Leap Day 2020 Freebies Special Offers For February 29 Birthday Celebrants

Leap Day, occurring once every four years on February 29, presents a unique opportunity for businesses to offer special promotions and freebies. For individuals born on this rare date—known as Leaplings, Leapsters, or Leapers—these celebrations are particularly meaningful, as they get to celebrate their actual birthday only once every four years. In 2020, numerous businesses across the United States recognized this special occasion with exclusive offers, discounts, and free products specifically for those with February 29 birthdays. This article explores the comprehensive list of Leap Day freebies available in 2020, details eligibility requirements, and provides information about similar opportunities that may return in future Leap Years.

Understanding Leap Day and Its Significance

Leap Day occurs every four years, with the exception of century years not exactly divisible by 400. This adjustment is necessary to keep our calendar synchronized with the astronomical year, which is approximately 365.25 days long. While most years have 365 days, Leap Years contain 366 days, with the extra day added as February 29. The next Leap Day after 2020 was scheduled for Wednesday, February 29, 2028.

People born on February 29, commonly referred to as Leaplings, typically celebrate their birthdays on either February 28 or March 1 in non-Leap Years. However, during actual Leap Years, they have the unique opportunity to celebrate on their actual birth date. Notable Leaplings include rapper Ja Rule, late actor Dennis Farina, soap opera star Antonio Sabato Jr., motivational speaker Tony Robbins, and the late Dinah Shore.

Food & Restaurant Freebies for Leaplings

Numerous food establishments offered special deals and complimentary items to Leaplings during the 2020 Leap Day celebration. These offers typically required proof of birth date with a valid photo ID.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme provided one of the most generous offers for Leaplings in 2020, offering a free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts with no purchase necessary. Leaplings needed to present a valid ID to prove their February 29 birth date to receive this complimentary treat. The doughnut chain also launched a "national doughnut delivery" service on Leap Day as part of their celebration.

Denny's

The family restaurant chain Denny's offered Leaplings a free Grand Slam breakfast at all locations nationwide. This popular breakfast meal typically includes two eggs, two bacon strips, two sausage links, and two pancakes. The offer was valid for dine-in customers only and required presentation of a photo ID to verify the Leap Day birthday.

Insomnia Cookies

Insomnia Cookies celebrated Leaplings by offering four free cookies along with an in-store birthday party. Participants needed to present valid ID to confirm their February 29 birth date. The cookie shop also had a general Leap Day promotion where customers received an extra free cookie with the purchase of a 6-pack or 12-pack of classic cookies, valid from February 6 through March 4, 2020.

Jackson's Taziki's (Tennessee Locations)

For dine-in guests with a Leap Day birthday, Jackson's Taziki's offered complimentary treats including a pack of Taziki's cookies, a slice of baklava, or a slice of baklava cheesecake. Valid ID was required to receive these freebies.

Milk Bar

The dessert chain Milk Bar provided Leap Year babies with a free 6-inch birthday cake. In 2024, the company also offered discounted cereal milk soft serve for $2.29, suggesting a pattern of special Leap Day pricing for their products.

Other Restaurant Promotions

Several other restaurants announced Leap Day promotions, though specific details varied by location. Participation and offers could differ by individual restaurant location, so Leaplings were advised to check with their nearest location before heading out to take advantage of these deals.

Retail & Service Discounts for Leap Day Babies

Beyond food establishments, various retailers and service providers offered special deals for Leaplings during the 2020 Leap Day celebration.

Hotels.com

The hotel-booking website Hotels.com provided a unique digital promotion for Leaplings. The company gave away 29 special discount codes worth $290 each for hotel stays to anyone born on February 29 who tweeted @HotelsDotCom on Leap Day to share the "biggest struggle" of being a Leapling. This promotion combined social media engagement with substantial savings on accommodations.

Build-a-Bear Workshop

While the 2020 offer wasn't specified in the sources, Build-a-Bear Workshop had previously offered Leaplings the opportunity to purchase a Birthday Treat Bear at a significant discount. In 2024, the bear was priced at $4 compared to the regular price of $14, requiring Leaplings to present their ID to receive the deal.

Cowboy Chicken

The restaurant chain Cowboy Chicken planned to offer a free wood-fire rotisserie chicken to guests with a Leap Day birthday. Valid ID was required to receive this complimentary meal.

