Veterans Day is a significant occasion across the United States, marked by businesses and organizations offering various forms of recognition for military veterans and active-duty service members. In Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding region, a range of freebies and discounts becomes available each November. These offers span categories such as food and beverage, entertainment, transportation, and retail, providing tangible benefits to those who have served. This article details the specific freebies and discounts available in the Portland area for Veterans Day, based on information from local and national sources. It outlines the types of offers, eligibility requirements, and the processes required to claim them.
Food and Beverage Freebies
One of the most prominent categories of Veterans Day offers is free meals and beverages. Several national chains and local businesses participate by providing complimentary food to veterans and active-duty military personnel.
Applebee’s is a notable participant, offering a free entrée from a special menu to all veterans and active-duty military members at participating locations on November 11. This offer is valid for dine-in service only. Customers are advised to contact their local Applebee’s to confirm participation before visiting.
Claim Jumper, with locations in Clackamas and Hillsboro near Portland, provides a free meal to veterans and active-duty military on November 11. The special menu includes items such as BBQ chicken salad, classic cheeseburger, black tie chicken pasta, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, country fried steak, and southern fried chicken.
Olive Garden extends a free entrée from a special menu to veterans and active-duty military personnel. The menu features items like never-ending soup, salad, and breadsticks, cheese ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccini alfredo, and chicken parmigiana.
Outback Steakhouse offers a free Bloomin’ Onion and a Coca-Cola product to all active and retired military personnel in-restaurant. Similarly, Starbucks provides a free tall (12-ounce) hot or iced coffee to veterans, military service members, and military spouses at participating U.S. stores, with one per customer.
Dunkin’ offers a free doughnut to veterans and active military members, with no purchase or proof of ID required for in-store redemption. Krispy Kreme provides a free doughnut and a small hot or iced brewed coffee, also with no separate purchase required and available in-store only.
Red Lobster offers a designated free meal for veterans, dine-in only, at participating locations. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers provides a free Red’s Big Tavern Burger and bottomless steak fries for veterans and active-duty military. Other regional and national chains mentioned include:
- Rock & Brews: Free pulled pork sandwich or Strawberry Fields salad for veterans and active-duty military.
- Shane’s Rib Shack: Free meal (choice of two entrees) for veterans and active-duty military in Southeast states, New York, and Arizona.
- Shari’s Café & Pies: Special Veterans Day offer for veterans and active-duty military in the Pacific Northwest.
- Sheetz: Free sub and drink for veterans and active-duty military at any Eastern U.S. location, plus a free car wash.
- Shoney’s: Free All-American Burger or breakfast bar, dine-in only, for veterans and active-duty military.
- Roy Rogers: 10% off and a free Uncle Ralph’s brownie with purchase for veterans at participating locations.
- Primo Hoagies: Free 20-ounce beverage and 1-ounce bag of chips with purchase of a Primo-size hoagie for veterans (New Jersey, Pennsylvania).
- Quaker Steak & Lube: Free or discounted meals for veterans, active-duty military, and reservists at participating locations (Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia).
In Portland, a local business called Boiled PDXNuts offers 20% off all Etsy orders on November 11 using the code BPDXVET20. While this is a discount rather than a freebie, it is a retail offer available to the general public.
Retail and Service Discounts
Beyond food, several businesses offer discounts on services and products. Great Clips provides a free haircut to veterans and active military members on November 11, or they can pick up a free haircut card to use at a later date. Washman Car Wash and Auto Spa offers a complimentary car wash to veterans on November 11 at its 14 locations in and around Portland.
Mycelium Outlet, a Portland shop, offers 10% off total purchases in-store and online on November 11. This deal is open to everyone, not just veterans. Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offers free admission to veterans and active-duty military during Veterans Day weekend, along with one adult guest and up to four children.
For those interested in beauty and personal care, Smoothie King offers a free 20-ounce red, white, or blue smoothie for veterans and active-duty military. Crayola Experience (all locations) provides free admission for veterans and active-duty military, with discounts for family members varying by location.
Entertainment and Admission Freebies
Various entertainment venues offer free admission or significant discounts for veterans and their families.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, hosts an annual Veterans Day Event & Expo on November 11. It offers free admission to all U.S. servicemembers, National Guard members, and veterans plus one guest. Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star Families also receive free admission. A free commemorative Veterans Day pin is available while supplies last, and there is a 20% discount at the Hall of Fame Store. A Veterans Day Expo runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring veteran-based services and organizations.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia, offers free admission to U.S. military veterans for Veterans Day weekend, November 8-11, 2025. The free admission applies to the Grounds Ticket or the Highlights Tour, based on availability.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville honors active-duty and retired armed services members with free museum admission on Veterans Day, November 11. It also extends free admission for up to three immediate family members.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia, admits free all active duty, former, or retired military personnel on Veterans Day. Free tickets must be picked up upon arrival and do not extend to family members or guests.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden offers complimentary general admission to active and retired veterans on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In Portland, Lan Su Chinese Garden offers free admission for active-duty military, veterans, and their families on November 11 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Use code VETSD online or visit the ticket booth.
Other entertainment options include:
- Chelatchie Prairie Railroad: On November 8 and 9, veterans receive a complimentary ride with the purchase of another adult ticket. The train departs at noon and 2:30 p.m. both days.
- Maine Wildlife Park: Free admission to veterans, active-duty military, and their families on November 11.
- Six Flags America: Free admission for veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day and the following day, with discounted admission for family members (up to four).
- State Parks: Many states offer free or discounted admission for veterans and their families on November 11; check with your state park service.
- National Parks: All U.S. national parks and historic sites managed by the National Park Service have free admission for all visitors on November 11.
- Zoos: Many zoos across the country offer free admission, discounts, or free admission to family members.
Forest Service and National Parks
The Forest Service recreation areas offer free entrance on November 11. This includes recreation sites and trailheads in Oregon and Washington, such as the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood National Forest, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and 14 others. Additionally, all U.S. national parks have free admission for all visitors on November 11.
Eligibility and Verification
Most Veterans Day deals require proof of service. This typically includes a military ID, veteran ID card, or other official documentation. Some offers may accept wearing a uniform or other forms of identification, but it is advisable to carry proper documentation. For example, Applebee’s requires proof of service for their free entrée offer. The Pro Football Hall of Fame requires proof of service for free admission.
Some offers are available to everyone, such as the 10% discount at Mycelium Outlet in Portland or the free doughnut at Dunkin’ with no ID required. However, the majority of the deals highlighted here are specifically for veterans and active-duty military.
It is important to note that not all deals are valid on Veterans Day itself. For instance, Chelatchie Prairie Railroad offers its promotion on November 8 and 9. Great Clips allows veterans to pick up a free haircut card on November 11 to use at a later date. Customers should read the details of each offer carefully.
Conclusion
Veterans Day in Portland and across the United States brings a variety of freebies and discounts for military veterans and active-duty service members. The offers range from free meals at national restaurant chains like Applebee’s, Claim Jumper, and Olive Garden to free admission at cultural institutions such as Lan Su Chinese Garden and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Additional benefits include free haircuts, car washes, and discounts on retail purchases. While many deals are exclusive to those with proof of military service, some are available to the general public. Consumers are advised to verify participation with local businesses and review specific terms, such as dine-in requirements or advance registration codes.