A Comprehensive Guide To 2018 Food Freebies Restaurant Deals And Promotional Offers Throughout The Year

The year 2018 featured numerous promotional offers and free food deals across various holidays and special occasions throughout the year. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these food-related freebies, organized by the events and holidays they were associated with. From Father's Day to Tax Day, Veterans Day to Election Day, and special food holidays like National Pizza Day, consumers had numerous opportunities to enjoy complimentary food items and special deals at popular restaurant chains and food establishments across the United States.

Father's Day Freebies and Special Offers (June 2018)

Father's Day in 2018, celebrated on June 17th, prompted numerous restaurants and businesses to offer special promotions and freebies to honor fathers. These offers included complimentary meals, bonus gift cards, and various discounts available at participating locations nationwide.

Restaurant Offers

Several restaurant chains provided special Father's Day promotions:

• Applebee's offered a free $10 bonus card with the purchase of a $50 gift card, valid through July 1st. The bonus card expired on August 12, 2018, and could not be redeemed on the date of issuance.

• Bahama Breeze provided a $20 bonus card with every $50 gift card purchased through June 30th. The bonus cards were mailed to the customer's billing address and consisted of two $10 bonus cards, each valid for dine-in purchases during specific periods: one valid from May 28th to July 31st, 2018, and another valid from July 1st to August 31st, 2018.

• BD's Mongolian Grill offered $5 in Mongo Money for every $25 gift card purchased in-store at participating locations through June 30th.

• Beef O' Brady's provided free meals for dads with a $10 purchase of equal or greater value on Father's Day only (June 17th).

• Black Angus offered $10 in Bonus Bucks for every $50 in gift cards purchased through June 18th. The Bonus Bucks were valid from June 19th to August 31st, 2018, with a limit of $20 per visit.

• Steak 'n Shake had a special promotion where fathers could receive free meals, though specific details were limited.

• Texas Roadhouse allowed customers to earn $5 in bonus eGift card value for every $30 spent on gift cards, with a maximum bonus of $100.

• TGI Fridays provided a free $10 Bonus Bites card with every $50 gift card purchased through June 30th. The Bonus Bites card was valid from July 1st to August 31st, 2018.

Online Offers

In addition to restaurant promotions, several online offers were available for Father's Day:

• CVS Photo provided a free 8x10 photo print (valued at $3.99) when customers chose same-day in-store pickup and used promo code DADPRINT at checkout, with a limit of one print per customer.

• Dollar Tree offered Father's Day cards for $1 each, with some cards available as a two-for-one deal, though selection varied by store.

• Massage Envy provided a voucher for a free 30-minute Today Body Stretch session with the purchase of $125 in gift cards at participating locations through June 17th.

Tax Day Specials (April 2018)

Tax Day in 2018 fell on Tuesday, April 17th, prompting numerous restaurants and businesses to offer special promotions and freebies to help taxpayers celebrate completing their tax obligations. These offers included complimentary food items, special pricing, and various discounts available on Tax Day at participating locations across the United States.

Restaurant and Food Offers

Several restaurant chains provided special Tax Day promotions:

• Cicis Pizza offered a sale price of $4.17 for the regular adult buffet on Tax Day, with a coupon posted on the restaurant's Facebook page.

• Chuck E. Cheese's provided a free large cheese pizza with the purchase of one large pizza from April 17th to 19th.

• Firehouse Subs offered a free medium sub with the purchase of a full-priced medium or large sub, chips, and drink, using a coupon available from April 17th to 19th.

• Great American Cookies gave away a free cookies & cream cookie to anyone who visited one of their participating shops on Tax Day.

• Hardee's provided free sausage biscuits from 7 a.m. through 10 a.m. on Tax Day.

• Hot Dog on a Stick offered a free original turkey or veggie dog on Tax Day.

• Hooters allowed customers to receive a free Hooters Kids' Meal with a restaurant purchase of at least $10, with a limit of one free Kids' Meal per adult who spent $10 or more (valid for children under 12 years old).

• Kona Ice trucks provided free shaved ice on Tax Day, with locations available through their website.

• Schlotzsky's offered a free small Original with the purchase of chips and a medium drink.

• Sonic provided half-price cheeseburgers on Tax Day.

Other Special Offers

In addition to food promotions, several other businesses offered Tax Day specials:

• Office Depot provided free document shredding (up to 5 pounds) through April 28th with a coupon.

December Holiday Promotions (2018)

The month of December 2018 featured numerous promotional offers and special deals as consumers prepared for the holiday season. These offers included complimentary food items, special pricing, and various discounts available at participating locations across the United States.

Limited-Time Holiday Deals

Several restaurant chains provided special December promotions:

• Burger King offered a free order of Chicken Fries with a $5 purchase on DoorDash from Tuesday through January 6th, 2019, with promo code NEWYEAR. The offer was limited to the first 30,000 orders and valid only for participating Burger King locations within DoorDash's delivery zones. It was not valid for pickup or dine-in orders.

• Chipotle Mexican Grill provided free delivery on any Chipotle order of $10 or more through January 7th, 2019, for college football fans in what they called the "Chipotle Free Delivery Bowl." To redeem the offer, customers needed to place a delivery order on the chain's mobile app or online at order.chipotle.com.

