Mcdonalds Holiday Character-Themed Free Food Promotion Complete Guide To Christmas Freebies

McDonald's launched an extensive holiday promotion featuring character-themed free food items during the 2020 Christmas season. The fast-food chain offered 11 consecutive days of special deals through its mobile app, with each day featuring a different holiday character and their corresponding favorite menu item. This promotion, available from December 14 through December 24, 2020, allowed customers to receive various McDonald's menu items for free with a minimum $1 purchase through the app, with the exception of Christmas Eve's chocolate chip cookies offer which did not require any purchase. The promotion aimed to bring holiday cheer to customers during an unprecedented year while leveraging beloved characters from classic holiday movies and television shows.

Overview of McDonald's Holiday Promotion

McDonald's implemented this holiday promotion as part of its seasonal marketing strategy, extending special offers to customers through its mobile application. The promotion spanned 11 days, from December 14 to December 24, 2020, and was designed to provide daily excitement with character-themed freebies. According to McDonald's U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Morgan Flatley, the initiative was intended to spread extra cheer during what was described as a challenging year. "After a year like 2020, I think we could all use some extra cheer this season," Flatley stated in a news release. "What better way to celebrate and get into the holiday spirit than with free McDonald's menu favorites for everyone including Rudolph, the Abominable Snow Monster and yes, even Scrooge."

The promotion was accessible exclusively through the McDonald's mobile application, requiring customers to download or update the app to participate. To access the daily deals, users needed to visit the deals section within the app, where a red header marked "Free Daily Holiday Deals" directed them to the current offer. After selecting their free item and making a qualifying purchase (typically $1 minimum), customers could then visit participating McDonald's locations to redeem their holiday freebie. Each offer was limited to one redemption per day per customer at participating restaurants nationwide.

This promotion followed McDonald's other seasonal initiatives, including the return of the McRib sandwich earlier in December and the introduction of holiday beverages like peppermint mocha and peppermint hot chocolate. The character-themed freebies represented an extension of McDonald's strategy of associating its menu items with popular culture figures, similar to their earlier celebrity signature orders program.

Complete Calendar of Holiday Freebies

The promotion featured a carefully curated calendar of holiday characters, each paired with a specific menu item that represented their "favorite" food. This creative approach connected McDonald's offerings with beloved cultural figures, adding an element of fun and nostalgia to the promotion.

The complete schedule of character-themed freebies included:

• December 14: The Griswolds from "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" - Double Cheeseburger
• December 15: The Abominable Snowman from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Big Mac
• December 16: The Grinch from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" - Egg McMuffin
• December 17: John McClane from "Die Hard" - McDouble
• December 18: Rudolph from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Medium Fries
• December 19: Gizmo from "Gremlins" - Six-piece Chicken McNuggets
• December 20: Buddy the Elf from "Elf" - Hotcakes
• December 21: Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol" - Any size Hot or Iced Coffee
• December 22: Frosty the Snowman from "Frosty the Snowman" - Any size McFlurry
• December 23: Frank Costanza from "Seinfeld" - Bakery Item (Apple Fritter, Cinnamon Roll, or Blueberry Muffin)
• December 24: Santa Claus - Two-pack or three-pack of Chocolate Chip Cookies

Each character was carefully selected from notable holiday-themed media, with McDonald's emphasizing that even unconventional holiday films like "Die Hard" were considered holiday movies for the purpose of this promotion. The company highlighted how these characters' favorite menu items were featured at participating restaurants nationwide throughout the promotion period.

The final day's offer, in honor of Santa Claus, was unique in that it did not require a minimum purchase. Customers could receive a two-pack or three-pack of chocolate chip cookies for free without any additional purchase, making it the only day of the promotion without spending requirements. This special exception acknowledged the character's traditional association with giving and receiving treats during the Christmas season.

How to Redeem the Offers

Participating in McDonald's holiday promotion required following a specific redemption process through the mobile application. The first step involved downloading or updating the McDonald's app if not already installed. Once in the app, users needed to navigate to the homepage and locate the red header that specifically stated "Free Daily Holiday Deals." This section contained the current day's offer and the corresponding character.

