Veteran's Day Free Meals and 2022 Events in San Luis Obispo County
Posted by SanLuisObispoMom.com on Monday, October 21, 2019 Under: Veterans
I'm a veteran's wife so every year for the last 10 years, I go on a list hunt ahead of time to find free things for my special veteran on Veteran's Day. This year, Veteran's Day is Sat., November 11, 2023.
Major chains are usually very consistent with offering free meals for veterans and active military on Veteran's Day. Here is the list I've compiled for San Luis Obispo County and nearby.
Please be ready to show proof of military service or veteran's status when requested by any of these companies for your freebies. *If there is a (To be confirmed) note next to the freebie listed below, it just means that I haven't seen the company's actual website publish their freebie announcement for 2022 but it is usually an ongoing annual offer that they do and sometimes their corporate or marketing team might be last minute about posting them.
If you're a veteran in San Luis Obispo county, you can take advantage of a lot of cool events that the County of San Luis Obispo put together. They help you with benefits and services that you are eligible for too. You can visit the Veterans Service website that is run by the county and they also do an amazing job of posting upcoming events on their Veterans Services of San Luis Obispo county facebook page.
See other family-friendly events on the SanLuisObispoMom.com activities page.
Major chains are usually very consistent with offering free meals for veterans and active military on Veteran's Day. Here is the list I've compiled for San Luis Obispo County and nearby.
Please be ready to show proof of military service or veteran's status when requested by any of these companies for your freebies. *If there is a (To be confirmed) note next to the freebie listed below, it just means that I haven't seen the company's actual website publish their freebie announcement for 2022 but it is usually an ongoing annual offer that they do and sometimes their corporate or marketing team might be last minute about posting them.
- Free haircut at all Great Clips places for veterans on Veteran's Day. They do this every year and my husband has been able to taken advantage of it most of the time. If the veteran comes in that day and can't wait too long to get a haircut that very day, they will hand the veteran a free haircut card to use.
- Discounted tickets to a veteran and up to 5 guests at Knott's Berry Farm from Nov. 1 - 17 (Mon-Thurs only), and Nov. 28 - Dec 15, 2022 (Mon-Thurs only) can buy tickets for $19.99. Now that we are here on the Central Coast, we can drive a few hours south to Knott's Berry Farm in Orange County. Spouses and children are not eligible to purchase these discount tickets without the military member present.
- Free red, white & blueberry pancakes to veterans and active duty at IHOP on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, 2022 at all participating IHOPs around the nation. Dine in only.
- Free 10 boneless wings and fries for veteran's on Veteran's Day at Buffalo Wild Wings. They usually don't post it on their website ahead of time but will publish a PR announcement or post on facebook a couple of days before about this freebie.
- Free meal to veterans and active military on Veteran's Day at Applebee's. They usually require you to show proof. Sometimes it's from a special list so do tell them upon order that you are a veteran or active military and they will let you know what's the freebie offer. The closest Applebee's is in Santa Maria, in the next county over.
- Little Caesar's pizza will offer a free $5 hot and ready lunch combo during the hours of 11AM - 2PM to any veteran or active military on Veteran's Day, November 11th. Must mention offer and like the rest, be ready to show proof.
- Free meal at Golden Corral from 5PM - closing for veterans on Nov 14, 2022. The closest Golden Corral to SLO is in Santa Maria, California (in the next county over). Golden Corral locations usually have their free meal offers on the Monday closest to Veteran's Day so it is not always on the actual Veteran's Day.
- Free meal to veterans at Olive Garden from a selected menu. They usually don't market this freebie until a few days or during the first week of November but from my experience, it is not always on the actual Veteran's Day but close to it.
- All veterans and active duty get a free meal from Chili's from a selected menu on Veteran's Day. There's a list of 7 to choose from: https://www.chilis.com/restaurant-events/veterans-day.
- All veterans and active duty get a free Build Your Own Grand Slam at Denny's on Veteran's Day. Offer is only valid from 5AM - noon for dine in.
- All veterans get a free tall coffee at Starbucks on Veteran's Day. They always offer this freebie but don't announce it until a days before.
- Gilroy Gardens (about 3 hours away from SLO) is giving free admission to active and retired military from Nov 11 - 13, 2022. Family members accompanying the military member can get 50% up for up to 6 people during that timeframe.
Veteran's Day Celebration and Events around SLO County for 2022:
- Friday, November 11, 2022 - Veteran's Day Ceremony at Pismo Beach Pier from 11AM - Noon.
- Friday, November 11, 2022 - Veterans Day Community Celebration at Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum from 10AM - 3PM. Bring a photo of your veteran for the Hometown Heroes Photo Wall. Address: 801 Grand Ave., Suite 102, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
- Friday, November 11, 2022 - Veterans Day Ceremony at the Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial at 11AM. The ceremony will include a fly-over by Estella Warbirds, the National Anthem presented by Atascadero Fine Arts Academy students, the laying of a memorial wreath by the VFW Auxiliary, and TAPS. This very special remembrance event will last just more than an hour and will be followed by a BBQ lunch provided by the Atascadero Kiwanis. Address: 8024 Portola Rd, Atascadero, CA 93422
- Friday, November 11, 2022 - Veterans Day Ceremony at 11AM at Paso Robles District Cemetery. Join them for guest speakers, patriotic music and refreshments after the ceremony. Address: 45 Nacimiento Lake Dr., Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Saturday, November 12, 2022 - Pismo Beach Cities Lions Club Veteran's Day Pancake Breakfast from 7:30AM - 11:00AM. Buy one breakfast for yourself, family members and then one for a Veteran so they can eat "FREE". $9 for adults, $4 for kids. Breakfast includes: Coffee, Juice, Eggs, Pancakes and Sausages. Address: Pismo Beach Cities Lions Clubhouse - 190 Cypress, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
If you're a veteran in San Luis Obispo county, you can take advantage of a lot of cool events that the County of San Luis Obispo put together. They help you with benefits and services that you are eligible for too. You can visit the Veterans Service website that is run by the county and they also do an amazing job of posting upcoming events on their Veterans Services of San Luis Obispo county facebook page.
See other family-friendly events on the SanLuisObispoMom.com activities page.
In : Veterans
Tags: discounts and free things for veterans in san luis obispo
Originally from San Diego, California, I'm a San Diego State University alumna, veteran's wife and mom of two kids who were born two years apart. After living on the East Coast for 6 years, we now reside in San Luis Obispo County and here, the exploration continues.
@sanluisobispomom