Food Holiday Specials

December featured several designated food holidays with special offers:

• National Cookie Day (December 4th) featured various cookie promotions at participating establishments.

• National Brownie Day (December 8th) offered special brownie deals at certain retailers.

• National Cupcake Day (December 15th) provided cupcake specials at participating locations.

The source material indicates that this page was frequently updated with additional freebies and meal deals throughout December, with the recommendation that consumers check with their closest locations before heading out to verify availability.

Veterans Day Appreciation Offers (November 2018)

Numerous restaurants and food establishments honored military service members on Veterans Day 2018 by offering complimentary meals and special discounts. These offers were available at participating locations across the United States, though most required proof of military service.

Restaurant Offers for Military Members

Several restaurant chains provided special Veterans Day promotions:

• Boston Market offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on individual meals with drinks on November 11-12, 2018, at all U.S. locations. A coupon was required, but no identification was necessary.

• Bruegger's Bagels provided free coffee (any size) to veterans and active military members on Sunday.

• Buffalo Wild Wings offered a free order of traditional or boneless wings with a side of fries to veterans and current military members on Veterans Day. This was a dine-in only offer that required proof of military service.

• Chili's provided a free meal from a select menu on Veterans Day at participating locations. This was a dine-in only offer that required proof of military service.

• Chipotle offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on burritos, bowls, salads, or orders of tacos on Sunday for all U.S. military personnel, including active-duty, Guard/Reserve, retired military members, military spouses with ID, and veterans.

• Cicis Pizza provided a free pizza buffet on November 10, 2018 (Saturday) for active or retired military members with ID.

• City Barbeque offered a free sandwich platter on Veterans Day at participating locations, requiring proof of service.

• Cookies by Design provided a free iced sugar cookie from November 8-10, 2018, at their North Olmsted location for military members and veterans.

• Cracker Barrel offered a complimentary slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola® Cake for dessert or a Crafted Coffee on Veterans Day.

These offers were available at participating locations, with most requiring proof of military service in the form of identification or documentation.

Election Day Incentives (November 2018)

Election Day 2018, held on Tuesday, November 6th, prompted several restaurant chains to offer free food and special deals to encourage voter participation. These offers served as incentives for citizens to exercise their right to vote by providing complimentary food items at participating locations across the United States.

Free Food Offers for Voters

Several restaurant chains provided special Election Day promotions:

• Shake Shack offered free fries with any order on Election Day as an incentive for voters.

The source material mentions that "all sorts of popular chains" including Shake Shack, Potbelly, and Blaze Pizza were offering free food and treats for people who vote, though specific details for all participating chains were not provided in the source material.

The article emphasizes that while the free food shouldn't be the primary reason for voting, it served as an additional incentive for citizens to participate in the democratic process by casting their ballots and accepting "I Voted" stickers.

National Pizza Day Celebrations (February 2018)

National Pizza Day 2018, celebrated on Friday, February 9th, featured numerous special offers and freebies from pizza restaurants and related establishments across the United States. These promotions included complimentary food items, special pricing, and various deals available at participating locations.

Pizza and Food Offers

Several restaurant chains provided special National Pizza Day promotions:

• Baskin-Robbins offered free samples of their new Sweetheart Polar Pizza Ice Cream from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Blaze Pizza provided a free fountain drink with any pizza order and featured a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deal available on their website.

• California Pizza Kitchen offered their new cauliflower crust at no additional charge on National Pizza Day. After February 9th, the option would incur a $2.50 fee.

• Chuck E. Cheese's had special pizza deals, though specific details were not fully detailed in the source material.

National Pizza Day was described as one of America's favorite food holidays, prompting numerous pizza establishments to offer special promotions to commemorate the occasion.

Conclusion

The year 2018 featured a diverse array of food-related free offers and promotional deals tied to various holidays, special occasions, and designated food days. These offers provided consumers with opportunities to enjoy complimentary food items and special discounts at popular restaurant chains and food establishments across the United States.

Key observations from the 2018 food freebies landscape include:

1. Holiday Promotions: Major holidays like Father's Day, Tax Day, and Veterans Day consistently prompted restaurants to offer special deals, with Veterans Day offers typically requiring proof of military service.

2. Designated Food Days: Special food holidays like National Pizza Day, National Cookie Day, National Brownie Day, and National Cupcake Day inspired themed promotions at participating establishments.

3. Incentive-Based Offers: Some promotions, like those on Election Day, were designed to encourage specific behaviors, such as voting, by offering complimentary food items.

4. Seasonal Patterns: Certain types of offers appeared to follow seasonal patterns, with warmer months featuring more outdoor-friendly freebies and holiday seasons featuring more substantial meal deals.

5. Participation Requirements: Many offers required specific actions, such as making a purchase, showing identification, or using coupons, with participation varying by location.

For consumers interested in taking advantage of similar offers in the future, the key takeaway is to research promotions in advance, verify participation at local locations, and understand any requirements or limitations associated with each offer.

Sources

1. Father's Day Freebies & Deals
2. Tax Day freebies and specials for 2018
3. December specials: Last freebies and meal deals of 2018
4. Freebies for Veterans
5. Election Day free food deals
6. National Pizza Day deals