The first day of spring in 2025 brought a variety of free offers and deals to consumers across the United States, with specific attention to major metropolitan areas like Chicago. As the season changed on March 20, 2025, several national brands activated annual promotional campaigns offering complimentary food items, while local attractions provided cost-saving opportunities for families and residents. The available source material details a mix of frozen treat giveaways from major ice cream and Italian ice chains, alongside information regarding free admission days at cultural institutions in Chicago.
National Food and Beverage Promotions
Several prominent food chains executed nationwide freebie campaigns on March 20, 2025, to celebrate the arrival of spring. These offers were generally available for a limited time, specifically on the first day of spring, unless otherwise noted.
Dairy Queen Free Cone Day
Dairy Queen hosted its annual Free Cone Day on March 20, 2025. The promotion provided customers with a free small vanilla soft-serve cone at participating non-mall locations of both Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill. While the basic cone was free, customers had the option to dip it for a fee of $1. The offer was valid all day in-store but explicitly excluded delivery and mobile orders. To locate a participating venue, consumers were directed to use the store locator on the Dairy Queen website.
In addition to the immediate freebie, Dairy Queen offered a sweepstakes opportunity. Customers who signed up for DQ Rewards between now and March 19, 2025, were entered for a chance to win "Free Cones for a Year." Furthermore, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, the chain offered a Mint Oreo Blizzard, featuring a green hue, for purchase.
Rita’s Italian Ice First Day of Spring Giveaway
Rita’s Italian Ice continued its 25-year tradition of offering free Italian ice on the first day of spring. On March 20, 2025, customers could visit any of the nearly 600 participating locations to receive a free six-ounce cup of Italian ice. For the 2025 season, Rita’s introduced a new flavor: Skittles Italian Ice.
Rita’s also provided a digital engagement opportunity through its mobile app. App users were eligible to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win free water ice for a year. To participate, users needed to enter the promo code "FDOS25" under the "offers" tab in the app by March 23, 2025.
Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day
Ben & Jerry’s held its own Free Cone Day on March 20, 2025. Participating locations, including stores in the Chicago suburbs of Glenview, Naperville, and Schaumburg, offered customers a free scoop of ice cream. The promotion allowed customers to go through the line multiple times. Some locations partnered with local non-profits to offer a free ice cream in a waffle cone in exchange for a $2 donation, with 100% of the proceeds going to organizations such as the Alive Center or Gigi's Playhouse.
Other Food Offers
Additional food promotions available on March 20, 2025, included: * Insomnia Cookies: Insomnia Rewards members could purchase Ice Cream In A Cup (two scoops) for $3. * Jamba Juice: A small 16 oz. Mangomorphosis or Dragonberry Blitz was available for $1 from 2 pm to 7 pm. * Krispy Kreme: Customers could receive three free Original Glazed doughnuts with the purchase of any dozen.
Chicago-Specific Spring Break Activities and Free Admissions
For consumers in Chicago, the first day of spring and the surrounding spring break period offered opportunities beyond free food. Local attractions provided free or discounted admission to encourage visitation.
Free Museum Days
Chicago’s world-class museums offered free admission days, which were highlighted as ideal for families during spring break. Specific offers included: * Art Institute of Chicago: Children under 14 were admitted free every day. * Adler Planetarium: Free admission was available every Wednesday starting at 4 p.m.
Navy Pier Events
Navy Pier hosted a series of events from March 24 to March 28 to celebrate spring break. The programming included interactive workshops, creative activities, family fun, dance, music, and art. Attractions such as Coca-Cola’s Pop-A-Shot, Spring into BINGO at Reunion, nature-themed exhibits at the Chicago Children’s Museum, and performances at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater were also available.
Eligibility and Redemption Rules
Consumers seeking to utilize these offers needed to adhere to specific eligibility and redemption criteria established by the brands.
Geographic and Location Restrictions: * Dairy Queen: Free cones were available at participating non-mall locations only. Customers were advised to verify participation via the store locator. * Rita’s: The offer was valid at nearly 600 locations across the country. * Ben & Jerry’s: Participating locations included specific suburban Chicago stores (Glenview, Naperville, Schaumburg) and a location at Chicago's Navy Pier.
Purchase Requirements: * Dairy Queen: No purchase was necessary to receive the free cone. * Ben & Jerry’s: While the scoop was free, the option to receive it in a waffle cone required a $2 donation at specific participating locations.
Ordering Methods: * Dairy Queen: The free cone was valid for in-store orders only. Delivery and mobile orders were excluded. * Rita’s: The physical offer required an in-store visit.
Membership and Digital Requirements: * Insomnia Cookies: The $3 ice cream deal was exclusive to Insomnia Rewards members. * Rita’s: Entry into the sweepstakes for free water ice for a year required the download of the Rita’s app and the use of a specific promo code ("FDOS25") by March 23, 2025. * Dairy Queen: Entry into the "Free Cones for a Year" sweepstakes required signing up for DQ Rewards by March 19, 2025.
Age and Capacity Restrictions: * Art Institute of Chicago: Free admission for children was restricted to those under 14 years of age.
Conclusion
The first day of spring in 2025 served as a catalyst for widespread promotional activity from national food chains and local Chicago attractions. Major brands such as Dairy Queen, Rita’s Italian Ice, and Ben & Jerry’s executed traditional freebie campaigns, offering complimentary cones and Italian ice to consumers on March 20, 2025. These offers were generally restricted to in-store purchases at participating locations, with specific exclusions for mobile and delivery orders. Additionally, Chicago residents and visitors could access free cultural experiences through museum admission programs and Navy Pier events. Consumers were advised to review specific location participation and adhere to digital sign-up deadlines to maximize these seasonal opportunities.