Leap Day, occurring on February 29, 2024, presents a unique opportunity for U.S. consumers to access special promotions and freebies. Because this date appears only once every four years, many businesses structure their offers to commemorate the occasion, often targeting individuals born on February 29—commonly referred to as "leaplings"—as well as the general public. Based on a review of multiple consumer deal sites and news reports, a variety of food and retail discounts were available on this date.
The following guide details the specific offers, eligibility requirements, and redemption methods associated with Leap Day 2024. Note that while these promotions were active on February 29, 2024, future Leap Day offers (such as those predicted for 2028) are also referenced in some source materials, though the primary focus here remains on the verified 2024 deals.
Food and Beverage Deals
The majority of Leap Day promotions centered on the food and beverage sector, with major national chains offering discounts or complimentary items to celebrate the extra day.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle utilized the "extra day" of the leap year to offer complimentary guacamole. * Offer: Free guacamole with any entrée order. * Eligibility: The offer was restricted to Chipotle Rewards members. * Redemption: Members were required to place orders via the Chipotle app or website (Chipotle.com). * Promo Code: The specific code EXTRA24 was required at checkout to waive the guacamole charge. * Verification: Multiple sources confirm this offer, citing the official Chipotle Rewards program structure.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s partnered with Cinnabon to provide a morning treat. * Offer: A free pull-apart Cinnabon. * Timing: Available during breakfast hours only, specifically until 10:30 a.m. on February 29, 2024. * Restrictions: The offer was limited to one per customer. It was not available on third-party delivery platforms. While one source noted a limit of "one per vehicle" in the drive-thru, the general consensus was a one-per-person limit. * Availability: The deal was subject to availability while supplies lasted.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme distinguished between leaplings and the general public with two distinct offers. * For Leaplings: Individuals born on February 29 received a free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts. No purchase was necessary, but identification was likely required to verify the birth date. * For the General Public: Those not born on Leap Day could purchase a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for $2.29 (a significant discount from the regular price) when buying any regularly priced dozen. * Date: Both offers were valid only on February 29.
Insomnia Cookies
Insomnia Cookies focused their promotion on leaplings. * Offer: A free 6-pack of cookies for those born on February 29. * Requirement: Customers were required to show a valid ID proving their birth date. * General Public Bonus: Some reports indicated that general customers visiting during the Leap Day period would receive a bonus cookie with the purchase of 6- or 12-pack cookies.
Papa Murphy’s
Papa Murphy’s offered a discount for those planning to celebrate at home. * Offer: 29% off all online orders. * Promo Code: The code LEAP24 was required. * Date: Valid on Thursday, February 29.
Jersey Mike’s
Jersey Mike’s promoted a free sub offer, though source details regarding the specific redemption method for Leap Day 2024 were truncated in the provided data. It was noted as a "final day" opportunity for a free sub, likely tied to a broader promotional campaign ending on Leap Day.
Krispy Kreme (Additional Context)
In addition to the doughnut deals, Krispy Kreme was mentioned in the context of a "free STRAT Skyjump" offer for Leap Day 2028, highlighting how brands plan promotions years in advance for this date.
Retail and Service Offers
Beyond food, several retail chains offered services or products free of charge on Leap Day.
Staples
Staples ran a nationwide giveaway focused on travel documentation. * Offer: Free passport photos. * Quantity: The promotion was limited to 29,000 photos nationwide. * Redemption: Photos were distributed via the Staples app. * Future Projections: Consumer deal sites predict Staples may repeat this offer on Leap Day 2028, again limiting it to 29,000 photos via the app.
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop targeted leaplings with a significant discount on a specific item. * Offer: A "Birthday Treat Bear" for $4. * Eligibility: Available only to individuals born on February 29. * Requirement: Valid ID was required to purchase the bear at this price. * Regular Price Comparison: The source data indicates the regular price for this bear is $14, making the $4 offer a substantial savings.
Restaurant-Specific Freebies for Leaplings
Several establishments offered free food items specifically to those celebrating their birthday on February 29.
- Tops Friendly Markets: Located in the Rochester, NY area, Tops offered a free 4-pack of gourmet cupcakes to leaplings who brought an ID or birth certificate to participating locations between February 29 and March 2. The promotion acknowledged the rarity of the birthday, offering one cupcake for the current year and one for each missed birthday.
- Milk Bar: The bakery chain offered a free full-sized signature Milk Bar Birthday Cake to leaplings. Valid ID was required. For non-leaplings, the chain offered its signature Cereal Milk Soft Serve for $2.29 (discounted from approximately $7). This offer was valid at locations nationwide, excluding Nordstrom locations in New York City and Bellevue, Washington.
- Chuck E. Cheese: While not strictly a birthday freebie, Chuck E. Cheese offered free all-day trampoline zone passes to children under 52 inches tall on February 29.
Predicted and Future Leap Day Offers (2028)
Some source materials included predictions for Leap Day 2028, based on historical patterns or brand strategies. While these were not active in 2024, they provide insight into the types of offers consumers might expect in the future.
- Dunkin': Predicted to offer discounted coffee for app users and bonus reward points.
- Firehouse Subs: A predicted "Name of the Day" deal where customers with names starting in L, E, A, or P could get a free medium sub with the purchase of a medium or large sub.
- Hooters: Predicted to offer $2.29 beer or select appetizers for loyalty members.
- Hungry Howie’s: A predicted deal offering a large one-topping pizza for $0.29 with the purchase of a regularly priced pizza.
- Cowboy Chicken: Predicted to offer free wood-fire rotisserie chicken to leaplings.
- Home Run Inn: Predicted to give away pizzas to the first 29 leap year babies (18+) to present ID.
- Wollman Rink (NYC): Predicted to offer a free day of skating.
- Tom Quick Inn (PA): Predicted to offer a rate discount.
- STRAT Skyjump: Predicted to offer a free skyjump for leaplings.
Eligibility and Redemption Summary
To successfully redeem Leap Day offers, consumers generally needed to adhere to specific protocols.
- Digital Verification: Most food offers (Chipotle, Papa Murphy’s) required the use of a specific promo code on a branded app or website. This restricts offers to registered users and allows brands to track redemption rates.
- Physical Identification: Offers strictly for leaplings (Build-A-Bear, Milk Bar, Insomnia Cookies, Tops Friendly Markets) required a physical ID or birth certificate to verify the February 29 birth date.
- Timing Constraints: Many offers were time-sensitive, restricted to breakfast hours (Wendy’s) or specific purchase windows (Jersey Mike’s final day).
- Supply Limits: Offers such as the Staples passport photos and Wendy’s Cinnabon were subject to "while supplies last" limitations, necessitating early action.
Conclusion
Leap Day 2024 served as a significant promotional event for the restaurant and retail industries, offering a mix of universal discounts and exclusive perks for leaplings. The most reliable offers were tied to digital loyalty programs and required specific promo codes or app usage. While many deals were specific to February 29, 2024, the recurring nature of these promotions suggests that consumers can expect similar strategies—such as "29" themed discounts and leapling exclusives—when the next Leap Day arrives in 2028.