The year 2020 presented a diverse landscape of promotional opportunities for consumers seeking free products, services, and experiences. Based on verified documentation, these offers ranged from seasonal food giveaways and holiday-specific deals to year-round access programs and bundled incentives. The following guide outlines the specific freebies and low-cost opportunities available during this period, categorized by month and event.
January: New Beginnings and Bagels
The year commenced with safety-oriented services and specific food holidays.
- New Year’s Day (January 1): Safety remained a priority with free transportation options. Local governments offered free rides on public transportation on New Year's Eve to ensure safe travel home. Additionally, AAA members had access to the Holiday Safe Ride program, which provided free "Tipsy Towing" for members who had overindulged. Availability for this service varied by region.
- National Bagel Day (January 15): Thomas’ brand successfully petitioned to move National Bagel Day from February 9 to January 15 to avoid overlap with National Pizza Day. Participating locations for free bagels included The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., Panera, and Bruegger’s Bagels. Consumers were advised to check for coupons on both dates, as some deals might still have been honored on the original February date.
- National Popcorn Day (January 19): To celebrate the estimated 17 billion quarts of popcorn consumed annually in the U.S., free popcorn was available at various locations. Participating entities included local movie theaters such as Regal Cinemas and AMC, as well as retailers Harry & David and Popcorn Factory stores.
April: Nature, Sustainability, and Salty Treats
Spring brought a focus on environmental awareness and specific brand-centric holidays.
- National Park Week (April 18–26): Entrance fees were waived at national parks across the country. This initiative encouraged family trips and bucket-list visits, with parks hosting special events focused on the protection and enjoyment of national treasures.
- Earth Day (April 22): Celebrating its 50th anniversary with the theme of climate change, Earth Day triggered various sustainability-focused offers. Historically, Target provided free recyclable bags, while Starbucks offered free coffee refills for customers using refillable mugs. Participating EVOS locations have offered free organic milkshakes, and the Citi Bike app provided a free pass for unlimited 30-minute rides.
- National Pretzel Day (April 26): Consumers could obtain free pretzels from Auntie Anne’s. This offer typically required downloading a coupon via the brand’s website or app.
October: Halloween and Taco Day
October 2020 featured extensive food promotions tied to Halloween and the specific date of National Taco Day (October 7).
- Halloween (October 31): Trick-or-treating took on a culinary twist. Chipotle offered a free burrito to customers who dressed like a burrito. IHOP provided free scary-face pancakes for children 12 and under in costume. Outback Steakhouse allowed kids to eat free. Arby’s offered free bacon additions to burgers, sandwiches, and even milkshakes for anyone who said "Trick or Treat." Other participating brands included Baja Fresh, Baskin-Robbins, Sbarro, and Tijuana Flats.
- National Taco Day (October 7): This day featured specific promotions valid only on October 7, 2025 (noted in the source data as a future projection of the event structure). The promotions relied heavily on loyalty program enrollment and in-app redemption. Offers included:
- Taco Bell: $1 Crunchy Tacos.
- Toll House: Cookie Taco Kits.
November: Veterans and Fitness
November focused on honoring service members and post-holiday health initiatives.
- Veterans Day (November 11): A wide array of restaurants offered free meals and food to veterans, military individuals, and their families with ID. Participating brands included Applebee’s, California Pizza Kitchen, CiCi’s Pizza, Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans, Bakers Square, Denny’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Famous Dave’s, IHOP (offering red, white, and blue pancakes), O’Charley’s, Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday, Shoney’s, Texas Roadhouse, Sizzler, Krispy Kreme, Red Lobster, White Castle, BJ’s restaurants, and Friendly’s. Beyond dining, veterans received free entrance to national parks and 9/11 memorials. Previous years saw free oil changes at Meineke Car Care Centers, though consumers were advised to verify if this was repeated in 2020.
- Black Friday (November 27): Gold’s Gym offered nonmembers a "Trim the Fat Friday" promotion, allowing free workouts on this day.
December: Shipping and Holiday Treats
- Free Shipping Day: Held annually in mid-December since 2008, this event consolidates shipping deadlines for holiday shoppers, though specific 2020 participating retailers were not listed in the source data.
Regional and Event-Specific Freebies
Beyond national holidays, specific regional events and state fairs offered unique value-based opportunities.
Texas State Fair Value Options
While the State Fair of Texas is traditionally an autumn event, the documentation highlights strategies for maximizing value through low-cost food options (10 coupons or less) and hydration tips applicable to future visits: * Low-Cost Food Items: Options included a shake or malt at Once Upon a Cone (10 coupons), a Rodeo Roper Pretzel at Stiffler’s Rodeo Lounge (10 coupons), and a Pineapple Whip cone (5 coupons). * Hydration: Visitors were encouraged to bring refillable water bottles, with stations located throughout the park (Centennial Building, Automobile Building, Hall of State, etc.).
Concert and Event Bundles
The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo offered bundled incentives for ticket purchasers: * Matinee Madness: Purchasing four tickets for a 1 p.m. concert resulted in a free Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q meal card for four. Eligible shows included Carly Pearce & Michael Ray, Aaron Watson, Keith Urban, Darci Lynne and Friends, and Whiskey Myers. * Whatanights: Buying two tickets to see Lauren Alaina or Morgan Wallen provided a $10 Whataburger gift card. * H-E-B Night: Purchasing two tickets to Colter Wall’s show resulted in a $10 H-E-B gift card.
Conclusion
The promotional landscape of 2020 was defined by a mix of recurring annual events—such as Veterans Day free meals and Earth Day sustainability offers—and specific, date-driven food holidays like National Taco Day and National Pretzel Day. Success in securing these freebies generally required attention to specific dates, participation in loyalty programs or apps, and verification of local availability. Consumers looking to replicate these savings in future years should monitor official brand websites and local government announcements for updated terms and participation rules.