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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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This year, Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11, and restaurants and attractions across the United States are marking the occasion with free meals, drinks, discounts and other offers for veterans and military members.
Offers vary considerably between businesses. Some are limited to dine-in customers or are only available at participating locations, while others require military identification or another form of proof of service.
The Department of Veterans Affairs also states that offers can change and might not be available in every state or location, meaning customers should check before making a special trip.
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Here are some of the biggest offers available for Veterans Day 2026.
Applebee's Veterans Day Deal
Applebee's is offering veterans and active-duty military personnel a free dine-in entrée from a dedicated Veterans Day menu on November 11.
Proof of service must be shown, and the offer is only available at participating locations. Beverages and gratuity not included.
Chili's Veterans Day Deal
Veterans and active-duty members of the military can get a free entrée at participating Chili's restaurants on November 11.
The offer is available in restaurants only and applies to selected items from a special Veterans Day menu. Military identification or proof of service is also required.
Starbucks Veterans Day Deal
Starbucks is offering a free tall, 12-ounce hot or iced coffee on November 11.
Unlike many restaurant promotions, the eligibility extends beyond veterans and service members to military spouses too. The offer is available at participating U.S. stores.
Golden Corral Veterans Day Deal
Golden Corral will hold its annual Military Appreciation Night on November 11.
The promotion runs from 4 p.m. until closing and includes a free "thank you" buffet for eligible veterans dining inside the restaurant.
Red Lobster Veterans Day Deal
Red Lobster is offering a free Veteran's Shrimp & Chips meal on November 11.
The promotion is available for dine-in customers and requires a valid military or veteran ID, card, or other proof of service, including simply wearing the uniform, although not all restaurants will accept a uniform as the sole source of identification.
More Veterans Day Free Meals and Restaurant Deals
The offers go well beyond those five chains.
Denny's is giving veterans and active-duty personnel a free Original Grand Slam breakfast between 5 a.m. and noon on November 11. While IHOP is offering a free Red, White, and Blueberry Pancake Combo to veterans and active-duty military at participating restaurants. Both offers require proof of military service, and are dine-in only.
In-N-Out Burger is offering veterans, active-duty personnel, Reserve and National Guard members a complimentary meal, including burger, fries, and drink, on November 11. U.S. military members and veterans will also receive a special-edition Veterans Day decal when providing proof of military service.
Veterans and active-duty military can also get a free entrée from a specific menu when dining at Olive Garden on November 11, with proof of military service required.
Free Attractions and Admission for Veterans
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Veterans Day offers also extend to museums, parks, and other attractions.
The National Park Service is offering free entrance to national parks for all visitors on November 11. Military members and veterans can also qualify for free annual or lifetime passes.
Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum in Williamsburg, Virginia, is offering free admission from November 6 through November 11 to active-duty personnel, military retirees, veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and dependents, with identification required.
The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee is offering free admission on November 11 to veterans and active-duty personnel, plus one adult and up to four children. Eligible visitors can also receive 10 percent off at the museum's shop and restaurant.
Meanwhile, the Aquarium of the Pacific is offering veterans and active-duty personnel free admission on November 11, although reservations are required because capacity is limited.
Who Qualifies for Veterans Day Freebies?
There isn’t a single eligibility rule that covers every single Veterans Day promotion.
Many restaurant deals are available to just veterans and active-duty military personnel, while some companies expand eligibility to reservists, National Guard members, military spouses, military families, or Gold Star families. For example, Starbucks includes military spouses in its free-coffee promotion, while In-N-Out Burger specifically includes reserve and National Guard members.
Customers should therefore check the conditions attached to an individual offer rather than assuming the same eligibility criteria applies everywhere.
What ID Do Veterans Need for Veterans Day Deals?
Proof-of-service requirements also differ by business.
Most businesses require proof of military service, but customers should check individual requirements. Some offers specifically ask for a valid military ID, while others accept proof of veteran or military status.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Federica Bindi and Rhian Morgan.
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