Veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. military are worthy of our respect and gratitude every day, but on Veterans Day we can do one better and take them out for a free meal, attend an event that honors them, visit one of the Wichita attractions that offer free admission on Veterans Day, or share this list of discounts to save them a few bucks.
Here is a list of Veterans Day freebies and deals available in the Wichita area, and more will be added through the week. (Please be prepared to show proof of service if requested.)
Although I’ve confirmed these deals nationally, participation may vary at each location. Call ahead if you have any doubt. And thank you for your service!
Jump to: Events * Free Food * Free Car Washes & Miscellaneous
***2016***
**Veterans Day Events in Wichita
Wichita Veterans Day Parade Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 11 a.m. followed by a memorabilia display, family activities and more in WaterWalk Plaza until 2 p.m. Starts at Central and Main and continues south past the WaterWalk complex.
Veterans Appreciation Concert Saturday, November 5. Doors open at 6 p.m. The concert features five bands. Admission is $5 and all proceeds benefit veterans.
Wichita JROTC Veterans Celebration On Thursday, November 10 at 10 a.m., a celebration will be held at Century II with patriotic music from local Wichita schools, 2000 Wichita JROTC cadets in formation, and guest speaker, former Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker. Try to make it if you can – it’s sure to be impressive and a wonderful celebration of our nation’s veterans.
Museum of World Treasures Active-duty military and veterans get free admission on Friday, November 11, from 10 a.m. to noon for the opening of Forgotten Heroes: Conflict in Korea, 1951-1953.
Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum Veterans and their guests can take advantage of FREE admission at the museum Friday, November 11, 2016. See the link for more details.
Sedgwick County Zoo will offer free admission to veterans, active-duty military members, and their families, with valid ID or other proof of service on Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wichita Thunder hosts Top Gun night against the Tulsa Oilers at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, November 11. All military get $10 tickets to the game. Use the code Veteran11 when you buy your tickets online. (The Thunder also has an ongoing discount program for active-duty, reserved, veteran and retired service members and first responders.)
**Veterans Day Restaurant Deals
Applebees is giving veterans and active-duty military a free meal from a selection of signature menu items on Friday, November 11. This year, they’re also including a $5 off coupon that can be redeemed between November 12 and 27, 2016.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: Veterans and military receive a complimentary entrée under $12.95 and everyone gets $5 BJ’s beers on Friday, November 11.
Bonefish Grill are honoring the brave by making America the land of the free – FREE Bang Bang Shrimp, that is. On Friday, November 11th, all active and retired service members with a valid military ID will receive a Complimentary Bang Bang Shrimp at all Bonefish Grill locations.
Buffalo Wild Wings will provide a complimentary small order of wings and a side of fries to veterans and active duty military all day on Friday, November 11.
Chick-fil-A Both Wichita locations and the Derby Chick-fil-A will be honoring active military and veterans again with a FREE Chick-fil-A sandwich all day on Veterans Day. Just show proof of service.
Chili’s: All US Veterans and Active Duty Personnel can enjoy a meal on Chili’s all day 11/11 at participating locations.
Chipotle In a salute to our military troops, Chipotle is offering a BOGO burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos from 3 p.m. to close on November 11 for all U.S. active-duty, reserve, retired, veteran, and National Guard, as well as to military spouses with ID.
Cracker Barrel Veterans will receive a complimentary Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake dessert on November 11, 2016. Other guests can support Operation Homefront with the purchase of a Cracker Barrel rocking chair, or by making a $5 donation that will be matched by the restaurant.
Denny’s invites active, inactive, and retired military to come in and build your own Grand Slam for free on Friday morning, November 11, from 5 a.m. to noon.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: Free sandwich, side, and a Big Yellow Cup, up to a $12 total value, on Friday, November 11, 2016.
Fazoli’s is giving active and veteran military in uniform or with I.D. a free Build-Your-Own-Pasta at participating locations on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11.
Golden Corral will once again offer a free dinner buffet and beverage to all U.S. veterans and active-duty military on Monday, November 14, 2016. Over the past 15 years, Golden Corral restaurants have served more than 4 million free ‘thank you’ meals to our heroes in the military!
Green Mill Veterans and active-duty military eat free Friday, November 11. Restrictions apply.
Hurts Donuts has free red, white, and blue donuts on November 11 for those with military I.D. They also have a 20% hero discount with I.D. ever day.
Hooters On Friday, Nov. 11, Hooters invites all veterans and active-duty military to enjoy a free entrée from the Hooters Veterans Day Menu by presenting a military ID or proof of service at any Hooters location nationwide. Proof of service is required.
IHOP At participating restaurants, veterans and active-duty military can receive a free order of Red, White, and Blue pancakes with proof of service on November 11, 2016. Here’s the online store locator.
Krispy Kreme: Free doughnut and small coffee for any veterans or active military personnel (no ID required) on Veterans Day. Not valid in drive-through, or at grocery and convenience stores.
Longhorn Steakhouse On Veterans Day, LongHorn Steakhouse will offer a free appetizer or dessert (no purchase required, no restrictions) to anyone showing proof of military service. In addition, LongHorn Steakhouse will offer 10% off for guests that dine with Veterans on November 11.
Olive Garden On Veterans Day, November 11, Olive Garden restaurants will offer a free entrée from a special menu to active-duty military and military veterans with proof of military service, and family members dining with them will receive 10% off their meals too. The special menu features six of Olive Garden’s most popular items. Entrées are served with unlimited homemade soup or famous house salad and warm, garlic breadsticks.
