Here at City Cast Philly, we’ve got birthdays on the mind — because ours is this week! The City Cast Philly podcast and Hey Philly newsletter are both turning two years old 🎂🥳
Something cool about birthdays is that you can get all kinds of free goodies, from snacks to full meals. So in the spirit of our podcast/newsletter’s second trip around the sun, we’ve compiled some little treats you can get from local and regional businesses on your birthday, and what you need to do to get them.
🥣 Free Meal at Nine Ting
Celebrate your birthday with some hot pot or tabletop barbecue at this restaurant in Chinatown. To get yourself a free lunch or dinner, bring at least one friend who plans to pay full price and show your ID.
🥨 Free Pretzel From Philly Pretzel Factory
The Bensalem-based soft pretzel chain will gift you a complimentary pretzel on your special day if you download the Philly Pretzel Factory app and join the Pretzel Rewards program, according to the company’s website.
🥃 Free Shot at Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar
This South Philly bar’s reputation for celebration is right there in the name. If you show your ID on your birthday, they’ll put a hat on you, give you a free shot, ring a bell, and have the whole bar cheer, “Happy Birthday!”
🍧 Free Water Ice at Rita’s
You can download the Rita’s app, sign up for an account, and provide your birthday to get a reward for a free small ice sent to you on your birthday. Winter babies, worry not: If your birthday falls during Rita’s offseason, you’ll get a half-birthday reward instead.
❓ A Surprise Reward from Wawa
The Delco-based convenience store chain “may surprise you” if you add your birthday to your Wawa Rewards profile. (Speaking from experience: This year, they offered me a free fountain drink, hot coffee, or ICEE to use within 30 days of my birthday.)
🐬 Free Admission at Adventure Aquarium
Yes, you read that right! You can get into the aquarium in Camden (which, depending on the day, can be pretty pricey without this offer) for totally free on your birthday. Just go to the box office and show your driver’s license or other ID!
🍩 Free Donut From Federal Donuts
If you download the Rooster Rewards app, sign up for an account, and provide your birthday, you’ll get a complimentary fancy donut coupon sent to your account the next time you turn a year older.
🧁 Free Cupcake at Live! Casino
If you’re a Live! Rewards member, you can come by the promotions desk at the South Philly hotel on the last Sunday of your birthday month for a cupcake voucher and a chance to spin the “Birthday Wheel.”
🎁 Even More!
If a free meal, a free day at the aquarium, a free snack, a free drink, and several free desserts aren’t enough for you … there are also some national chains that offer all kinds of no-cost stuff on your birthday, from Sephora to AMC Theatres. (My personal favorite is Red Robin’s free birthday month burger.) Here is a biiiiiiig list of birthday freebies, courtesy of NerdWallet.
Special thanks to all the Hey Philly readers who shared their favorite free birthday finds with me!
