California Freebies Veterans Day Offers And Birthday Treats

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

California residents have access to numerous freebies and special offers throughout the year, particularly around Veterans Day and for birthday celebrations. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the available free meals, discounts, and other special offers that veterans, active-duty military personnel, and regular consumers can enjoy in California.

Veterans Day Free Meals and Discounts

Veterans Day, observed on November 11, offers numerous opportunities for military personnel to enjoy complimentary meals and discounts at various establishments across California. These tributes to service members typically require valid military identification or proof of service.

Restaurant Offers for Veterans

Several restaurant chains in California participate in Veterans Day free meal programs:

Applebee's: Flynn Group-owned Applebee's locations offer free meals to veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day. Additionally, through the "Buy a Vet a Beer" promotion, customers can purchase a pre-paid pint of beer for a veteran, accompanied by a special message, through November 11. Any unclaimed beers will have the funds donated to local veterans' charities.
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse: Veterans and active-duty military members receive a free Chocolate Chunk Pizookie when dining in. They also get a free appetizer coupon for their next visit, with military ID or proof of service required.
Bob Evans: Veterans and active-duty military members can choose a free entrée from a list of 10 options on November 11.
California Pizza Kitchen: Offers a free entrée and beverage from a special prix fixe menu to veterans and active-duty military members. Additionally, participants receive a buy-one-get-one-free offer for pizza, pasta, or salad that can be used November 12-25. These dine-in offers are available at all company-owned CPK restaurants.
Chili's: Provides free meals to veterans and active-duty military members on November 11.
Dave and Buster's: Offers free entrees to veterans along with free $10 Power Cards for game use on November 11.
Denny's: Active duty and retired military members can enjoy a free Original Grand Slam between 5 a.m. and noon on November 11.
Dunkin': Participating locations offer all veterans and active-duty military members a free donut on November 11, with no purchase necessary.
Golden Corral: Military Appreciation Night runs from 4 p.m. to close on November 11, with anyone who has served in the U.S. military eligible for a free dinner.
The Greene Turtle: Veterans can get a free meal worth up to $15 on November 11.
Mission BBQ: Gives out free sandwiches to veterans on November 11.
Red Robin: Veterans and active-duty military members can get a free Red's Big Tavern Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries at participating locations on November 11.
O'Charley's Restaurant + Bar: Provides a free meal to veterans and active-duty military members who show valid ID between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on November 11 while dining in. They also receive a $5 reward card for their next visit.
P.F. Chang's: Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on November 11, veterans can get a free lunch while dining in at participating locations. This single-use offer isn't valid with other deals and requires showing a valid military ID or other proof of service.
Playa Bowls: Gives away free bowls to veterans, active-duty, and retired military personnel who present valid ID on November 11 at participating locations.
Red Lobster: Offers all active-duty military, reserves, and veterans a free Shrimp & Chips entrée with proof of service on November 11.
Black Angus Steakhouse: Veterans and active-duty military members can receive a free steak entrée on Veterans Day, which includes a 6-ounce top sirloin with home-styled mashed potatoes and broccoli with garlic butter. The chain also offers a HERO's discount year-round, giving veterans, active and retired military, first responders, nurses, healthcare personnel, and teachers 15% off their dine-in order at any Black Angus with valid ID.

Additional Veterans Day Offers in California

Beyond restaurants, several other establishments provide special offers for military personnel on Veterans Day:

Starbucks: Offers a free tall brewed coffee for veterans and military spouses, making this an option that the whole family can enjoy.
Little Caesar's Pizza: Some locations in California offer free pizza slices or discounts to veterans.
California State Parks: Veterans and active-duty servicemembers receive free admission to state parks.
National Parks: Free admission is offered on Veterans Day, though there may be delays or limited visitor capacity if the government is shut down.
USS Midway Museum: Located in San Diego, this museum offers free admission to veterans.
Six Flags: Historically, active-duty personnel and veterans have received free park admission, while family and friends enjoy discounted ticket prices.

Birthday Freebies in California

California residents can take advantage of numerous birthday freebies by signing up for various reward programs. These offers range from complimentary food items to beauty products and entertainment experiences.

Food and Beverage Birthday Freebies

Several establishments offer birthday treats for members:

Ben & Jerry's: By joining the Flavor Fanatic rewards program, members receive a birthday "cone-gratulatory" surprise.
Starbucks: While not explicitly mentioned for birthdays in the sources, the general practice for many Starbucks locations is to offer a free drink or food item during a customer's birthday month for rewards members.
AMC Theaters: Members of AMC Stubs receive at least a free large popcorn during their birthday month.
Regal Theaters: By signing up for Regal Crown Club, members receive a birthday reward.
Dunkin': Some locations may offer a free donut or other treat during a customer's birthday month for rewards members.

Beauty and Retail Birthday Freebies

Several beauty and retail companies offer birthday gifts to rewards members:

Sephora: Beauty Insider members can choose a free birthday gift when they sign up for the program.
Ulta: Ultamate Rewards members receive a free birthday gift, plus double points during their birthday month.
Bath & Body Works: Members of My Bath & Body Works receive an annual birthday gift.
Container Store: POP Rewards members get a discounted order during their birthday month.

Entertainment and Activity Birthday Freebies

Various entertainment venues offer birthday perks:

Alamo Drafthouse: By signing up for Alamo Victory, members receive a free birthday sweet treat.
K1 Speed: Members who pay for an Annual Membership ($7.95) get a free birthday race during the week of their birthday.

General Types of Birthday Freebies

Beyond specific company offers, common types of birthday freebies available in California include:

Free meals or discounts on food at restaurants
Free snacks, desserts, or treats from bakeries, ice cream shops, or cafes
Free drinks from local bars or coffee shops
Free admission to museums or other attractions
Free beauty treatments from local salons or spas
Free months of membership for gyms or membership-based businesses
Free stuff from online retailers
Free subscriptions to online services
Free workout classes at local gyms

Tips for Maximizing Freebies

To make the most of available freebies in California, consider the following tips:

Always verify participation: Many offers are at the discretion of individual locations or franchises. Call ahead to confirm that your local establishment is participating.
Bring proper identification: For veterans and military personnel offers, valid military ID or proof of service is typically required.
Sign up for rewards programs: To access birthday freebies, you'll need to sign up for the respective company's rewards program in advance of your birthday.
Check terms and conditions: Some offers may have restrictions such as specific timeframes, menu limitations, or requirement to dine with a certain number of people.
Combine offers when possible: Some companies allow their offers to be combined with other promotions, though many explicitly prohibit this.
Follow businesses on social media: Companies sometimes announce special freebies or limited-time offers through their social media channels.
Check for expiration dates: Many freebies and special offers have limited validity periods and must be used within a specified timeframe.

Conclusion

California offers numerous freebies and special offers throughout the year, particularly around Veterans Day and for birthday celebrations. Veterans and active-duty military personnel can enjoy complimentary meals at numerous restaurant chains, as well as discounts and free admission to various attractions. Meanwhile, consumers can take advantage of birthday freebies by signing up for rewards programs at food establishments, beauty retailers, entertainment venues, and more. By verifying participation, bringing proper identification, and understanding the terms and conditions, Californians can maximize these special offers and enjoy complimentary goods and services throughout the year.