If you like to celebrate your birthday all week (or all month), we’ve gathered up a huge list of local birthday freebies and deals for free meals, beauty items, clothing discounts, and more. Celebrate your birthday with some special treats this year! Some of my favorites are Jeni’s Ice Cream, Starbucks, Red Robin, Panera, and Sephora – but there are dozens and dozens more!
Most require sign up for an email or text club. You may need to sign up a month or more before your birthday in order to get in the system to receive the birthday deals. Most will also send you a coupon for a freebie or discount on the day you sign up for the emails, as well as throughout the year and for an anniversary, so you may want to sign up for only a few at a time to space out your welcome email freebies before they expire.
Even if you forget to sign up for the email clubs, it never hurts to ask if they have any special offers if you are dining out on your actual birthday. Most places will happily bring out a dessert for you to enjoy.
If you don’t want your email inbox flooded with emails throughout the year, you may want to create a separate email address for these signups, or have them sent directly to a subfolder.
Kids Only Birthday Freebies
Barnes and Noble: Join the Kids Club and kids 12 and under will get an offer for a free cupcake or cookie on their birthday. You’ll also get 30% off list price on any one kids’ book or toy for your children upon signup.
Benihana (Polaris): Kids 12 and under can join the Kabuki Kids program for a special email certificate for their birthday to redeem for a free souvenir mug with the purchase of a Kabuki Kids meal.
Bob Evans: Birthday club doesn’t seem to be available on the website at this time. Sign your child up for the birthday club at Bob Evans and they’ll get a free kids’ meal with the purchase of an adult meal on their birthday.
Build-a-Bear: Build-A-Bear Bonus Club members can take advantage of the year-long Count Your Candles birthday program, where kids 14 and under can “pay their age” for the new Birthday Treat Bear during their birthday month, plus special birthday celeBEARation extras.
California Pizza Kitchen: Kids under 10 will receive a free CPKids Meal from California Pizza Kitchen when you sign them up for CPKids.
Captain D’s Seafood Restaurant (NE and SE Cbus): Kids 12 and under can join the birthday club to receive a free kids’ meal (offer may vary)
Chuck E. Cheese – Kids get a coupon for 20 FREE tokens when you join the eclub.
Perkins Hilliard: Free Kid’s Meal!
Pizza Hut Birthday Club: Kids get a kids meal for their birthday if they are signed up.
Steak ‘n Shake: Receive a postcard with coupon for free fries for kids on their birthdays and half birthdays
Dessert and Coffee Shops Birthday Freebies
Baskin Robins (Dublin): Free scoop of ice cream on your birthday when you join the Baskin Robbins Birthday Club.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse (Tuttle and Polaris): Free Pizookie dessert for your birthday AND when you sign up for the club.
Cinnabon (Easton and Polaris): Free treat
Coldstone Creamery: Buy one signature creation, get one free
Culver’s: Free one-scoop sundae
Dairy Queen: $3 off a blizzard cake, or buy one, get one free blizzards
Dippin’ Dots (Tuttle Mall): Free small cup of Dippin’ Dots
Dunkin Donuts: Free medium beverage
Godiva (Tuttle Mall and Easton): $10 gift certificate, but a free piece of Chocolate every month with Rewards Club
Graeters: Free sundae on your birthday with the Sweet Rewards program
Great American Cookies (Tuttle Mall): Free cookie cake slice with purchase
Jeni’s Ice Cream: Free single, standard, or trio ice cream on your birthday at scoop shops
Krispy Kreme: free donut and small Coffee or Fountain Drink.
Menchie’s (Dublin, Tuttle, and Gahanna): $5 in Menchie’s Money added to your mySmileage account
Nothing Bundt Cakes (Dublin, Gahanna, Upper Arlington): Join the eclub for a free bundtlet on your birthday
Rita’s Italian Ice: Free regular Italian Ice
Starbucks: Free drink or treat with Starbucks Rewards
Subscribe to Columbus on the Cheap by email and you’ll receive just one email a day the latest information on free and cheap events. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
Restaurant Birthday Freebies
All Cameron Mitchell Restaurants: Free dessert if you mention it’s your birthday
Birthdaypak of Columbus: Signup to receive up to 8 coupon/gift cards for local stores, salons, and/or restaurants.
Applebee’s: Free dessert when you sign up for the email club
Abuelo’s (Easton): Free dessert and receive a free gift for joining and on anniversary with Mi Abuelo’s Rewards program. (Was reported in a comment that you actually get a free entree! Even better!)
