The American calendar is full of seemingly arbitrary shopping holidays. It may be excessive and annoying at times, but this deluge of social media celebrations has perks. This year, Sunday, July 15 is National Ice Cream Day, which not only means you have an excuse to indulge, you can also do it on a discount.
Promotions across the country vary, but here’s a roundup of places where you can get free or discounted ice cream this Sunday.
[Read: How to Score Free Food Every Day of the Week.]
Baskin-Robbins. As the largest chain of ice cream stores on this list, Baskin-Robbins is your best bet for finding a deal on National Ice Cream Day. The 73-year-old ice cream company will release special offers on its mobile app on July 15, including a buy-one-get-one-free cone promotion, a buy-one-get-one-free offer on 99-cent sundaes and $2 off a medium milkshake. The Baskin-Robbins mobile app is available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Where to get the deal: Baskin-Robbins has more than 2,500 locations in the United States. Participation in the National Ice Cream Day offers may vary.
Carvel. The soft-serve at Carvel dates back to 1934, when founder Tom Carvel’s ice cream truck got a flat tire and caused him to sell his melting inventory from a parking lot. That soft-serve tradition lives on at Carvel and will be the focus of its National Ice Cream Day promotion: Buy one cone or cup of soft-serve, get one free.
Where to get the deal: Carvel stores are located in 23 states and Puerto Rico. The offer is only available at participating stores.
[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]
Cold Stone Creamery. This Arizona-based ice cream parlor is offering a buy-one-get-one-free promotion on National Ice Cream Day, according to a public relations representative.
Where to get the deal: Cold Stone has approximately 1,500 locations.
Dairy Queen. DQ isn’t running a specific promotion for National Ice Cream Day, according to a public relations representative, but it is launching a mobile app through which customers can get a free small Blizzard after downloading the app and registering in it. The app is free in the App Store and Google Play.
Where to get the deal: Dairy Queen has thousands of stores in the United States.
Dippin’ Dots. These little frozen balls of ice cream are a theme park favorite, but you can also buy Dippin’ Dots at malls and other stores. On July 15, participating Dippin’ Dots locations are giving away free mini-cups during a two-hour period, though the company’s website says to check with your local vendor to find out when that two-hour window will open.
Where to get the deal: You can use the company’s vendor locator to find sellers near you — call ahead to find out about promotion details.
Graeter’s. The Cincinnati-based ice cream maker is celebrating its 148th birthday by offering $1.48 cones at all its scoop shops on July 15, according to a public relations representative.
Where to get the deal: Graeter’s has more than 50 stores across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
MaggieMoo’s/Marble Slab. Marble Slab Creamery and MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream and Treatery merged in 2011, and participating locations are celebrating National Ice Cream day with a buy-one-get-one-free promotion. Customers can get a free kids cup or cone with the purchase of a regular or best value cup or cone from July 15 through July 19, according to a public relations representative.
Where to get the deal: There are more than 200 Marble Slab and MaggieMoo’s locations throughout the United States.
[See: 20 Tips for Saving Money at the Grocery Store.]
Salt & Straw. This hugely popular Portland, Oregon ice cream shop now has a presence throughout the West Coast, but Salt & Straw’s National Ice Cream Day celebration goes beyond its local shops. The company will start a contest on Saturday morning: An Instagram follower will win three months of home delivery of Salt & Straw’s seasonal pints club. The winner will be announced Wednesday, July 18.
Where to get the deal: Salt & Straw ships home delivery orders throughout the United States. Its Instagram handle is @saltandstraw.
Whole Foods. While Vermont ice cream icon Ben & Jerry’s isn’t putting on a free cone day at its stores on National Ice Cream Day, Whole Foods Market is offering a discount on Ben & Jerry’s pints. On July 15, all Whole Foods stores will kick off a three-day sale on Ben & Jerry’s and Talenti pints: two for $6, plus a 10 percent discount for Amazon Prime members.
Where to get the deal: There are 467 Whole Foods locations in the United States.
Even if your favorite ice cream shop isn’t on this list, it doesn’t hurt to call your local store to ask about National Ice Cream Day promotions. Some large chains aren’t on this list because their individual franchises decide on their own offers rather than opt into a promotion designed by the national brand.
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Best Freebies and Deals for National Ice Cream Day 2018 originally appeared on usnews.com
