Veterans Day 2025 in Charlotte: Free meals for veterans, plus free haircuts, a list of ceremonies and other Veterans Day events

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

Read press release.

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.

Biscuit Belly

Veterans eat free at Biscuit Belly on Monday, November 11, 2025. Choose from Bacon Egg & Cheese, Sausage Egg & Cheese, and Chicken Biscuit Sandwich, and a hot drip coffee or fountain drink. All Biscuit Belly locations are participating. Dine in only. 1949 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC.

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.

Chicken Salad Chick

All locations of Chicken Salad Chick are offering a free meal, with a side and drink, for free to veterans and active duty military, on November 11, 2025. The meal includes one scoop or sandwich, a side and a fountain drink. In-restaurant only. Signature Sandwiches and 3-item meals not included. For service members in uniform or those with a valid military ID or DD214.

Chili’s

All veterans & active military members can get a free meal on Veterans Day November 11, 2025 at all participating Chili’s Grill & Bar restaurants. Available in-restaurant only for select items.

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.

Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel is offering a complimentary Sunrise Pancake Special, a scratch-made breakfast favorite, to all veterans and active-duty military dining in on November 11, 2025, at any of the nearly 660 Cracker Barrel locations.

The Sunrise Pancake Special features two golden, fluffy buttermilk pancakes made from scratch, topped with creamy whipped butter and rich, 100% pure natural syrup, served with a choice of fresh eggs or savory breakfast meat. More info in the press release.

Denny’s

This Veterans Day, November 11, 2025, Denny’s invites active and retired military personnel to America’s Diner to enjoy a FREE Original Grand Slam® from 5 a.m. (store open) to noon local time at participating locations nationwide*.

The meal features two delicious and fluffy buttermilk pancakes, two crispy strips of bacon, two sausage links, and two eggs made to order. To redeem this offer, veterans and active-duty military need to present a valid military ID or DD 214. Read more in the press release.

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.

Hooters

Hooters is offering all who have served a free menu item on November 11, 2025. Veterans can choose from 10 Original Wings, Cheeseburger, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich or Chicken Caesar Salad — free with drink purchase., at participating locations. More details.

IHOP

On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, veterans receive a free Red, White & Blueberry Pancake Combo at IHOP. Served with 2 eggs, hash browns and your choice of two strips of crispy bacon or two pork sausage links. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at participating restaurants. More info.

Mac’s Speed Shop

On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, veterans can receive a free half rack of rib and fries, when they purchase a beverage. The offer is good all day, for dine-in only. Please show ID. The offer is valid in all five locations in the Charlotte area, plus the rest of the locations in the Carolinas, except for Raleigh. (The Raleigh location isn’t open on Veterans Day.) Find your closest location.

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.

Pilot or Flying J

Veterans, military personnel and their families who stop at a Pilot or Flying J on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, are welcome to their choice of a free breakfast sandwich and coffee or lunch item and fountain drink. Identification must be verified with ID.me in the Pilot app to be eligible.

Pilot is also making a $250,000 donation to the Call of Duty Endowment, which helps place veterans in high-quality civilian careers after service. Since 2019, Pilot and its guests have contributed over $5.2M to the Call of Duty Endowment, helping over 8,000 veterans make the transition to civilian careers.

From November 8 through December 1, guests are invited to round-up their purchases to the nearest dollar, or donate $1, $3, or $5 at any participating Pilot location – 100% of donations will go to the Call of Duty Endowment.

Details in press release.

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.

Sheetz

On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Sheetz invites all veterans and active duty military personnel to enjoy a free half turkey sub and a regular size fountain drink at any of Sheetz’s 800+ store locations. The offer includes extras & add-ons to the sub.

Sheetz will also provide a free car wash to veterans and active duty military. This offer only applies to the $9 car wash option and is only available at Sheetz stores that have a car wash. Military ID or proof of service must be presented to qualify.

Smoothie King

On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, all active-duty military and veterans can enjoy a free 20oz smoothie at participating Smoothie King locations nationwide — no purchase necessary. The offer is available from 12 to 3 p.m., and includes three patriotic picks: Strawberry X-Treme (red), Slim-N-Trim Vanilla (white), and Blueberry Heaven (blue).

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.

TCBY

Participating TCBY locations are offering the first 6 oz. of free frozen yogurt to veterans and active military on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. For self-serve stores, toppings are included in the 6 oz. weight.

Whataburger

Starting Nov. 11, 2025, active-duty military and veterans can pick up one free Taquito in-store at any Whataburger restaurant during breakfast hours every Tuesday through Dec. 30 (Nov. 11, 18, 25; Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30). Wrapped in a soft flour tortilla, each Taquito is filled with scrambled eggs and a choice of sausage, bacon or potato, with the option to include a slice of American cheese. To redeem, Guests can simply show a military or veterans ID or other proof of service when ordering at the counter.

Whataburger also proudly continues its year-round gesture of appreciation with a free 16-ounce Hot or Iced Coffee for service members and veterans, available anytime they visit a Whataburger dining room. This ongoing offer can be enjoyed alongside the free Taquito, giving a full, hearty meal to those who give so much.

Announced in press release.

Autobell

In appreciation of U.S. military veterans and active-duty service members, Autobell Car Wash will offer them a free Ride-Thru Exterior wash, or an equivalent credit toward another wash option, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at all Autobell locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.

No coupon, barcode, or ID is required. In the event of rain on the 11th, the offer will be honored on November 12.

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.

Food Lion

Food Lion is offering all U.S. active-duty military personnel and veterans a 10% discount at all stores. To receive the discount, active-duty military, veterans and their families should present their MVP card and military identification at the time of checkout. Customers will then receive 10% off their entire grocery bill.

This offer is only valid in-store and unavailable through Food Lion To Go pick up or home delivery. The discount does not apply to the purchase of alcohol (beer and wine), tobacco, gift cards, lottery, pharmacy, postage stamps or services.

Schiele Museum

Schiele Museum of Natural History, at 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, North Carolina, is offering free admission to veterans, active military personnel and their families on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

Please show your military ID at check-in. No reservations are required. Free admission is valid for up to 5 family members.

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.