Looking for free treats, meals, drinks, and activities to celebrate a birthday? You’re in the right place.
Celebrating a child’s birthday can sometimes feel like planning a wedding. There’s the party, the food, the special “actual” birthday breakfast-lunch-snack-dinner, the special treats for their classroom, and — of course — the presents. It can be overwhelming and expensive. By the time the adult birthdays roll around, we’re often so done with celebrating that we tend to ignore them. I’m frugal to a fault but love to celebrate birthdays (including my own!) with gusto, and I’m here to tell you those two inclinations don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Thanks to all the birthday freebies and discounts offered by local businesses, anyone’s birthday can feel absolutely lavish without breaking the bank. Pick out your favorites from the list below, and plan a birthday freebie scavenger hunt. As a bonus, the special person will get lots of extra “Happy Birthday!” greetings when you pick up the goods.
A Few Tips
- If the birthday honoree is a grown-up, don’t forget to bring ID. Nothing’s worse than expecting free donuts and having to leave empty-handed.
- Many of these offers require trading your email or downloading an app for the freebies, usually one birthday entry per e-mail address.
- Offerings are always subject to change, so maybe call it a “birthday surprise” until you’re sure it’s still a free meal and not a free mint, if you know what I mean.
Free Birthday Breakfast
Dutch Bros. Coffee — Free drink on your birthday when you sign up for their app.
IHOP — Free pancakes on your birthday, when you join their rewards program.
Krispy Kreme — Free treat during your birthday month (varies) when you sign up for Krispy Kreme rewards. Reward is available on your birthday and valid for 30 days.
Pip’s Donuts — Head over to Pip’s on the big day and pick up not one, not two, but a DOZEN completely free donuts. This used to be within 7 days of your birthday, but now it’s only the actual birthday. They’re closed Tuesdays, so if your birthday falls on a Tuesday, you can pick up on Wednesday; otherwise, no exceptions to this generous gift. ID required.
Peet’s Coffee — Earn a free beverage for your birthday when signed up for the Peetnik Rewards program.
The Waffle Window — Sign up for their Waffle Club email list and get a voucher for a free classic size waffle on your birthday.
Starbucks — Free birthday treat or drink with Starbucks Rewards.
Free Birthday Meals + Snacks
Abby’s Legendary Pizza — Sign up for e-club and get a surprise on your birthday (in the past this has been a mini pizza).
AMC Theatres — Free large popcorn when signed up for AMC Stubs Rewards.
Auntie Anne’s — Free pretzel reward on your birthday after signing up for rewards.
Baja Fresh — Special offer within 7 days of your birthday when you sign up for Club Baja, ID required at purchase.
Black Bear Diner — Sign up for their e-club and get a free meal now and another on your birthday.
Benihana — Register for The Chef’s Table and receive a complimentary $30 Benihana birthday certificate during the month of your birthday.
Buffalo Wild Wings — Receive six free wings during your birthday month when signed up for Blazin’ Rewards. (Some have reported that a $10 minimum purchase is required in the fine print of the coupon.)
Einstein Bros Bagels — Receive a complimentary egg sandwich with purchase, on your birthday or within 14 days after posted to your rewards account when you join the Shmear Society.
Firehouse Subs — Receive a free medium sub with any purchase on your birthday, when you sign up for Firehouse Rewards.
Hotlips Pizza — Free slice on your birthday, when signed up for VIP rewards.
Life of Pie Pizza — Receive a $10 off coupon when signed up for rewards (you can sign up in store). Margarita pizzas are only $8 during happy hour, so that’s a free pizza if you time it right!
Old Spaghetti Factory — Adults receive a birthday reward (in the past this has been a meal) with ID when signed up for the OSF Rewards app. Their kids rewards program varies; currently they partner with local libraries, schools, and community organizations to offer a free meal to every child who reads five books.
Panda Express — Choose from a selection of gift options (usually free appetizer or side with purchase) when you sign up for rewards.
Red Robin — Register and receive a birthday freebie. For kids, this is a $7 off coupon (minimum purchase of $4.99). For adults who have purchased something in the past year at Red Robin through the rewards account, it’s a free burger with minimum purchase of $4.99.
QDOBA — Free chips and queso when you join QDOBA rewards (expires after 60 days). Gold Status members receive a free entree.
Wetzels Pretzels — Free pretzel on your birthday when you download the app.
Free Birthday Activities + Gifts
Barre3 — Reach out to your local studio for a free birthday class.
Build-a-Bear Workshop — Sign up for their Bonus Club, and bring your child in during their birthday month to “count their candles,” and “pay their age” for a birthday stuffed animal. Not free, but this means your three-year-old will only pay $3.00 for a new stuffy.
