News

Dairy Queen kicks off spring with free cone day

March 9, 2018

The coming of warmer weather makes ice cream-centered QSRs like Dairy Queen very happy, and the chain is sharing its joy with customers on March 20 — the first day of spring — by giving away free cones. 

Participating nonmall U.S. Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill locations will be popular places that Tuesday when the brand holds its Fourth Annual Free Cone Day, a news release said. That means a free small vanilla soft-serve cone for every customer. And while customers are enjoying that free treat, DQ is also hoping many will feel so good they'll share the love in the form of a donation to local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

"From cow to cone, dairy farmers and local operators take tremendous pride in bringing smiles to millions of fans' faces through our creamy DQ soft serve," American Dairy Queen Corporation Executive Vice President Maria Hokanson, said in the release. "This day has become a spring tradition and a sign that warmer weather is upon us."

Last year, the Dairy Queen system raised nearly $300,000 for the hospitals in a single free cone day. Over the last 30 years, the company has donated more than $130 million to 170 Children's Miracle Network member hospitals in local communities. The hospitals provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada.