Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States dedicated to honoring and mourning U.S. military personnel who have died in service. During this period, many retailers, restaurants, and service providers offer freebies, discounts, and special promotions to acknowledge active service members, veterans, and their families, as well as to participate in the holiday shopping season. This article compiles verified offers for 2025 and 2026 based on information from deal aggregation and consumer information websites. It focuses on free products, services, and discounts available to the general public and military personnel, with an emphasis on food, beverages, retail, and services.
Memorial Day in 2025 falls on May 26. Promotions often begin in the days leading up to the holiday and extend through the weekend. Many offers require specific actions, such as signing up for a loyalty program, presenting a valid military ID, or using a promo code for online orders. Consumers are advised to call ahead to confirm participation at local locations, as offers can vary by store or region.
Memorial Day Freebies and Deals for 2025
Based on the provided source data, the following freebies and deals were announced or anticipated for Memorial Day 2025. The information is categorized by type and includes eligibility requirements where specified.
Food and Beverage Offers
Several restaurant chains and food retailers offered free items, discounted meals, or special pricing for Memorial Day weekend (May 23–26, 2025).
- 7-Eleven: The convenience store chain offered a $20 discount on any $30 delivery order when placed through the 7NOW app using the promo code MONDAY20 at checkout. Additionally, whole pizzas were available for $6.99 each on May 26, 2025. For subscribers to the 7NOW Gold Pass™ subscription delivery service, a $10 discount was available on orders exceeding $20, and subscribers could receive one free pizza per day.
- Applebee’s: Applebee’s offered an All-You-Can-Eat Memorial Day special for dine-in guests. For $15.99, guests could choose Chicken Tenders, Double Crunch Shrimp, or Riblets, accompanied by coleslaw and endless fries. This promotion was valid during Memorial Day weekend (May 23–26, 2025).
- Bubbakoo’s Burritos: This chain provided free delivery with no minimum purchase on all orders placed online or in-app throughout Memorial Day weekend (May 23–26, 2025).
- Burger King: Burger King invited Royal Perks members to receive a free treat every day from May 23 through May 26, 2025: a free Whopper Jr.
- Fridays (TGI Fridays): Fridays offered a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of an entrée, valid only on orders at Fridays.com or call-in take-out orders.
- Tim Hortons: Tim Hortons was expected to offer its club members an in-app buy-one-get-one-free breakfast sandwich deal with free delivery during the holiday weekend.
- Tijuana Flats: Tijuana Flats was anticipated to offer a freebie with a catering order deal during the Memorial Day weekend.
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe: This cafe was expected to offer free delivery during Memorial Day weekend.
- Wendy’s: Wendy’s offered several deals for Memorial Day weekend. Rewards members could get a free kids’ meal with a premium combo purchase. Additionally, a free drink of any size was available with purchase using an in-app offer.
- White Castle: White Castle offered $3 off any Crave Clutch of 20 Sliders. For online orders, the code CLUTCHDEAL could be used from May 25–27, 2025.
- Wienerschnitzel: A coupon was available for two chili dogs, two corn dogs, and chili cheese fries for $8.
- Zaxby’s: From the announcement date through June 1, 2025, Zaxby’s offered half off all shakes, including Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Birthday Cake flavors.
Retail and Service Discounts for Military Personnel
Numerous retailers offered discounts to military personnel, veterans, and their families, typically requiring a valid military ID for verification.
- Home Depot: 10% off on Memorial Day with verified military ID.
- Jiffy Lube: 15% off for all services year-round.
- Kohl’s: 15% off every Monday in May for all military personnel and their families with verified military ID.
- Levi’s: 15% off with verified military ID.
- Moosejaw: 20% off full-priced items with verified military ID.
- The North Face: 10% off the order for all military personnel, their spouses, and dependents.
- Oakley: 50% off select products.
- Sherwin-Williams: 15% off for all military personnel and their spouses with a verified military ID.
- T-Mobile: 50% off Magenta rate family lines for military personnel and their families.