On the Border is saying thank you with a free “Create Your Own Combo” menu for all veterans and active-duty military on Wednesday, November 11, 2016.
Red Lobster Veterans and those currently serving in the military can choose a complimentary appetizer or dessert from a special list of 12 options, or a complimentary dessert from among five different options November 10-11, 2016.
Red Robin Yum. Free Double Tavern Burger and Endless Steak Fries for veterans and military on Veterans Day.
Starbucks in Wichita, Derby, Salina, and Hutch are all offering a free tall coffee for veterans, active duty military, and their spouses on November 11. (Thanks to Lindy at the NewMarket store for this information!)
Texas Roadhouse A special lunch service will be held for veterans on November 11, 2016. Be sure to click the link for full details.
TGI Fridays: On Friday, November 11, guests who show their military ID will be treated to a free lunch menu item up to $12 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. local time.
Twin Peaks All military men and women (past and present), enjoy a FREE menu item from the Annual Veterans Day Appreciation Menu. Just present your military ID.
**Services and Retail Deals for Veterans Day
FREE Car Washes Green Lantern, Zips, and two Casey’s Express Wash locations in Wichita will once again give free car washes to veterans and active-duty military on November 11, 2016. Just let them know you’re a veteran or active duty.
Goodwill Kansas 10% off with military ID; 20% off with military ID and preferred customer card on November 11.
Great Clips On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2016, Military members can also come in on Veterans Day for a free haircut or to pick up a free haircut card to use, with proof of service, any day through Dec. 31, 2016. Also, customers who get a haircut at any U.S. Great Clips salon that day will receive a free haircut card to give as a thank you to an active, inactive, or retired military member of any branch, including the National Guard.
Meineke All veterans and active duty can get a free basic oil change at participating locations on November 11. According to its website, several Wichita Meineke locations are participating in the Veterans Day promotion.
National Parks Although many of our 408 national parks never charge an entrance fee, the 127 parks that do normally charge a fee will have free admission for everyone on Veterans Day.
Red Roof Inn Veterans save 15% off on a stay during the month of November.
Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes in the Rhatigan Student Center is offering free cosmic bowling to veterans/active duty and their families, with ID.
Walgreens Veterans, active-duty military, and their families who have a Walgreens Balance Rewards card and valid military ID will receive 20% off regular price eligible store items. (A Balance Rewards customer loyalty program membership is free and can be obtained at checkout.) Some items, like alcohol, lottery tickets, clinic services, etc. are not eligible for the discount.
Wichita State University bookstore is taking 20% off one item on November 11 with military ID.
Related: Toy Drive for families of Fort Riley Warrior in Transition Battalion
Eddie Bauer Outlet at New Market Square 2441 N Maize Rd is have a big Veteran’s Day Sale. They are collecting names for free prizes.
Right now the entire store is on sale 40% off. Their clearance is an additional 50 % off. Then you get a military discount on top if those discounts.
***Veterans receive an additional 15% discount with a military ID. This extra discount is offered on a daily basis.
Thanks, Denise!
Is there anything from Panera this year?
I haven’t seen anything from them yet, but I’ll add them to the list if I do!
Sport Clips also offers free haircuts veterans and active duty military on Veteran’s Day.
Thanks, Chris. I wanted to include that one, but their website doesn’t show any participating locations in Wichita: http://www.sportclips.com/promotions-partnerships/help-a-hero/help-a-hero-2016
This is a great compilation of deals for our deserving veterans! Even though we are not veterans, we were able to accompany friends, who got their “freebies” while we supported the fine businesses who offer these discounts. Thanks!
I believe that the Westgate resorts, that is linked above, is a scam. Look at the complaints about this company.
Ooh, yikes – don’t want that. I removed it. Thank you for saying something.
I used the west gate resorts last year. They sent us to a resort in Oklahoma for free for 3 days. It was great. I plan on entering again on midnight. It wasn’t a scam. They even let me change the date when my husbands work schedule wouldn’t let home go on the scheduled date.
Starbucks is also giving FREE COFFEE TO VETS!
THANKS TO ALL WHOM SERVED!
Chuck E. Cheese is giving away a free 1 topping individual thin and crispy pizza on Wednesday November 11th to veterans and active military.
Wichita Kansas location only- giving 10% discount off on any order made by veteran or active military on November 11th.
Must show valid military identification on both offers.
Thanks, Jason!
I heard Subway offering free subs too for veterans.
TACO BUENO SUPPORT WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT
(and FREE Tacos for Vets, too!)
On Monday, November 11, a portion of our sales will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides programs to aid wounded warriors. We invite you to help us give back to those who serve our country.
Just our small way of saying THANKS for serving our country.
And, in honor of Veterans Day, veterans and active military personnel will receive one FREE crispy beef or chicken taco on Monday, November 11 when they show a valid military ID.
*Limit 1 free taco per customer per day. Must show valid military identification. Offer valid on Monday, November 11, 2013 only.
Cindy, nice! Thanks! 🙂
Today, Monday, is November 9.
Did I get that wrong somewhere in the post?
The e-mail I got from Chili’s says their promo is on Sunday.
According to the Chilis.com website, dine on Sunday, Nov. 10 and bring this printed flyer (http://www.chilis.com/Documents/WoundedWarriorEvent2013.pdf ) and they’ll donate 10% of the sale to the Wounded Warrior project. On Monday, Nov. 11, is when they are offering a free entree to veterans, according to this flyer here: http://www.chilis.com/Documents/VeteransDayMenu2013.pdf