New Orleans Birthday Freebies Complete Guide To Free Food Drinks And Retail Discounts

New Orleans offers a vibrant array of birthday freebies that can make anyone's special day more enjoyable without breaking the bank. From complimentary food and beverages to retail discounts and entertainment perks, the city's establishments provide numerous ways for locals and visitors to celebrate. Most of these offers require signing up for loyalty programs or email newsletters, with some having specific purchase requirements. This comprehensive guide details the birthday freebies available throughout New Orleans across various categories.

Food and Drink Freebies

The culinary scene in New Orleans provides numerous opportunities to enjoy complimentary food and drinks on your birthday. These offers span various dining establishments, from casual cafes to full-service restaurants.

Restaurant Birthday Offers

Several restaurants in the New Orleans area provide birthday freebies to reward their loyal customers. The requirements vary, with most necessitating advance registration for their loyalty programs or email clubs.

• Applebees: Offers a free dessert on your birthday with the requirement of being signed up for their email list and making a purchase of $15 or more.
• Auntie Anne's: Provides a free pretzel on your birthday to members of their Pretzel Perks program, with the additional requirement of spending $10 annually.
• Baskin Robbins: Members of the Birthday Club receive free ice cream on their birthday.
• The Cheesecake Factory: Offers a free slice of cheesecake with any purchase on your birthday, though this offer expires 14 days after your birthday.
• Einstein Bros. Bagels: Upon joining their e-club, customers receive a free bagel with any choice of schmear with purchase, plus a free egg sandwich with purchase on their birthday.
• Fogo de Chao: Provides a free birthday dessert at their New Orleans location.
• Honeybaked Ham: Offers a free ham sandwich for signing up, with this promotion available year-round at multiple locations including Gretna and New Orleans.
• Rotolo's Pizzeria: Members receive a free pizza on their birthday and the anniversary of their sign-up date, plus an additional $5 discount for signing up.

Coffee and Beverage Freebies

New Orleans' coffee culture and bar scene also contribute to the birthday freebie landscape with several establishments offering complimentary beverages:

• CC's Coffee House: Register for a Loyalty Card to receive a free beverage during your birthday month. Additionally, new members get a FREE Grande drink to use within 90 days of signup. Locations include 650 Poydras St., 941 Royal St., 2800 Esplanade Ave., 2917 Magazine St., 900 Jefferson Ave. in New Orleans, and 701 Metairie Road and 3647 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Metairie.
• Pat O'Brien's: Birthday Club members receive a voucher for a free drink of their choice at their 718 Peter St. location in New Orleans.
• Smashburger: Sign up for the Smashclub to get a free milkshake on your birthday. Locations include 3300 Magazine St., New Orleans, and 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie.
• Velvet Cactus: Offers a free margarita on your birthday, with the option to substitute a beer or dessert instead. Located at 6300 Argonne Blvd., New Orleans.
• Raising Cane's: Members of the Caniac Club receive a free drink on their birthday. To enroll, customers must first get a card in-store and then register it online.

Additional Dining Offers

Several other establishments provide birthday-related benefits:

• Broken Egg Cafe: Offers free pancakes for your birthday and free beignets when you sign up.
• La Madeleine: Provides a free dessert on your birthday, with a free salad or soup offered for signing up.
• McAlister's Deli: Offers $5 off any purchase coupon to members.
• IHOP: Provides a free meal when you sign up, available on your one-year anniversary.

Retail and Shopping Discounts

Beyond food and beverages, numerous retailers in New Orleans offer birthday discounts and freebies across various categories. These offers typically require signing up for the store's rewards program.

Clothing and Accessories

Several fashion retailers provide birthday discounts:

• American Eagle Outfitters: Members of AERewards receive 15% off during their birthday month.
• DSW: Join the rewards program to receive a $5 gift certificate on your birthday.
• Hallmark: Become a Crown Rewards member to get a free card and a coupon for 20% off one item.

Beauty and Cosmetics

Beauty retailers often provide complimentary gifts or discounts:

• Bare Minerals: Friends and Benefits members receive a gift customized to their personal profile on their birthday.
• Sephora: Registered members receive a free gift on their birthday. According to one source, no purchase is required for this offer.
• Smashbox: Members of the rewards program receive a free gift during their birthday month.

Specialty Retailers

Various other retailers offer birthday benefits:

• ACE Hardware: Sign up for ACE Rewards and get a $5 off coupon on your birthday.
• Barnes and Noble (Kids): Sign up for the B&N Kids' Club, and your child gets a free cupcake on his/her birthday.
• CVS: Register for a CVS ExtraCare Card and get $3 in ExtraCare Bucks every year on your birthday.
• World Market: World Market Explorers members get a free surprise on their birthday.

Entertainment and Activities

Several entertainment venues in and around New Orleans offer birthday perks:

• AMC Theatres: Members of the AMC Stubs Insider program (if enrolled 30 days before their birthday) can enjoy a free large popcorn on their birthday, with some members also receiving a free large fountain drink.
• Medieval Times: Offers free admission with the purchase of regular admission to celebrate your birthday.
• Regal Entertainment Group: Movie lovers who sign up for the Regal Crown Club receive free birthday popcorn.

How to Access These Freebies

To maximize your birthday freebies in New Orleans, consider the following tips:

1. Sign Up Early: Many rewards programs require enrollment well in advance of your birthday. Some venues, like AMC, require membership 30 days before your birthday.

2. Check Purchase Requirements: Some offers require a minimum purchase amount. For example, Applebees requires a purchase of $15 or more to receive the free birthday dessert.

3. Verify Location Availability: Not all locations of a chain may participate in birthday promotions. Always check with your local store before planning to use a birthday freebie.

4. Review Expiration Dates: Some offers, like The Cheesecake Factory's free slice, expire shortly after your birthday (14 days in this case).

5. Bring Proper Identification: Some venues may require ID to verify your birthday when redeeming offers.

6. Understand Substitution Options: Some places offer alternatives to the standard birthday freebie. Velvet Cactus, for instance, allows substitution of a margarita for a beer or dessert.

7. Consider Annual Memberships: Some programs offer benefits beyond birthdays, such as Rotolo's Pizzeria which provides a free pizza on both your birthday and your sign-up anniversary.

New Orleans Birthday Traditions

Beyond organized freebies, New Orleans has its own unique birthday tradition. Locals often pin a single dollar bill (or a couple) to their clothing on their birthday. Many residents will then add to this fund along with birthday wishes, creating a spontaneous collection of birthday funds as you go about your day. This tradition adds a special local flavor to birthday celebrations in the city.

Conclusion

New Orleans offers an impressive variety of birthday freebies that can make anyone's special day more enjoyable without additional cost. From complimentary food and drinks to retail discounts and entertainment perks, the city's establishments provide numerous ways to celebrate. Most offers require signing up for loyalty programs or email newsletters in advance, with some having specific purchase requirements. By planning ahead and understanding the terms and conditions of these offers, locals and visitors alike can make the most of their birthday celebrations in New Orleans. Whether you're looking for a free meal, a discounted shopping experience, or simply a complimentary drink, the city's birthday freebies provide plenty of options to choose from.

Sources

1. Cheap Finds New Orleans: Birthday Freebies and Deals
2. YayDay: New Orleans Birthday Freebies
3. FlippingBook: Birthday Freebies Program
4. NOLA.com: Oodles of Freebies to Score on Your Birthday Around New Orleans
5. City on Purpose: Birthday Freebies
6. NewOrleans.com: How to Celebrate a Birthday in New Orleans
7. Tiff's Deals NOLA: Birthday Month Freebies