deal
Omaha Steaks gave away a free 2-lb. ham with online orders over $59 through April 17 or while supplies lasted
Tony Roma's offered a free order of Kickin' Shrimp (one per table per visit) at participating locations from April 14 through 17

Retail Promotions

Various retail establishments also participated in Tax Day promotions:

Ashley Furniture offered 10% off any order with code REFUND10 from April 15 through 17
Crate & Barrel provided up to 30% off rugs and 20% off curtains until April 17
Franklin Planner offered 17% off any order on April 17 with code TAX17
Groupon Getaways featured up to 70% off guided tours to China through April 17
Lancome provided a free seven-piece gift set with purchases of $60 or more and a 10-piece gift set with purchases of $95 or more until April 19
Party decorations, crafts, and toys were up to 65% off through April 20
Samsonite offered up to 50% off most items with code SAVE and free standard shipping on orders over $99 through midnight PST
Shoe Carnival provided 20% off when buying two or more pairs of shoes through April 17 with promo code APRIL20
Shoe's.com offered up to 50% off select athletic shoes through April 17

Additionally, tax preparation services offered their own promotions: - H&R Block provided a free income tax calculator on any order - TurboTax offered up to $20 off until April 17

Veterans Day 2018 Freebies

Veterans Day 2018 was observed on Sunday, November 11, with the Federal Holiday designated for Monday, November 12. In honor of veterans, restaurants and businesses across the country offered discounts, deals, and complimentary meals. While specific offers were not detailed in the source material, it was noted that a comprehensive list of freebies and deals being offered nationwide was available through a referenced link.

Summer Solstice 2018 Freebies and Activities

The summer solstice prompted various businesses and venues to offer free items and special activities to celebrate the beginning of summer.

Food and Drink Freebies

Several food and beverage establishments provided complimentary items:

Dunkin' Donuts offered a free frozen lemonade to help customers beat the heat
Wayback Burgers distributed free Black & White shakes to customers across the U.S.

Summer Camps for Kids

Multiple businesses offered free or low-cost summer camps and activities for children:

Apple hosted Apple Camp throughout July, featuring free 90-minute classes over three days for kids ages 8 to 12. The camp subjects included coding, music, and video production, with parents able to sign up their kids on Apple's website
Microsoft offered YouthSpark Summer Camps for kids ages six and up, with various classes available at local Microsoft Stores. Details about specific classes could be found on their website
Bass Pro Shops hosted free family activities every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at noon from June 23 through July 22. Activities included fishing, games, crafts, and workshops
Michaels provided Camp Creativity classes for kids, where children could learn crafts and experiments from June 11 through July 27. Classes were hosted on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with prices ranging from $2-$5 depending on the child's age

Summer Movies

Regal Theaters showed $1 movies throughout the summer at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with movie selections varying by location.

Election Day 2018 Freebies

On November 6, 2018, Election Day, numerous restaurants and bars in Los Angeles offered discounts and complimentary items to individuals who showed proof of voting by displaying their "I Voted" sticker.

Beverage Specials

Several bars and establishments offered drink specials:

Multiple bars in Los Angeles offered $1 drinks to voters:
- Oldfield's Liquor Room, Bigfoot Lodge West, Harlowe, and Highland Park Bowl offered $1 old-fashioneds
- Sassafras, Idle Hour, Thirsty Crow, La Cuevita, and Bigfoot Lodge offered $1 Moscow mules made with house ginger beer
The Abbey, a West Hollywood institution, offered a $5 Blue Wave shot special made with Tito's, blue curaçao, and Sprite

The drink specials were available from 5 to 7 p.m. or until bars ran out of promotional items, with the number of drinks customers could purchase being unlimited.

Conclusion

The freebies and promotional offers available throughout 2018 were primarily tied to specific holidays and events, including Tax Day, Veterans Day, Summer Solstice, and Election Day. These promotions spanned various categories, with food and beverage establishments being particularly active in offering complimentary items and special pricing. Retail stores also participated by providing discounts on merchandise and services. While the source material provides specific examples of offers available during these occasions, it does not comprehensively cover all potential free samples and promotional offers that may have been available throughout the year across all product categories.