Veteran's Day Free Meals and 2023 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 2023 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.
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 2023 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. The one located in Arroyo Grande closed down so you'll have to go to the Great Clips in Atascadero or drive to the next county over for the Santa Maria location.
- All State Parks in California, including Oceano Dunes SVRA will offer free admission on Veteran's Day to veterans who were not dishonorably discharged. Proof is required. Here is the entire list of state parks that are participating.
- Sunset North Car Wash in Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo will be offering Veterans and Active Duty Military personnel a free car wash on Veteran's Day (November 11). Offer is good at all locations, rain or shine and it is for Original Hand Wash only.
- Discounted tickets to a veteran and up to 5 guests at Knott's Berry Farm can be bought for $19.99 from Nov. 1 - 16 (Mon-Thurs only) plus Nov. 11 on Veteran's Day, and Nov. 27 - Dec 14, 2023 (Mon-Thurs only). 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, 2023 at all participating IHOPs around the nation between 7AM - 7PM. Dine in only.
- Free HOT-N-READY lunch combo at Little Caesar's between 11AM - 2PM to veterans on Veteran's Day. Must mention offer and proof of service when ordered at the check out counter.
- 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 or on the day of Veteran's Day. (To be confirmed)
- 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.
- Free meal at Golden Corral from 5PM - closing for veterans on Nov 13, 2023. 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 on Veteran's Day. Let them know that you have a veteran with you and they will present a special menu that the veteran can pick from.
- 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 4 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.
- Krispy Kreme is offering a free doughnut and free small coffee to veterans on Veteran's Day. The closest Krispy Kreme to us is in Santa Maria, in the next county over.
- Gilroy Gardens (about 3 hours drive away from SLO) is giving free admission to active and retired military personnel for the following three days: Nov 10 - 12, 2023.
Veteran's Day Celebration and Events around SLO County for 2023:
- Thursday, November 9, 2023 - Veterans Day Celebration at The Downtown SLO Farmers' Market from 6PM - 8:30PM. Enjoy live music, military vehicles, memorabilia, activities, giveaways and resources for veterans and their families on Broad Street between Higuera and Monterey. Address for GPS: 793 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
- Saturday, November 11, 2023 - 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
- Saturday, November 11, 2023 - Veterans Day Community Celebration & Revised Vietnam Display at Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum from 10AM - 3PM. Free event. Address: 801 Grand Ave., Suite 102, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
- Saturday, November 11, 2023 - Veteran's Day Celebration at 11AM at Pismo Beach Pier in Pismo Beach, California
- Saturday, November 11, 2023 - Veteran's Day Ceremony at Faces of Freedom Memorial in Atascadero at 11AM. Address: 8024 Portola Rd, Atascadero, CA 93422
As more events are announced, they will be added to this page.
If you're a veteran in San Luis Obispo county, you can take advantage of a lot of cool (sometimes, even free) 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.
If you're a veteran in San Luis Obispo county, you can take advantage of a lot of cool (sometimes, even free) 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.
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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