Comprehensive Guide To 2017 Freebies Food Events And Military Appreciation Offers

Nov. 25, 2025, 10:40 a.m.

The year 2017 offered numerous promotional opportunities across various sectors, with food and beverage establishments being particularly generous. Consumers could take advantage of special day promotions, event-specific giveaways, and military appreciation offers throughout the year. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the notable freebies available in 2017, focusing on food and beverage promotions, event-specific giveaways, and offers for military personnel and veterans.

Food and Beverage Freebies

National Coffee Day Offers

National Coffee Day, celebrated on September 29, 2017, provided numerous opportunities for coffee enthusiasts to enjoy free or discounted beverages across the United States. Multiple coffee chains and food establishments participated in this annual promotion.

Cinnabon offered customers a free 12 oz coffee all day long on September 29, as detailed on their Twitter account. Chick-fil-A in Garner provided a free small hot or iced coffee to all customers throughout the day, with a limit of one free coffee per person. Duck Donuts implemented a "Buy One, Get One Free" hot coffee offer, applicable to any size of equal or lesser value, requiring customers to mention the National Coffee Day promotion to receive the discount.

Dunkin' Donuts customers received a free Medium Hot Coffee with the purchase of a Medium or Larger Hot Coffee on September 29 at participating locations. The offer began when stores opened that day, with additional details available on their Facebook page. Gloria Jean's Coffee offered a $1.00 small brew at participating locations on September 29, also promoted through their Facebook page.

Krispy Kreme extended their generosity by offering one free any-sized hot brewed coffee or small iced premium blend per day from September 29 through October 1 at participating Krispy Kreme shops. This three-day promotion provided customers with additional flexibility to enjoy their complimentary beverage.

Beyond dedicated coffee establishments, other food chains also participated in National Coffee Day. Pilot Flying J offered a free cup of coffee to customers who displayed an online coupon available at their website or on Pilot Flying J's Facebook page at the time of in-store purchase. The promotion was valid for customers in the U.S. and Canada from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 29, 2017.

Sheetz provided a unique digital offer through their mobile application. Customers who ordered a hot Pumpkin Pie Latte through the Sheetz app could select any size and receive it for free on September 29 only. Those without the app needed to download it to access this freebie, which was specifically limited to the hot latte variety.

Counter Culture Coffee organized multiple events for National Coffee Day. At 10 a.m. on September 29, all their training centers, including the one in Durham at 812 Mallard Ave, Durham, NC 27701, hosted their regular "Tastings at Ten" event—a complimentary public gathering where community members could learn about coffee and coffee culture. Additionally, Counter Culture Coffee encouraged social media participation by inviting customers to tag them on Instagram (@counterculturecoffee) and use the #nationalcoffeeday hashtag. The company selected their favorite photo and awarded the winner a free 3-month coffee subscription. On the evening of September 29, Counter Culture Coffee partnered with Sprudge to host the first annual "Night of 1000 Pours" event, with the local event taking place in Durham at the same location starting at 7 p.m.

Tax Day Promotions

Tax Day 2017, falling on April 18, prompted numerous restaurants and food establishments to offer special deals and free items to celebrate the tax filing deadline. These promotions were available from April 17-19 at various participating locations.

Chuck E. Cheese offered a deal of two large 1-topping pizzas for $22, providing families with an affordable dining option during tax season. Cinnabon provided a special promotion requiring no coupon for two free Classic Bites, allowing customers to enjoy complimentary pastries with their visit.

Firehouse Subs implemented a "buy one, get one" style promotion where customers received a free medium sub with the purchase of an additional medium or large sub, along with chips and a medium drink. This offer was valid through April 20, extending beyond the Tax Day weekend. Great American Cookies offered all customers a free Birthday Cake Cookie on April 18 specifically.

Hot Dog on a Stick provided a straightforward offer of one free Original Turkey Dog to all customers. Hungry Howie's implemented a digital promotion where customers purchasing a large, one-topping pizza at regular menu price could receive a medium one-topping pizza for 18 cents using the promo code TAXDAY. This deal was valid for online and carry-out purchases from April 17-19 at participating locations.

McDonald's participation varied by franchise, with some locations offering buy-one-get-one-free deals on Big Macs and Quarter Pounders with Cheese for 1 cent, 15 cents, or 25 cents. Other McDonald's locations provided free small French Fries, while others offered 59-cent hamburgers. The variability of these offers emphasized the importance of checking with local franchises for specific promotions.

