Get a Free Cone at Dairy Queen on Tuesday

DACULA, GA -- The first day of spring is still over a week away, but Dairy Queen is celebrating early and wants to give you free ice cream.

On Tuesday, March 15, participating Dairy Queen locations will give you a free small, vanilla cone in honor of the chain's 75th annual Free Cone Day.

Usually held on the first day of spring, the event was bumped up a few days this year to mark the official anniversary of the popular promotion.

There are dozens of DQ Grill & Chill and Dairy Queen Brazier locations throughout Gwinnett County. To find the one nearest you, click here.

During the promotion, Dairy Queen is asking for donations to Children's Miracle Network.

Barry Westrum, executive vice president of marketing for American Dairy Queen Corporation, told Yahoo Finance that DQ raised $140,000 in one day last year, averaging about 1,330 cones per store. He said he hopes to surpass those numbers this year.

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH), says its website, "was established nationally in 1983 to help children by actively supporting improved health care for millions of young people around the world.

CMNH's mission is to generate funds and awareness programs for the benefit of children served by its associated hospitals, now numbering more than 170 nationwide."

Patch's Charlene Arsenault contributed to this report.

(Photo via dairyqueen.com)