We’re spending more on holiday meals, travel and, well, everything this year. It can be nice to treat ourselves to free goodies while shopping or running errands, and to have options for free fun as we make plans for family time.Free Coffee & Tea
Peet's Coffee will give customers a free small brewed coffee or tea at participating locations on Christmas Eve, and Wawa Rewards members can enjoy Free Coffee Tuesdays through the end of the year.Free Dessert
On the day after Christmas and New Year's Day, McAlister’s Deli Rewards members get a free dessert plus free delivery when ordering through the app with rewards code TREATME2022 at participating McAlister’s locations.Free Breakfast
Circle K is offering free coupons for various drinks, meals and snacks. Offers vary by region but can include free coffee; a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit; and more. Customers can redeem one coupon for each item.Free Cookies
Enjoy the holiday season with delicious cookies on National Cookie Day, December 4. Cookie chains like Insomnia Cookies, Great American Cookies and others typically offer free cookie promotions.Free Wine
You’ll have to lay out the cash first for this freebie, but with wine promos few and far between, it may be worth it. You can get up to a $9.99 rebate for any Barefoot product through December 31.Free Holiday Playlists
Set the right mood for your holiday gatherings with seasonal playlists and stations from Pandora, Spotify (check out Sisters’ themed playlists that include New Year’s tunes, holiday hits, a Motown mix and gospel favorites) and iHeartRadio.Free Recipes
For recipe and decorating inspiration, head to your favorite supermarket’s website or swing by customer service for printed recipes and publications. Chains like Publix, Shoprite, Stop & Shop, Wegmans and others have extensive databases of seasonal recipes, including creative ideas for your leftovers. For free online cooking classes from professional chefs, browse the Publix Aprons Cooking School, where you’ll find videos for holiday meals and more.Free Planning Printables
Make this season your most organized yet with free planning printables from Day Designer. Download and print planning worksheets, including an entertaining checklist, holiday bucket list, menu planner and thank-you note tracker.Free Gift Cards With Purchase
Some retailers offer freebies and bonuses with gift card purchases around the holidays — a great way to extend your gift-gifting or stretch your budget.
Here are a few deals:
- Moe’s Southwest Grill. Get $5 in Moe Rewards for every $25 purchased in gift cards through December 28.
- Texas Roadhouse. Get a bonus $5 gift card for every $30 purchased in gift cards online.
- Panera. Get a $10 bonus gift card for every $50 purchased in gift cards.
- Einstein Bros. Bagels. Get a $5 gift card for every $30 gift card purchase.
Free Holiday Cards
Join American Greetings and get a seven-day trial membership for free. Choose from thousands of printable or digital cards for the holidays or any occasion.Free Photo With Santa
Take the littles in your life to Santa’s Wonderland at your local Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's through Christmas Eve. Each family gets a free 4-by-6 photo with Santa. While there, kids can also mail their letters to Santa. Reservations are recommended for the photo with Santa.Free 2023 Calendar
Start the new year with a free 2023 Unity Calendar — A Year of Grace and Gratitude. You can get one in the mail or download and print it at home.Free Craft Workshops
Get crafty this holiday season with free online workshops from Michael’s, Hobby Lobby and The Home Depot. You can learn decorating tips, pick up a new hobby or take on projects for your gift-giving.Free At-Home Holiday Activities
The Central Park Conservancy is offering free downloadable Christmas song lyrics, coloring pages and holiday recipes — perfect at-home fun for all ages.Free Ice-Skating
If you’ll be in New York City during the holiday season, head to the Winter Village at Bryant Park, where you can ice-skate for free and browse the Holiday Shops. Reservations are required to ice-skate, so schedule your visit ahead of time, and if you need to rent skates, expect to pay a fee. Many cities offer seasonal ice-skating and pop-up holiday marketplaces, so search for similar events in your area.Free Seasonal Workshops for Kids
Crafty kids will love Lowe’s in-store workshops this season. On December 17, kids can make a wreath ornament, and on January 21, they’ll make a snowman picture frame. (You’ll need to preregister.) Also, Jo-Ann Stores offer a free take-home craft for kids on the first Saturday of every month. On December 3, kids can grab a snow globe kit, and on January 7, they can get a vision board kit. And Michael's has a free online Kids Club Winter Workshop from December 1 through 12.Free Concerts and Performances
Fill up your calendar with free virtual events. Ailey All Access, the Classical Theatre of Harlem and Juilliard all offer free live-streamed or on-demand concerts, performances and lecture series. Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium in New York City has free in-person events weekly.Holiday Events
Browse Eventbrite for a variety of local and online holiday events. You’ll find unique offerings, including a virtual tour of Venice’s Christmas lights, a Holiday Survival Kit workshop for job seekers and more. Also, check out your local library for seasonal events in your community.Free Park Admittance
Plan a visit to your nearby national park on January 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Although the National Park Service doesn’t make it official until the start of the year, all visitors are expected to be able to enter NPS sites for free on that day.