Noodles & Company implemented an online promotion where customers ordering $10 or more received $4 off using the code TAXDAY17. Schlotzsky's offered a free The Original sandwich with the purchase of a medium drink and a bag of chips, with this deal specifically limited to April 18. Sonny's BBQ featured their "Irresistible Ribs Special" (IRS), offering Sweet & Smoky or House Dry-Rubbed Rib Dinners with two sides and homemade bread for half price.

Holiday Freebies

The holiday season of 2017 included various free promotional opportunities. While specific details about traditional holiday freebies in categories like beauty, baby care, pet products, health, and household goods were limited in the source material, one notable offering was in the audio/sound recording category.

Mindful Audio provided a freebie library containing nature and wildlife recordings, along with vehicle and aircraft sounds. These were new sounds not lifted from any existing or future library, available as a gesture of gratitude to customers who had purchased libraries from the company. The sounds were made available until January 31, 2018, encouraging interested individuals to download them promptly.

Event-Specific Freebies

San Diego Comic-Con 2017

San Diego Comic-Con 2017, one of the largest comic conventions in the world, offered numerous free items to attendees. While the convention itself required significant financial investment for badges, hotels, and pre-ordered exclusives, the free swag remained a major attraction for many participants.

Warner Bros. and Comic-Con collaborated on the official bags of SDCC 2017, featuring new, unique designs for fans to collect. These convention carriers came with a hidden surprise—an exclusive DC Super Hero pin for fans to add to their collections. The bags were distributed to fans when checking in at the show, marking the eighth year that Warner Bros. had participated in this particular promotion. The variety of designs (20 in total) reflected the new shows added to the mix for 2017, allowing fans to collect all their Comic-Con swag in one convenient, carry-everywhere companion.

It's important to note that the list provided was not exhaustive, as the convention featured numerous other opportunities for attendees to collect free items. Times and locations for various giveaways could change, and the list only highlighted some of the most notable freebies available at the event.

Military and Veteran Appreciation Offers

Veterans Day 2017 Freebies

In honor of Veterans Day 2017, numerous restaurants and businesses offered complimentary meals, items, or discounts to veterans and active-duty military personnel and their families. These offers were available on November 10, 2017, with some extending through the weekend.

Applebee's provided free meals to veterans and active military personnel as a token of appreciation for their service. CiCi's Pizza offered a free pizza buffet to military members and their families. Dunkin' Donuts participated by providing a free donut to veterans and active-duty military personnel.

Hooters implemented a "buy one, get one" style promotion where military personnel received a free meal with the purchase of a beverage. Little Caesars Pizza offered a free $5 Hot n Ready lunch combo to veterans and active-duty military personnel. Menchie's Frozen Yogurt provided a free 6-oz. frozen yogurt to military members and their families.

Outback Steakhouse offered two separate promotions: a free Bloomin' Onion and drink on Veterans Day, and an additional 20% off checks from November 12-16. Red Robin provided a free Red's Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries to military personnel and their families. Red Lobster offered a free appetizer or dessert with dinner purchase for veterans and active-duty military.

Starbucks provided a free tall brewed coffee to veterans and active-duty military personnel. Texas Roadhouse offered a free lunch, beverage, and sides to military members and their families. Target provided a 10% discount for all military personnel, veterans, and their families as part of their Veterans Day appreciation.

Bonefish Grill offered free Bang-Bang Shrimp to veterans and active-duty military personnel. Wife Saver provided a free dine-in meal from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for military members and their families.

These offers demonstrated the widespread recognition of military service and sacrifice across various industries, with restaurants and retailers showing their appreciation through complimentary food items and discounts.

Conclusion

The year 2017 provided numerous opportunities for consumers to enjoy complimentary products and services across various sectors. Food and beverage establishments were particularly generous, with special promotions around National Coffee Day, Tax Day, and the holiday season. Event-specific freebies, such as those offered at San Diego Comic-Con, added excitement for attendees. Additionally, numerous businesses showed their appreciation for military service through Veterans Day offers.

While the source material focused primarily on food and beverage promotions, event giveaways, and military appreciation offers, it highlighted the creative ways businesses used freebies to attract customers and demonstrate appreciation. Consumers who stayed informed about these opportunities could enjoy significant savings and complimentary items throughout the year.