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels (Eastland and Easton Malls): Free pretzel on birthday. Download the My Pretzel Perks app
Arby’s: Free 12oz. milkshake with any purchase (plus free roast beef at signup).
Average Joes: Free boneless wings on your birthday, and a Free Order of Pretzel Bites in your first email
Bar Louie: free birthday appetizer or dessert with you sign up for The Mob.
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s (Hilliard): Download the new Beef’s Rewards app for a BOGO appetizer for your birthday. You’ll also get a free sharable starter when you sign up.
Beef O’Brady’s (Hilliard): BOGO Free appetizer
Benihana (Polaris): $30 birthday certificate
bd’s Mongolian Grill: Coupon for a free unlimited meal with the purchase of one bowl with Club Mongo registration.
Bonefish Grill (Polaris and Dublin): A FREE order of Bang Bang Shrimp or Jen’s Jamaican Coconut Pie.
Bon Vie Bistro (Easton): $5 off lunch and $10 off dinner (usually send an anniversary coupon too)
Brio Tuscan Grille (Easton and Polaris): Certificate for free food
Boston Market: Free individual dessert with purchase of any create your plate meal
Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza (Arena District and Marysville): Free flatbread
Buca di Beppo: Birthday gift worth $20 (and free pasta on signup)
Buffalo Wild Wings: Free dessert
California Pizza Kitchen: Free dessert
Cantina Laredo (Polaris): Free dessert
Captain D’s Seafood Restaurant (NE and SE Cbus): Free meal on birthday (and a free dessert each month with D’s Club)
Carrabba’s Italian Grill (Hilliard and Polaris): Free dessert with purchase of an entrée
Champps: Free birthday reward (rumored to be a meal)
Cheesecake Factory: Free dessert
Chick-fil-A: varies per franchise, check the Chick-fil-A One App
Chili’s: Free dessert on your birthday
City Barbeque: Free dessert in birthday month with happy bday email
Cooper’s Hawk (Easton): Free dessert
Cracker Barrel: Free dessert
Culver’s: Join the e-Club and receive coupons and a special offer on your birthday and a BOGO FREE Value Basket when you sign up.
Denny’s: Free Grand Slam on your birthday
Dickey’s Barbeque Pit (Lewis Center and Delaware): Free Big BBQ Sandwich
Dublin Village Tavern: Free entree when dining with party of four or more
Einstein Bros Bagels: Free breakfast sandwich with purchase
Fazolis: Free Dessert
Firehouse Subs: Free medium sub on your birthday
First Watch: free entree via the e-club
Gordon Biersch: Free BOGO coupon for an entrée
HoneyBaked Ham: Free sandwich with Honeybaked Rewards
Hot Head Burritos: Free food for your birthday through rewards club
Houlihan’s (Upper Arlington): Free entrée on your birthday
Hungry Howie’s Pizza: FREE Medium 1 topping Pizza with $5 minimum purchase when you sign up for email club
IHOP: FREE full stack of our famous Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity® Pancakes (also on your anniversary)
J Gilbert’s: Complimentary entree, up to $25
Jason’s Deli: $5 coupon for your birthday
Jersey Mike’s Subs: free sub sandwich and drink on your birthday
Joe’s Crab Shack: Free appetizer with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Logan’s Roadhouse: Free dessert
Longhorn Steakhouse: free dessert
Marie Scramblers: Free meal on your birthday with coupon from Marie Club to use within 7 days of your birthday
Marco’s Pizza: A FREE Medium One topping Pizza.
Max & Ermas: Special treat on your birthday with the Good Neighbors Club
McAlister’s Deli: Free sweet treat
Mellow Mushroom: (Polaris and Dublin) $5 coupon
Melting Pot: free chocolate fondue
Mimis Cafe: Free dessert or baked good
Moe’s Southwest Grill: receive free burrito
Morton’s Steakhouse: free dessert or food (varies)
Noodles & Company: any entree
O’Charley’s: free dessert
Olive Garden: free dessert or appetizer
On the Border (Easton): free Brownie Sundae or Bowl of Original Queso with the purchase of an entrée.
Orange Julius: BOGO coupon on your birthday
Outback Steakhouse: free dessert on your birthday
Panera Bread: free pastry/dessert via My Panera
Perkins (Hilliard): free Magnificent Seven for adults. Kids will receive a free Kid’s Meal!
