Halloween 2012: Free stuff and food deals

When you think about it, Halloween is the ultimate freebie holiday with free fun things for everyone to do. Kids get dressed up in costume and go door to door to get free candy.

This year it doesn’t have to be just the little ghosts and goblins that benefit from the free stuff. A number of restaurants and retail outlets have lined up frightfully terrific freebies and deals that, in most instances, nearly anyone can take advantage of on or around October 31. Some do require dressing up in costume but, hey, isn’t that the fun of Halloween anyway?

Here are nine ways or places to go to get free stuff or food deals for Halloween 2012. Note: Links to more information appear in the headline of each Halloween deal.

1. Save on a Boo-rito at Chipotle. I don’t know what time trick or treating starts or ends where you live, but if you live near a Chipotle, take note: Anyone who shows up in costume at Chipotle between 4 p.m. and closing time on Halloween will get a Chipotle burrito, bowl or salad for only $2. Though prices vary based on location, those entrees normally cost upwards of $6, meaning you’ll be saving big time with this $2 Halloween deal.
2. Kids eat free at Outback. When you dine out at Outback, you’ll actually be eligible for two freebies. First, when you bring the kids along and order an adult entree for yourself, your child will get a free kids’ meal. This is for dine-in only and, Outback says, while supplies last. However, while you’re waiting for your meal to arrive, look for a second freebie hidden inside the drink menu. It’s a coupon for a free steak dinner, which you can redeem on your next visit to Outback between November 1 and November 29, 2012.
3. Scare up a free donut at Krispy Kreme. Stop into Krispy Kreme in costume on Halloween, and you can get a free Halloween or pumpkin spice doughnut — you don’t even have to say “Trick or treat” first. In fact, no purchase is necessary. One doughnut per customer and at participating Krispy Kreme locations only.
4. Walk away with a free trick or treat bag at Subway. Like most fast food restaurants, Subway offers its version of a kid’s meal–called Subway Fresh Fit for Kids Meal. As part of its promotion for the new Halloween-ish movie “Frankenweenie,” every youngster who visits Subway in October and orders a kid’s meal will get a Frankenweenie reusable bag and a glow stick, while supplies last.
5. Get your game on for free. If your kids enjoy playing PopCap’s popular video game Plants vs. Zombies, you know that this gaming experience normally costs $20. Not this Halloween season. Parents and anyone else can head over to the “Stop Zombie Mouth” website and download free coupons to play the game free. The trick to this treat is you need to download the free coupons before October 30. Then recipients can redeem the coupons between October 30 and November 10. This freebie was created in partnership with the American Dental Association for people to have a candy-free giveaway for trick or treaters. For video game lovers, it means game on — for free!
6. Enjoy a free Frosty Jr. at Wendy’s. Every year Wendy’s sells coupon books that help benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a good cause the Wendy’s founder set up to help kids find “forever families.” This year is no different. For $1 you can get a booklet with five coupons inside for free Frosty Jr. treats. The booklet is designed to hand out in lieu of candy on Halloween, but if you decide to keep it for yourself, you’ve supported a good cause and found a way to get five Frosty Jr. treats for only $1 or about 20 cents each — they normally cost about a buck each at Wendy’s.
7. Treat kids to a free meal at Dickey’s Barbecue. Bring your children in Halloween costumes to one of the 260 Dickey’s Barbecue locations nationwide October 31, and they’ll eat for free. It is part of the chain’s “Kids Eat Free in Costume on Halloween” offer. Here’s the best part — unlike other restaurants that allow kids to eat free only when you purchase an adult entree, this doesn’t seem to be the case at Dickey’s. All you need to do is have your children show up in costume on Halloween, and their meal is on the house.
8. Chomp on cheap corn dogs at Sonic. No costume is necessary to take advantage of Sonic’s Halloween deal. According to the Sonic Drive-In Facebook page, Sonic will be selling corn dogs on Halloween for 50 cents all day. Now that’s a deal that corn dog lovers could sink their teeth into!
9. Free kid’s meal at Chili’s. For the past three years, Chili’s has offered a Kids Eat Free promotion on Halloween and Halloween 2012 will be no different. This year bring your little ghosts and goblins any time between October 29 and October 31 to take advantage of this offer, which kicks in when you order an adult entree and use this printable coupon. This free meal is good for children age 12 or younger and at participating locations only.

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – Check out the  Free Stuff  I found for you this week.  And check back often, I’m  always adding new listings.

FREE ADMISSION:  Richmond Folk Festival.  Dozens of concerts on six stages along the riverfront and on Brown’s island. Oct 12-14.  There’s also a family area with interactive performances on Saturday and Sunday.  More details and a schedule [HERE].
 
FREE PERFORMANCES:  The Richmond Ballet.  Sat. Oct. 13 at their home studio at 407 E. Canal St.  2 & 3:30, see ballet trainees and “Minds in Motion” youth performers.  The professional company takes the stage at 7p.m. and 8:30p.m.   

FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS:  You don’t have to be a member of Sam’s Club to take advantage of free health and vision screenings on Saturday, October 13 from 11a.m. to 3p.m.  Available tests may include blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid function, blood sugar and prostate cancer.  You can also receive a free take-home breast cancer screening test. Details [HERE].