After identifying the day's free item, customers added it to their order along with any additional items they wished to purchase. For most days of the promotion, a minimum purchase of $1 was required to activate the free item. The order needed to be placed through mobile order and pay functionality within the app. After completing the purchase digitally, customers then visited a participating McDonald's location to pick up their order, which included the character-themed freebie.

Important limitations applied to this promotion. Each offer was valid only once per day per customer, and redemption was restricted to participating McDonald's locations. The documentation did not specify which locations were participating, implying that availability might vary by region or individual restaurant. Additionally, the promotion was time-sensitive, with each day's offer available only on its designated date during the 11-day period.

The promotion leveraged McDonald's existing mobile ordering infrastructure, which had been expanded and enhanced throughout 2020. By requiring app-based orders, McDonald's could track promotion usage, manage inventory at individual locations, and gather valuable customer data. The process also encouraged customers to familiarize themselves with the app's ordering features, potentially increasing future digital engagement.

Additional McDonald's Holiday Offers

Beyond the character-themed daily freebies, McDonald's implemented several other promotional offers during the 2020 holiday season. These additional deals complemented the main promotion and provided customers with multiple opportunities to save on their McDonald's purchases.

One ongoing promotion mentioned in the source materials was a weekly offering of holiday discounts, including buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals on Big Macs and free six-piece Chicken McNuggets with qualifying purchases. These offers ran throughout December and were available separately from the character-themed daily freebies, providing additional value for regular McDonald's customers.

Another significant promotion was the McGold Card giveaway, which was active through December 25, 2020. With every app order placed during this period, customers received an entry to win a McGold Card. This valuable prize granted the owner and three friends free McDonald's food for life, representing an extremely high-value incentive that encouraged frequent app usage during the holiday season.

The documentation also noted that McDonald's had recently brought back its peppermint mocha and peppermint hot chocolate beverages nationwide, adding to the holiday-themed offerings available at the chain. Additionally, there were mentions of McDonald's Holiday Pies being spotted at some restaurant locations, though these appeared to be limited-time items rather than part of the structured promotion.

These additional offers demonstrated McDonald's comprehensive approach to holiday marketing, combining limited-time free items with discounts and high-value sweepstakes to maximize customer engagement and foot traffic during the crucial holiday season.

Conclusion

McDonald's 2020 holiday promotion successfully leveraged beloved holiday characters to create an engaging, 11-day free food promotion accessible through its mobile app. By connecting iconic characters from various holiday films and shows with specific menu items, the fast-food chain created a sense of nostalgia and fun that resonated with customers during an atypical holiday season. The promotion required minimal spending (typically just $1) while providing tangible value through free food items, making it accessible to a broad customer base.

The structure of the promotion, with each day featuring a different character and corresponding free item, created anticipation and encouraged repeat visits throughout the holiday period. The exception made for Christmas Eve's free cookies without purchase requirements demonstrated thoughtful consideration for the special significance of that day in the holiday calendar.

Beyond the character-themed freebies, McDonald's supplemented this promotion with other holiday offers, including BOGO deals, the McGold Card sweepstakes, and seasonal beverages, creating a comprehensive holiday marketing campaign. By focusing on mobile app-based ordering, McDonald's not only facilitated efficient redemption but also encouraged digital engagement that could translate to future customer loyalty.

While the promotion was specifically timed for the 2020 holiday season, its success demonstrated how character-themed partnerships and digital-first promotions could enhance customer experiences and drive engagement for fast-food brands during key shopping periods. The approach of connecting menu items with popular culture figures represented an innovative way to differentiate McDonald's offerings during a crowded holiday marketplace.

Sources

1. USA Today - McDonald's giving away free food with app purchases
2. Fox Business - McDonald's Christmas Freebies
3. MLive - McDonald's daily freebies inspired by Christmas characters
4. CNET - Holiday food freebies and restaurant deals