Father's Day celebrations in 2019 offered a variety of complimentary items and discounted offers from numerous fast food and casual dining establishments. Data collected from various promotional roundups and deal blogs indicated that these offers were structured to provide value to families looking to treat fathers without significant expense. The availability of these offers often required specific actions, such as purchasing a meal, using a coupon, or visiting during designated hours.
The landscape of Father's Day promotions in 2019 was diverse, ranging from complimentary meals to "buy one, get one" specials and gift card bonuses. Many of these deals were time-sensitive, valid only on Father's Day or during the immediate surrounding weekend. Understanding the specific terms and conditions of each offer was essential for consumers to maximize their savings.
Overview of 2019 Father's Day Dining Offers
In 2019, the approach to Father's Day dining promotions was heavily focused on encouraging family visits through value-added incentives. The source material highlights a mix of immediate gratification—such as free food with a purchase—and delayed rewards, like gift card bonuses. The deals spanned a range of culinary preferences, from traditional steakhouse fare to lighter options like frozen yogurt and Italian ice.
A recurring theme among the offers was the requirement of a purchase to unlock the freebie. For instance, several establishments offered a free meal for dad only when another family member purchased an entree of equal or greater value. This strategy aimed to drive traffic and ensure a minimum spend per table while still providing a perceived high value to the customer.
Fast Food and Quick Service Restaurant Freebies
The fast food sector provided several distinct opportunities for free food on Father's Day 2019. These offers were generally straightforward, often requiring a coupon or a specific purchase to redeem.
- Firehouse Subs: According to the 2019 Boise Father's Day roundup, Firehouse Subs offered a coupon that allowed dads to receive a free sub when a family member purchased a medium or large sub, chips, and a drink.
- Gyro Shack: This establishment offered a unique promotion where dads could try new menu additions for free. Specifically, dads could receive a free regular size fry with no purchase necessary, as the chain was introducing fries to its menu.
- Auntie Anne's: While not a direct free item on the day of purchase, Auntie Anne's offered a gift card promotion where buying $30 in gift cards resulted in $10 in rewards (via the Auntie Anne's Rewards Program). These rewards were valid for redemption through July 15, 2025.
- Sonic Drive-In: Sonic targeted the family with a deal on beverages, offering half-price shakes after 5:00 P.M. on Father's Day.
Casual Dining and Restaurant Promotions
Casual dining chains also participated significantly in Father's Day 2019 promotions, often providing more substantial meal deals or alcohol-based incentives.
- Beef 'O' Brady's: This establishment offered a "Dad's eat free" deal, contingent on the purchase of a meal of equal or greater value.
- TCBY: For a lighter treat, TCBY offered dads their first 6 ounces of frozen yogurt and toppings for free on Father's Day.
- Denny's: Denny's provided a discount valid from June 13 to 15, 2019, offering $10 off an online order of $30 or more. This deal required the use of a specific promo code, "RADDAD," at checkout.
- Hooters: On Father's Day, Hooters offered dads 10 free boneless wings with the purchase of 10 wings of any style.
- Altitude Trampoline Park: Blending recreation with food, Altitude Trampoline Park hosted "Donuts with Dad!" where dads, uncles, grandparents, stepdads, and foster dads could jump for free. Kids paid a discounted rate of $8.95 per hour, and donuts were available for everyone.
- Big Al's: This venue offered free bowling for dads all day on Sunday, though shoe rental costs were not covered.
Gift Card and Bonus Incentives
Several chains opted for gift card incentives, providing bonus cards or rewards for future use. These deals were attractive for those planning multiple visits or looking to extend the value of their spending.
- Subway: Subway ran a gift card deal valid through June 30, 2025. Customers who purchased a $25 gift card received a $5 e-bonus card, which could be redeemed on a subsequent visit until July 31, 2025. Additionally, Subway offered a "Buy One Get One 50% Off" deal on fresh-made footlongs.
- Baskin-Robbins: Beyond food deals, Baskin-Robbins promoted special Father's Day cakes, such as the "Coolest Cones Cake" and the "Cold One Cake" (featuring a beer mug design), to sweeten celebrations.
Specific Terms and Redemption Details
Redeeming these offers typically involved specific steps. For coupon-based offers, such as the Firehouse Subs deal, possessing and presenting the physical or digital coupon was necessary. For app-based or online orders, promo codes were required. The Denny's $10 off offer explicitly required the code "RADDAD" at checkout.
Eligibility varied by offer. Some were available to "Dads, uncles, grandparents, stepdads and foster dads" as seen with the Altitude Trampoline Park offer. Others were strictly for the father figure dining in. Most food-based freebies required the presence of a paying customer to trigger the benefit for the dad.
Conclusion
The Father's Day 2019 landscape of fast food and dining freebies was characterized by a strategic mix of immediate complimentary items and future value incentives. Establishments like Firehouse Subs, Gyro Shack, and TCBY provided direct free food items, often tied to a specific purchase or event. Meanwhile, chains such as Auntie Anne's and Subway focused on gift card bonuses to encourage repeat business. The majority of these offers were strictly limited to the Father's Day 2019 timeframe, requiring consumers to act quickly to take advantage of the savings.