National Day Freebies 2020: A Guide to Restaurant Deals, Discounts, and Promotional Offers

The year 2020 presented a unique landscape for promotional offers and freebies, with many traditional events altered or canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite these challenges, numerous brands and restaurants continued to honor "National Day" holidays, offering consumers opportunities to access free food, discounted items, and special deals. These promotional events, often tied to specific dates on the calendar, require consumers to navigate varying terms, such as mobile app requirements, purchase minimums, and limited-time availability. Understanding the specifics of these offers is essential for consumers looking to maximize value.

National food holidays serve as a significant driver for marketing campaigns across the United States. In 2020, these ranged from National French Fry Day in July to National Cheeseburger Day in September and National Margarita Day in February. While some events required specific actions like downloading an app or making a purchase, others offered no-strings-attached freebies. The following guide details the specific offers and eligibility requirements documented for these events in 2020, providing a factual overview of the promotional landscape during that year.

National French Fry Day 2020

National French Fry Day, observed annually on July 13, remained a prominent promotional event in 2020. Unlike other holidays that were canceled or postponed due to the pandemic, such as Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day or 7-Eleven’s Free Slurpee Day, Fry Day deals proceeded across various restaurant chains. The offers documented for July 13, 2020, largely required a purchase or the use of a mobile application to redeem discounts.

Participating brands and their specific offers included:

McDonald's: The chain offered free fries with the purchase of any item via the McDonald’s app.
Burger King: Deals were available for free fries with the purchase of a sandwich through the mobile app.
KFC: Customers could access free secret recipe fries with any purchase through the KFC app.
Checkers: The chain offered a free small fry with any purchase via their app.

In addition to restaurant-specific deals, promotional contests were held. The Idaho Potato Commission ran a giveaway offering a $100 Visa gift card, an air fryer, and other prizes. Furthermore, a ketchup art sweepstakes was hosted by The Great American Takeout and Heinz. The grand prize for this contest was $1,869 intended for future takeout orders, with 50 other winners receiving $57 for takeout meals.

National Margarita Day 2020

National Margarita Day fell on February 22, 2020. Various restaurants offered discounted pricing on margaritas, though specific redemption methods (such as app usage or in-store ordering) were not detailed for all participants. The following deals were documented for that date:

Abuelo's: Offered the El Jefe margarita for $2 less than standard pricing. Additionally, for every Cerveza Rita, El Jefe, Platinum Hand Shaken, and Skinny Margarita sold, the restaurant donated $2 to the non-profit No Kid Hungry.
Bahama Breeze: Featured a new coconut pineapple margarita for $8.99. Classic Margaritas were available for $2.22.
Black Angus Steakhouse: Featured a Blood Orange Margarita made with El Jimador Tequila, blood orange puree, fresh lime, and agave.
Cantina Laredo: Offered $5 Casa 'Ritas made with Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, and fresh-squeezed lemon and lime juices.
Chevy's Fresh Mex: Provided $6 margaritas during happy hour (Monday to Saturday) and all day Sunday.
Chili's: Served three premium margaritas for $5 each.

National Cheeseburger Day 2020

Observed on September 18, 2020, National Cheeseburger Day featured a variety of deals from fast-food and casual dining chains. The offers ranged from low-cost menu items to bundle deals. Specific participating brands included:

McDonald's: Offered a Double Cheeseburger for $0.50 via a special offer on the McDonald’s App.
Applebee's: Provided a Burger Bundle for $8.99, which included a Handcrafted Burger, classic fries, and a soft drink.
BurgerFi: Offered a Burger + Fry Pairing for $10 through September 30. On September 18 specifically, app users (both new and existing) who made a purchase of at least $10 received a $10 reward back on the app, valid through October 11.
Domino's: Promoted a new "Cheeseburger Pizza" for $11.99, featuring a ketchup-mustard sauce, American cheese, beef, onions, tomatoes, shredded provolone, and cheddar cheese.

Other National Days and Seasonal Freebies

Beyond the major food holidays, various other national days and seasonal events offered freebies and deals throughout 2020. These offers spanned multiple categories, including food, beverages, and services.

January

National Bagel Day (January 15): Thomas’ petitioned to move this holiday from February 9 to January 15. Participating locations included Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., Panera, and Bruegger’s Bagels.
National Popcorn Day (January 19): Free popcorn was available at local movie theaters, including Regal Cinemas and AMC, as well as at Harry & David and Popcorn Factory stores.
New Year’s Day (January 1): Free rides home on public transportation were available in most cities. AAA’s Holiday Safe Ride program offered free "Tipsy Towing" for members in select areas.

February

National Margarita Day (February 22): As detailed above, various chains offered discounted margaritas.
National Pizza Day (February 9): Deals were noted as potentially available alongside National Bagel Day offers.

April

National Park Week (April 18-26): Entrance fees to national parks were waived.
Earth Day (April 22): Historical offers included free recyclable bags at Target, free coffee refills at Starbucks for customers using refillable mugs, and free organic milkshakes at participating EVOS locations. Citi Bike app users could download a free pass for unlimited 30-minute rides.
National Pretzel Day (April 26): Free Auntie Anne’s pretzels were available, often requiring a coupon download or app sign-up.

March

National Pancake Day (March 4): IHOP offered a free short stack of pancakes in exchange for a donation to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.
Pi Day (March 14): Restaurants offered discounted or free pizza or sweet pie.

July

National French Fry Day (July 13): Detailed above.
Tax Day (July): In 2020, Tax Day was moved to July 15. The documentation noted that Tax Day freebies and deals were nearly nonexistent for that year.

September

National Cheeseburger Day (September 18): Detailed above.

Miscellaneous

Paper Shredding: Staples, Office Depot, and OfficeMax offered coupons for free paper shredding.
Pirate Day: "Talk Like a Pirate Day" was cited as a source of various free things, though specific offers were not detailed in the provided text.

Conclusion

The promotional landscape in 2020 relied heavily on mobile applications and specific purchase requirements to deliver value to consumers. While the coronavirus pandemic disrupted some traditional giveaways, National Food Days remained a reliable avenue for discounts. Consumers seeking freebies in 2020 were advised to check restaurant apps and official websites for the most current terms, as offers often varied by location and were subject to supply limitations. The documented deals for events such as National French Fry Day and National Cheeseburger Day illustrate the types of savings available through brand-sponsored holidays.