Many businesses thank veterans and active military members by offering them a free meal or other gift on Veterans Day, which is Tuesday, November 11, 2025. If you’re a member of the military, please check out this list, and see if there’s a deal that you might be able to take advantage of.
Read on for lots of food freebies, and much more.
If you’re not a military member, you probably know one. Why not share this information and also thank them as well?
Not all of these deals take place exactly on Veterans Day, so make sure to read all the details. But unless otherwise specified, these freebies and deals are for veterans and active duty military and take place Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Also, participation might vary by location.
Also, make sure to read this whole post, because it includes events like Veterans Day ceremonies, parades and festivals. Please check with the organizers regarding outdoor events, as the weather is not looking good. We will not be able to update every event with the status.
This is a growing list, so make sure to bookmark and check back. If you’re not yet an email subscriber to Charlotte on the Cheap, subscribe now so you won’t miss a thing!
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Free and discounted food and drink
Participating locations only. Most restaurants will require some proof of service. Follow the links for details on those requirements. Please keep checking back. We will be adding food and drinks for 2025 as they’re announced.
Applebee’s
All veterans and active duty military who visit an Applebee’s in the United States on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, can receive a free full-size entrée and a $5 Bounce Back Card toward their next meal at Applebee’s.
Choose from the following entrées:
- 6 oz. Top Sirloin
- Classic Bacon Cheeseburger
- Chicken Tenders Platter
- Double Crunch Shrimp
- Fiesta Lime Chicken®
- Oriental Chicken Salad
- Three-Cheese Chicken Penne
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar is honoring all veterans with a heroic offer for their services. On Veterans Day,all veterans and active-duty service members will receive a FREE BD’s All-American Burger with cheese and a classic side. Offer valid on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to dine-in customers only. Must show valid military ID or proof of service. See your local Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar for more details.
Bob Evans
Veterans and active-duty military members may receive a free, farm-fresh meal at Bob Evans on November 11, 2025. Available for dine-in only. The veterans Day menu features 10 hearty favorites. Press release here.
Capriotti’s
Capriotti’s is offering veterans and active duty military a free small sub with any in-shop purchase on November 11, 2025, when presented a valid military ID. Participating locations only. Find locations here. Learn more in the press release.
City Barbeque
City Barbeque is honoring veterans and active military on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, with a complimentary meal, including one sandwich, one side and one regular drink.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers
All veterans and active military personnel who visit Freddy’s on Veteran’s Day will receive a free Freddy’s Combo meal card. No purchase is necessary to receive it. Cards can be redeemed through December 31, 2025. Find your closest Freddy’s.
Golden Corral
Golden Corral is honoring our nation’s heroes with a complimentary dinner this Veterans Day. All active-duty military personnel, retirees, reservists, guardsmen and veterans are invited to enjoy a FREE buffet meal with beverage on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 4 p.m. to close, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Military Appreciation Night! The free meal offer is valid for dine-in only and does not extend to spouses, family members, or friends, but all are welcome to join this annual night full of camaraderie and fellowship.
Piada’s Italian Street Food
Piada is offering a free entrée to veterans and active duty military at any Piada location on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Guests can receive any regular-sized chef menu entrée with protein by presenting a valid military ID and mentioning the offer at checkout. Find your closest location.
Red Robin
Veterans and active military members receive a free Red’s Big Tavern Burger on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Exclusively for dine-in, at participating Red Robin restaurants. Topped with Red’s Secret Tavern Sauce, American Cheese, lettuce and tomato on a toasted brioche bun. Served with Bottomless Steak Fries.
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
Sullivan’s Steakhouse is honoring all veterans with a heroic offer for their services. On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, all veterans and active-duty service members will receive a FREE Sullivan’s Signature Angus Burger with Fries. Offer valid on Tuesday, November 11th to dine-in customers only. Must show valid military ID or proof of service. See your local Sullivan’s Steakhouse for more details.
