Business & Tech
How to Score Free Donuts Around Chicago on Friday
National Donut Day has actual historical significance. But you just want to know who's giving away all that fried goodness, and that's OK.
National Donut Day is Friday, June 3, and if you're like most people, your first thoughts aren't about the day's origins that stretch back to the Great Depression.
They're not about the celebration's Chicago roots, and how they're connected to the Salvation Army. Or about how the day is meant to be a commemoration of "donut lassies," Salvation Army female volunteers who gave aid to U.S. soldiers on the front lines of World War I.
And they're most definitely not about when we started finding it acceptable to spell it "donut" instead of the correct way, "doughnut."
Find out what's happening in Chicagofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
No, if you're like most people, there are only two things on your mind when you hear it's National Donut Day:
Free donuts and where can you get them.
Find out what's happening in Chicagofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Businesses in and around Chicago are celebrating National Donut Day with a host of giveaways and other special offerings. Here are what some area eateries are doing to celebrate the day. You also can check with your local bakery, grocer or corner donut dealer to see if they're doing anything special Friday.
Not quite free, but the Chicago donut shop at 8251 S. Cottage Grove Ave., is celebrating National Donut Day by offering $1 off a dozen glazed donuts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The hamburger spot is teaming up with the local donut-maker to create and serve special milkshakes for the entire weekend—not just Friday—at its 2954 N. Sheffield Ave., location in Lakeview. Here's what on the menu:
- Friday: Raspberry-Blood Orange Jelly Donut Shake, $10
- Saturday: Apple Fritter with Apple Cider Glaze Shake, $9
- Sunday: Strawberry Rhubarb Glazed Donut Shake, $9
Participating stores will let customers who buy a beverage—hot and iced coffee, lattes, espresso, tea and frozen drinks—score one of these variety of donuts for free:
- glazed
- jelly filled
- Boston kreme
- chocolate glazed
- chocolate frosted
Go to the Dunkin' Donuts website to find a location near you.
The baked goods manufacturer will be teaming up with the Salvation Army in Chicago for a National Donut Day Metra Commuter Party. Commuters can grab a free donut from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday at Ogilvie Transportation Center, 500 W. Madison St.
Can't make it to Friday's morning event? Entenmann's also is giving 10 people the opportunity to celebrate National Donut Day every day for a full year. The company is running a sweepstakes on its Facebook page to win free Entenmann's donuts for a year.
Fabulous Freddies Italian Eatery
Top off that slice of pizza from the Bridgeport restaurant at 701 W 31st St.. with two free donuts Friday.
The Wicker Park location—1408 N. Milwaukee Ave.—will put its own spin on the day with " 'Coffee & Donuts' Pancakes: a stack of old fashioned buttermilk pancakes, glazed and topped with coffee cake streusel and served with an espresso creme anglaise for dunkin’," according to the restaurant's Facebook page. This special dish will only be available Friday.
The national chain keeps it simple: Stop in Friday at the Chicago area's only Krispy Kreme shop—412 E. Devon Ave., Elk Grove—and you get a free donut, any variety, no other purchase necessary.
Instead of telling you, we'll let the Asian eatery show you what it's doing Friday:
And yes, MAK—along with Kanela's and Krispy Kreme—spell "doughnut" the correct way. Kudos to them.
All six Chicago locations are offering a free glazed donut with the purchase of a beverage or gelato.
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