FREE FLU SHOTS: Get a free flu shot this weekend, compliments of Bon Secours.  9a.m. to 1p.m at the St. Francis Watkins Centre,  601 Watkins Centre Parkway, in Midlothian.  They’re offering up healthy information, and free flu shots every Saturday in October.

FREE JAM SESSION;  Musicians of all ages and abilities are invited to take part in a bluegrass jam session.  Thur, Oct 11, 6:30-9 p.m. Dorey Recreation Center (7200 Dorey Park Drive, Henrico). Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  Acoustic only. Information: (804) 795-2334.

 FREE MOVIES: Enjoy free outdoor family movies every Friday night in October at Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market in Short Pump.  Movies begin at 7p.m.

FREE ADMISSION:  Enjoy free jazz and big band performances every Monday evening in October at the Shoppes at Innsbrook.  From 5p.m. to 9p.m. in support of Henrico County Music and Arts. The concerts are presented by Joey’s Hot Dogs.

FREE  MOVIES:   Grace St. Theater invites you to free screenings of independent and foreign film screenings Tuesday evenings at 7p.m. (934 West Grace Street).  Details [HERE].

FREE FLAG CLEANING:  Get your American flag cleaned for free at any Puritan Cleaners any day of the year at any of their 13 locations in the metro area.

FREE KIDS HAIRCUTS:  Starting November 4, 2012, JC Penney will offer free haircuts to children in Kindergarten-to-6th grade every Sunday.

FREE THEME PARK ADMISSION :  You can get a free unlimited admission  pass for your children ages 5 and younger for Busch Gardens Williamsburg.   It’s good through October 28^th.   You must be a Virginia resident and sign up in advance.  Click [HERE] for the link to do so.

FREE FOR ACTIVE MILITARY: Free annual passes to America’s National Parks (value $80) are now  available to members of the military and their families free of charge.  The pass allows entrance  to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands. The free pass will be made available for activated members of the National Guard and Reserves but not to military veterans or retirees. Military personnel can get the passes by showing their military I.D at any national park or wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee.

FREE LESSON: Take  a free introductory lesson; ice skating or ice hockey at either SkateNation Plus in Short Pump or Richmond Ice Zone in Midlothian.

FREE JAZZ: The Virginia Museum has free admission to it’s Jazz Cafe program Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jazz Cafe and general VMFA Museum admission are always free.

LOTS OF FREE STUFF: How about getting and giving stuff free? The Freecycle Network is made up of nearly five thousand groups and nearly 70-thousand members around the world who are getting and giving away stuff free. Membership is free It’s a great way to recycle, get rid of items you don’t want, and get things you do.

FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION: The first full weekend of each month at CMOR (Children’s Museum of Richmond) for Bank of America and Merril Lynch cardholders.

FREE CREDIT REPORTS:  Get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus.  Your personal information is completely protected. This site is sponsored by Equifax,Trans-Union and Experian.

KIDS EAT FREE: All children eat  free at Quaker Steak & Lube Sundays through Thursdays, 4p.m. to 10p.m. The deal is good for children age 10 and under. The Richmond-area location is at 8000 W. Broad St.  

FREE KIDS MEALS: Kids eat free at McAlister’s Deli every Tuesday from  9 p.m. with the purchase of an adult entree.  There are two locations in the Richmond area, Gayton Crossing and Westchester Commons in Midlothian.

FREE E-BOOKS: Harlequin books has a free offer for you. Download up to 16 free e-books. Click here for the link.

FREE STUFF: If you’re a Facebook member, a lot of restaurants are currently offering freebies, if you “like” them on Facebook. Search for your favorite and see if they have an offer. And while you’re on Facebook, stop by the  CBS 6 page and “like” us too.

FREE QDOBA: Children eat free at Qdoba on Sundays with the purchase of an adult entrée.

FREE FIREHOUSE SUBS: A lot of restaurants offer birthday clubs that you have to sign up for, to get freebies on your special day. At Firehouse Subs, just show up on your birthday with I.D with your birth date, and get a free medium sub. There are several locations in the metro area.

FREE DINNER:  The Ministry  Without Walls offers a free community dinner on the fourth Friday of every month. 6 to 8 p.m. at 5780 Hull Street Road.  Call them for more information at (804) 381-6928.

FREE ADMISSION: Enjoy free admission all year long  to The Virginia Historical Society,  with access to the museum galleries and research library. The museum is at 428 North Boulevard in Richmond.

FREE JEWELRY: The Silver Jewelry Club offers an assortment of free, pure sterling silver jewelry every day. From pendants to rings to earrings, all you pay is the shipping and handling.

FIND FREE WI-FI ACCESS: Want to know which local restaurants and coffee shops offer free wireless internet access? Get a directory for Greater Richmond or any city worldwide, by clicking here.

FREE LONG DISTANCE: Make free, 10-minute long distance and international calls to select locations, just by listening to a short, ten-second ad first. Get your local access number to “Freephone2phone” here.

FREE 411 CALLS: Never pay to call information again. 800-FREE-411 works for both residential and business listings across America. All you have to do is listen to a 10-second commercial before getting the listing you want, but the service is free.