Future Retail Promotions

Several retailers had announced special Leap Day promotions planned for future Leap Years:

• Home Run Inn: Planned to give away pizzas to the first 29 leap year babies (18 years or older) who presented valid ID on February 29, 2028.
• Staples: Expected to offer 29,000 passport photos for free via their app on Leap Day 2028.
• Tom Quick Inn (Pennsylvania): Anticipated to provide a rate discount on February 29, 2028.
• Wollman Rink (New York City): Planned to offer a free day of skating on Leap Day 2028.
• STRAT Skyjump (Las Vegas): Expected to provide a free STRAT Skyjump (regularly priced at $129.99 in 2024) for Leaplings on the next Leap Day.

General Leap Day Deals Available to Everyone

While some Leap Day promotions were exclusive to those born on February 29, many businesses offered special deals to all customers during the 2020 Leap Day celebration.

7-Eleven

The convenience store chain 7-Eleven offered whole pizzas for $2.29 both in participating stores and through the 7NOW delivery app on Leap Day. Additionally, first-time users of the 7NOW app could receive a $29 discount on any delivery order over $50 using the promotional code 29OFF50.

Hungry Howie's

This pizza chain celebrated the Leap Year with a buy-one-get-one promotion: customers could purchase one large pizza and get a second for just 29 cents. This offer was valid from Monday, February 26 through Thursday, February 29, 2020, and was limited to carry-out orders only.

Jeremiah's Italian Ice

Loyalty program members of Jeremiah's Italian Ice could enjoy small treats for just 96 cents on Thursday, February 29, 2020. The company also planned to distribute promotional swag and host giveaways at their ten metro Atlanta locations.

Krispy Kreme (General Promotion)

In addition to the free doughnuts for Leaplings, Krispy Kreme offered a general promotion where customers who purchased a dozen regularly priced doughnuts could receive a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for $2.29.

Panera Bread

The bakery-cafe chain announced the launch of an unlimited coffee subscription program priced at $8.99 per month, providing customers with unlimited coffee refills during their visits to Panera locations.

How to Access Leap Day Offers

For Leaplings looking to take advantage of these special offers, several steps were typically required:

1. Valid ID: Nearly all Leapling-specific offers required presentation of a valid photo ID to verify February 29 birth date.
2. Location Verification: Many businesses noted that offers could vary by location, so checking with individual locations before visiting was recommended.
3. Timing: Some offers were only available on February 29, 2020, while others extended through the following day (Sunday, March 1).
4. Online Verification: Some digital promotions, like the Hotels.com offer, required social media engagement with specific handles and hashtags.

For general Leap Day promotions available to all customers, the process was typically simpler, often requiring only the mention of Leap Day or use of a specific promotional code during checkout.

Future Leap Day Promotions to Watch For

Based on previous patterns and announced future promotions, several businesses are expected to continue offering Leap Day specials:

1. Food Establishments: Restaurant chains like Krispy Kreme, Denny's, and Insomnia Cookies have historically offered Leap Day promotions and are likely to continue this tradition.
2. Retailers: Companies like Build-a-Bear Workshop, Staples, and others have announced special offers for the 2028 Leap Day.
3. Service Providers: Entertainment venues and service providers often create special promotions to mark the occasion.

Leaplings and deal hunters should begin watching for announcements as February 2028 approaches, though specific offers may vary and businesses may adjust their promotions from previous years.

Conclusion

Leap Day 2020 provided a unique opportunity for businesses to celebrate the rare occasion with special offers, particularly for those with February 29 birthdays. From complimentary doughnuts at Krispy Kreme to free Grand Slams at Denny's, Leaplings had numerous opportunities to receive special treatment on their actual birth date. General promotions available to all customers included discounted pizzas, special pricing on treats, and new subscription programs.

As we approach the next Leap Day in 2028, both Leaplings and deal enthusiasts can anticipate similar promotions, though specific offers may vary. The key to maximizing these opportunities lies in preparation: verifying participation at local locations, bringing valid ID for Leapling-specific offers, and staying informed about early announcements. Whether you're celebrating a once-every-four-years birthday or simply taking advantage of the special deals, Leap Day remains a unique occasion for both celebration and savings.

Sources

1. Leap Day brings free food and specials Feb. 29, along with exclusive deals for Leaplings
2. Leap Day Freebies: Complete List of Discounts for Leap Year Babies
3. Leap Day Birthday Freebies
4. Leap Day freebies: How to get free food, more deals on Feb. 29
5. Leap Year Deals and Events