These are restaurants that offered Veterans Day deals or freebies in 2024:
- Ace No.3
- Biscuit Belly
- BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse
- Brewers at 4001 Yancey
- Carolina Ale House
- Carrabba’s
- Chicken Salad Chick
- Chili’s
- Cicis Pizza
- Denny’s
- Emmet’s Social Table
- Harriet’s Hamburgers
- Hickory Tavern
- Hooters
- IHOP
- IKEA
- Little Caesars
- Mac’s Speed Shop
- Metro Diner
- O’Charley’s
- Panera Bread
- Pilot, Flying J
- Red Lobster
- Red Robin
- Scooter’s Coffee
- Sea Level NC
- Smashburger
- Smelly Cat Coffee
- The Smoke Pit Restaurant
- Sonic Drive-In
- Starbucks
- Sullivan’s Steakhouse
- TCBY
- Triple C Brewing
- Twin Peaks
- VFW Mecklenburg Post 1160
- VIVA Chicken
- The Waterman Fish Bar
- Wendy’s
Other Freebies and discounts
North Carolina Zoo
North Carolina Zoo: Military members and their spouses can get free admission to the North Carolina Zoo from November 8 to 14, 2025. In addition, they can bring up to three guests with them for free. Make sure to read all the details.
Great Clips
Thank a Veteran at Great Clips works in two ways. First, every year on November 11, veterans and active service members can come into any U.S. Great Clips salon and get a free haircut, or a free haircut card for a future visit. So if you’re a service member or veteran, be sure to stop by a salon on Veterans Day so we can say “Thank you!”
Second, if you’re a non-military customer, you can visit a salon on November 11 and receive a free haircut card to give to a service member or veteran as a way of saying thank you.
Red Roof Inn
From October 13 to November 13, 2025, active duty military and veterans save 15% on any Red Roof hotel. To book the special rate on redroof.com, select Government/Military in the rate plan menu of the booking widget. More info.
Check back soon for 2025 deals and freebies. These businesses offered deals or freebies in 2024:
- Autobell Car Wash
- Food Lion
- Schiele Museum
- Staples
- True Rest Float Spa
Veterans Day Events
Veterans Salute 5K/10K/Fun Run
These races take place on November 8, 2025, in Downtown Concord. There’s a cost for the 5K and 10K, but the one-mile Fun Run is free.
Veterans Day Celebration in Belmont
Downtown Belmont is hosting an early Veterans Day Celebration on Sunday, November 2, 2025, in the upper field of Stowe Park, 24 S Main Street, Belmont, North Carolina. Time TBA. The event typically includes live music, a flag ceremony, a military vehicle display and a Christmas card station.
Tribute to Veterans in Glencairn Garden
Check back soon.
Veterans Day Parade Ceremony in Huntersville
The parade and ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The parade will start at First Baptist Church, 14813 N Old Statesville, Huntersville, North Carolina, at 9:30 a.m., and will end at Veterans Park, 201 Huntersville-Concord Road, Huntersville, where the ceremony will take place at 11 a.m.
Salute to Veterans Parade
The annual Veterans Day Parade will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 11 a.m. The parade will start at North Tryon Street at Montford Point (between 9th and 10th Streets) and proceed down Tryon Street to Brooklyn Village Avenue.
Town of Davidson’s Veterans Day Program
The Town of Davidson is holding a Veterans Day Program on Tuesday, November 11, 2024, at 11 a.m., inside Davidson Town Hall, 251 South Street, Davidson, North Carolina.
Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show
Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show takes place Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport, 3900 Paul J. Helms Drive, Monroe. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for youth age 12-18, $5 for current and former military service men and women, and free for children under age 12.
Town of Waxhaw Veterans Day Ceremony
The annual Waxhaw Veterans Day ceremony takes place at the Waxhaw Military Wall of Honor, 100 E. North Main Street, Waxhaw, on November 11, 2025, at 11 a.m.
Museum of the Waxhaws Veterans Day
Museum of the Waxhaws, at 8215 Waxhaw Hwy, Waxhaw, North Carolina, is holding a special Veterans Day event on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All veterans and active military receive free admission. Kids are also admitted for free.
Veterans Day Program in Cornelius
The Veterans Day program in Cornelius will take place Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Veterans Monument at Rotary Plaza, 21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, North Carolina, behind the Cornelius Town Hall.
Veterans Day Events in Mooresville
The Town of Mooresville is hosting a whole week of Veterans Day events, including a ceremony, parade, flag processional, free meals for veterans, a blood drive and more.
Veterans Day Ceremony in Indian Trail
Town of Indian Trail’s Veterans Day ceremony takes place Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 6 p.m., at Indian Trail Town Hall, 315 Matthews-Indian Trail Road, Indian Trail.
Full Calendar for Veterans Day Weekend
If you’re looking for something to do Veterans Day Weekend, here’s Charlotte on the Cheap’s full calendar of events.
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