Free Food And Beverage Promotions For The First Day Of Spring 2025

The first day of spring is a time of renewal and celebration, marked by warmer weather, longer days, and the arrival of fresh seasonal offerings. In 2025, the vernal equinox occurred on March 20, at 5:01 a.m. EDT, officially signaling the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. As part of this seasonal shift, numerous food and beverage chains across the United States offered limited-time promotions, freebies, and discounts to welcome the new season.

This article compiles verified information about the most notable free and discounted offers available on and around the first day of spring 2025. These promotions span a variety of popular chains, including Rita's Italian Ice, Dairy Queen, Jamba, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wendy's, and Shake Shack, among others. The focus is on food and beverage offers that are clearly documented in the source material. No assumptions or external data have been used to supplement the provided information.

Overview of Spring 2025 Food and Beverage Promotions

Several brands launched promotions in early March 2025 to celebrate the arrival of spring. These promotions included free items, discounted meals, and limited-time offers that were available for specific durations and under certain conditions. The offers were primarily distributed through physical locations and digital platforms such as mobile apps and online ordering systems.

One of the most notable days for free items was March 20, the first official day of spring. On this day, multiple chains offered free or significantly discounted items to customers. These promotions were typically time-limited and subject to availability or location participation. Some offers also required minimum purchases or the use of a mobile app.

Rita's Italian Ice Free Italian Ice

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard continued its annual tradition of offering free Italian ice on the first day of spring. On March 20, customers who visited participating Rita's locations received a free 6-ounce Italian ice in any available flavor, including the chain's newest flavor: Skittles Italian Ice. This offer was available for a limited time and while supplies lasted, with one free item per customer.

In addition to the in-store offer, customers who used the Rita's Ice App could enter for a chance to win free Italian ice for a year by entering the promo code "FDOS25" under the "offers" tab. This digital promotion provided an extra incentive for app users to participate in the spring celebration.

Dairy Queen Free Cone Day

Dairy Queen hosted its Free Cone Day on March 20, aligning with the first day of spring. The promotion offered a free small vanilla soft-serve cone at most non-mall locations and some mall locations. This offer was available all day but was limited to one per customer and not available for delivery through the DQ Rewards mobile app.

This year, Dairy Queen partnered with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals for Free Cone Day, supporting a charitable cause while providing free treats to customers. This partnership highlighted the chain's commitment to community engagement and giving back during the spring season.

Jamba Iced Beverage Day

Jamba participated in the spring celebration by offering $1 Iced Beverage Day on March 20. From 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time, customers could purchase small sizes of the Mangomorphosis or Dragonberry Blitz drinks for just $1 at participating locations. This promotion was available for a limited time window and required in-person visits to physical locations.

Buffalo Wild Wings Buy-One-Get-One-Free Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings launched a buy-one-get-one-free boneless wings deal on March 20, which was available for dine-in, takeout, and delivery at participating locations. This offer marked the beginning of the spring season and provided an opportunity for customers to enjoy discounted meals with friends or family.

Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger and Double Stack Deals

Wendy's participated in the spring celebration by offering a $1 Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger or $1 Double Stack with an additional purchase. This promotion was available through April 13 and was exclusive to the Wendy's app, aligning with the March Madness theme. This offer encouraged app usage and repeat visits during the early spring months.

Shake Shack Avocado Bacon Burger

Shake Shack offered a free Avocado Bacon Burger with a $10 minimum order from March 16 to April 7. This promotion was available for dine-in, takeout, and delivery and encouraged customers to try one of the chain’s signature items during the spring season.

Additional Spring Food Promotions

Beyond the main promotions offered on March 20, several other notable food and beverage offers were available in early spring 2025. These included:

  • National Cold Brew Day (April 20): Last year, Dunkin’ Donuts rewards members received a free cold brew with any purchase made via the DD app. While no specific details were provided for 2025, past promotions suggest that a similar offer may be available.

  • National Pretzel Day (April 26): Auntie Anne’s Rewards members could receive a free Original or Cinnamon Sugar pretzel via the Auntie Anne’s app. This offer was consistent with past promotions and encouraged app engagement.

  • Mother’s Day (May 11): While not a free food promotion, several chains typically offer special treats or discounts for Mother’s Day, such as free desserts or upgrades on purchases. These promotions often run in late April and early May.

  • National Park Week (April 19): All U.S. National Parks waived their entrance fees, providing a free entrance fee for visitors. This offer was not food-related but marked a notable freebie available during the spring season.

Conclusion

The first day of spring in 2025 brought a variety of food and beverage promotions, freebies, and discounts across the United States. These offers were designed to celebrate the arrival of spring, with many brands aligning their promotions with the March 20 equinox. Promotions included free Italian ice, free ice cream cones, discounted beverages, and buy-one-get-one-free meals, among others.

These promotions were primarily available at physical locations, though several also required app usage or minimum purchases. The offers were limited in duration and subject to availability and location participation, emphasizing the importance of checking local store hours and promotions before visiting.

For U.S. consumers, these spring promotions provided an opportunity to enjoy seasonal treats, discounted meals, and limited-time offers while celebrating the transition from winter to spring.

Sources

  1. Spring 2025 Food Deals and Promotions
  2. Spring 2025 Freebies and Discounts
  3. First Day of Spring 2025 Deals and Freebies
  4. Spring 2025 Freebies and Offers
  5. GetMeFreeSamples.com