P.F. Chang’s: free appetizer or dessert of your choice to enjoy any time during your birthday month
Pita Pit (campus area): free 22 oz. Fountain Drink (and free combo upgrade when you join e-club)
Pizza Hut: A free dessert with your order.
Qdoba Mexican Grill: receive a free entree with the purchase of an entree when you sign up for the e-club.
Quaker Steak & Lube: $5 OFF your check of $25 or more and a free Dessert through the e-club
Quiznos: free cookie plus other coupons through the e-club
Raising Cane’s: Join the Caniac Club and get free food on your birthday and anniversary
Red Lobster: free appetizer; different locations have different promotions through the e-club and My Red Lobster Rewards App
Red Robin: free birthday burger through the Red Robin Royalty program; locations may offer different promotions
Refectory: $20 towards two dinner entrees or $10 towards two bistro dinners
Rodizio Grill: Special promotion for your birthday
Ruby Tuesday: Free burger or free garden bar entree
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse: Free dessert
Sbarro: free slice of pizza via Slice Society program
Scrambler Marie’s: free entree on your birthday (or 6 days after) with the MarieClub membership.
SmashBurger: Join the Smashclub email and/or get the app, and get a special birthday offer.
Smokey Bones: Free dessert
Sonic Drive-in: free creamslush, tater tots, or medium drink
Spaghetti Warehouse: Free entree and dessert via email club
Steak ‘n Shake: Members will receive a FREE Double ’n Cheese ’n Fries* when they join, and a FREE Specialty Milkshake* on their birthday!
Sunny Street Cafe: Free entree through e-club (coupon good for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after birthday)
Tanuki Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar (Powell): Free dessert and you get to wear an awesome creepy “head” while they sing to you
Ted’s Montana Grill: Free dessert for birthday; appetizer for anniversary
Texas De Brazil (Arena District): $20 off dinner for two
Texas Roadhouse: free sidekick of ribs or appetizer
TGI Fridays: free dessert
Tim Horton’s: Special treat on your birthday
Waffle House: Free waffle
Which Wich: Free regular sandwich
Wendy’s: varies, but reportedly a free frosty or $1 off combo
Beauty Birthday Freebies
Sephora: Enjoy a free beauty item from Sephora on your special day when you sign up as a Beauty Insider.
Aveda: Free gift when you visit one of its stores. Sign up for emails. Joining the Pure Privilege Program will also earn the birthday reward.
bareMinerals: Free eyecolor at boutique or online; gives Friends and Benefits (FAB) members a gift customized to your personal profile. Plus, pick any day of the year to get 15% off your purchase.
Ulta: Free beauty gift for ULTAmate Rewards members
Fashion Birthday Freebies
American Eagle Outfitters: get 15% off during your birthday month with Aerewards
Champ’s Sports: Sign up to be a VIP and receive a birthday offer
Charming Charlie: Sign up for the email club for a special offer on your birthday
The Children’s Place: 20% Coupon on your Birthday and Your Child’s Birthday through MyPlace Rewards
DSW rewards: $5 certificate to use during the month
Famous Footwear: Special birthday offer if you join the Famous Footwear Loyalty Program and spend more than $200 annually (Gold status)
Gap: 25% off with Gapcard
Kohls Rewards: $5 reward, and a bonus $10 off $25 purchase coupon (reportedly – offers may vary)
Jcp Credit Card: Birthday reward (never worth it to open a store credit card account for a reward, but if you already have one, make sure you’re getting a reward.
Old Navy: Sign up for email updates and get a discount around your birthday
Victoria’s Secret: $10 credit for Angel Card members
Other Stores Birthday Freebies
Ace Hardware: Discount coupon on your birthday (in the past, $5 off $25)
The Container Store POP program: coupon for a free gift
CVS: Register for a CVS ExtraCare Card and get ExtraCare Bucks every year on your birthday
Hallmark Crown Rewards: Coupon and a free card (reportedly)
Petco Pals Rewards: Free treat and coupon on your pet’s birthday
Sports Clips: free haircut
World Market: 15% off
Entertainment Birthday Freebies
Dave & Buster’s: A coupon for $10 worth of free game play is emailed to you one week before your birthday if you have registered your Power Card online. You have until 30 days after your birthday to use the promotional coupon.
Shadowbox Live: Free ticket during birthday month once you’ve signed up. You’ll get tickets offers (including free tickets) throughout the year.