- Under Armour: 15% off the purchase on Memorial Day, with special Veterans dedicated items also available for purchase.
- Vineyard Vines: 15% off most products with verified military ID.
- Zappos: 10% off entire orders for military personnel.
- Walgreens: From May 24 through May 27, customers with a myWalgreens membership and valid military ID or proof of service received 20% off regularly priced products at any Walgreens or Duane Reade drugstore nationwide. Exclusions and restrictions applied. The myWalgreens customer loyalty platform membership is free and can be obtained at checkout.
Other Freebies and Services
- Ace Hardware: Free American Flags were available at Ace Hardware locations.
- Abuelo’s: The restaurant was expected to offer a discount for Memorial Day.
- Twin Peaks: Twin Peaks offered Veterans and first responders a 20% discount on food only during Memorial Day. One entrée per valid ID was permitted.
- Which Wich: The chain was expected to offer a discount on catering orders during the holiday weekend.
Memorial Day Freebies for 2026
Source data for 2026 is less detailed than for 2025, but one source provides a specific promotion and notes that more offers are typically added as the holiday approaches.
- 7-Eleven: For 2026, 7-Eleven was reported to offer $2 snack deals starting May 19th, featuring items like Clif Bars, Rice Krispie Treats Big Bars, and Quest Protein Cookies. Loyalty members could also access a $4 meal deal with a value grill item, 7-Select chips, and a Big Gulp drink, or a $5 meal with two grill items or one Big Bite Hot Dog. Limited-time seasonal items like the Summer Sprinkle Donut and Peace Tea Caddy Shack Slurpee were also mentioned.
- General Note: A source for 2026 freebies indicated that the page would be updated with more deals as Memorial Day approaches. Consumers are encouraged to monitor deal aggregator sites for the most current information.
Free Museum Admission and Military Family Programs
Several national programs offer free access to cultural institutions and recreational activities around Memorial Day.
- Blue Star Museums: This program offers free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve members, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The program is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families.
- Blue Star Theatres: This program provides free admission and discounted tickets to military personnel and their families at participating theatres across the country.
- Busch Gardens, Sea World, and Sesame Place: These theme parks offer free admission tickets and discounts for military personnel. Specific details and valid ID requirements apply.
- Camp Corral: Camp Corral provides free summer camp experiences for children of wounded, ill, or fallen service members. This program is a year-round initiative with application periods.
- Cedar Point: The amusement park offered free admission for military personnel with ID through May 26, 2025.
Important Considerations for Consumers
- Verification Requirements: Most military discounts require a valid military ID, such as a Common Access Card, Military ID, or proof of service. Some retailers may use third-party verification services.
- Loyalty Program Sign-ups: Many food offers are tied to restaurant loyalty programs or apps (e.g., 7NOW app, Royal Perks, myWalgreens). Consumers may need to sign up or download an app to access deals.
- Geographic and Store Variability: Offers can vary by location. It is recommended to call your local store or restaurant ahead of time to confirm participation and specific terms.
- Expiration Dates: Pay close attention to the validity dates for each offer. Some deals are limited to a specific day (e.g., May 26, 2025), while others span the entire weekend or a longer period.
- Online vs. In-Store: Some promotions are exclusively for online orders or app-based delivery, while others are valid for dine-in or in-store purchases.
Conclusion
Memorial Day offers a variety of freebies and discounts, particularly for military personnel and their families, but many deals are also available to the general public. The 2025 promotions included significant food and beverage discounts from chains like 7-Eleven, Applebee’s, and Burger King, as well as retail discounts from home improvement, apparel, and service providers. For 2026, early offers from 7-Eleven have been announced, with more deals expected. Beyond retail, national programs like Blue Star Museums provide valuable free access to cultural institutions. To maximize savings, consumers should verify offers directly with participating locations, sign up for necessary loyalty programs in advance, and present valid military identification where required. Always check the terms and conditions of each promotion, as exclusions and restrictions may apply.