Float On — Get a half-priced float within seven days of your birthday. Call to schedule; don’t book online to get the deal.
Mud Puddles Toys and Books — Sign up for their Birthday Club, and your child (12 and under) will receive a postcard gift card worth $5 for in-store shopping. (Also check out their birthday bucket “registry” — so fun!)
Sephora — During your birthday month, choose from a selection of birthday gifts in store. To redeem online, you must spend $25. Must sign up for Beauty Insider rewards.
The Everett House — 60-minutes of spa time (not massage) for free on your actual birthday, no exceptions other than July 4 or December 25, when they are closed.
Ulta Beauty — Choose from a selection of birthday gifts when signed up for Ulta Beauty Rewards.
Free Birthday Sweets and Sips
A&W — Free Root Beer Float on your birthday when you join the Mug Club.
Applebees — Free birthday dessert for members of their email club.
Burgerville — Download the app and get a free 12 oz. Everyday Shake two weeks before your birthday, valid for 30 days.
Baskin Robbins — Free scoop on your birthday when you sign up for the birthday club.
Black Angus Steakhouse — Free cowboy cookie when you sign up for their Prime Club, just let your server know. You also receive 2x points during your month following your birthday.
Ben & Jerry’s — a “cone-gratulationary surprise” (free ice cream) on your birthday month when signed up as a Flavor Fanatic.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse – Free Pizookie on your birthday for Premier Rewards PLUS members.
California Pizza Kitchen — Free dessert for your birthday when you join CPK rewards.
Crumbl — Free single voucher to use on your birthday when you sign up for rewards.
Cold Stone Creamery — A “reward” on your birthday when signed up for Cold Stone Club Rewards (some years a free scoop, some years a BOGO coupon).
Cloud City Ice Cream — Get a free scoop on your birthday, ID required.
Cinnabon — 16oz Cold Brew for your birthday when you sign up for rewards.
Cheesecake Factory — Receive a free birthday slice when signed up for Cheesecake Rewards.
Dairy Hill Ice Cream — Free scoop when you are signed up rewards.
Del Taco — Free regular-sized shake when you join Del Yeah Rewards.
Edible Arrangements — Free “birthday reward” (in the past a 6-count chocolate dipped fruit box) when you sign up for Edible Rewards.
Fat Cupcake — Free full-size cupcake on your birthday, ID required.
Famous Dave’s — Enjoy a birthday treat when you join rewards.
Fogo de Chão — Complimentary dessert at the end of your meal. You will also receive a birthday coupon when you sign up for their e-club.
Jamba Juice — Free birthday smoothie when you sign up for rewards.
Jake’s Grill — $25 birthday rewards when signed up for Landry’s Select Club.
Kulfi — Free pop on your birthday.
La Provence & Petite Provence — Free birthday reward, typically free dessert with dine-in purchase, when you sign up for Club Provence.
Little Big Burger — Free root beer float on your birthday through the Little Big Burger app.
Mama Mia Trattoria — Free birthday dessert of your choice (gluten free options available). ID required.
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt — Free $5 froyo on your birthday, when you sign up for perks.
Melting Pot — Free signature dipped strawberries when you sign up and birthday vouchers on your special day.
Nico’s Ice Cream — Free birthday scoop on your birthday or up to seven days after.
Nothing Bundt Cakes — Receive a free bundtlet on your birthday (ages 13+) when you join their eClub.
Panera Bread — Surprise on your birthday, when you are signed up for their app (this has been a free pastry in the past).
Pastini — Free birthday dessert, just let your server know.
P.F. Chang’s — Complimentary dessert or appetizer during your birthday month when you are signed up for the rewards program.
Portland City Grill — Complimentary slice of cake on any celebration, not just birthdays. Children are allowed in dining room, and reservations can be made online.
Red Lobster — Free reward (usually a dessert) when signed up for My Red Lobster Rewards.
Rogue — Free birthday beer when you join Rogue Nation.
Subway — Free surprise on your birthday (usually a cookie), when signed up for rewards.
Tita’s Kitchen Peruvian Cuisine — Free churro on your birthday, Troutdale location only. ID required.
The Olive Garden — Complimentary dessert on your birthday when dining in. (Servers may sing happy birthday to the recipient.)
Urban Farmer — Free item (typically dessert) on your birthday when you sign up to receive emails.
Happy treat hunting!
Wish your freebie was on this list? Send us a DM on Instagram and we’ll add it!
Looking for a party venue? Here are our readers’ favorites!