A sweet ice cream store: Dairy Queen’s Free Cone Day attracts NSU students

PHOTO BY KAYLE HAGE
NSU graduate students order ice cream from Dairy Queen.

Gianna Clemente, senior exercise and sport science major, enjoys eating ice cream to take a break while studying for an assignment.“I love eating ice cream such as the ones that Dairy Queen sells because they can help me take a break and then continue my work. The most interesting fact is that they sometimes make offers, such as Free Cone Day on March 20,” Clemente said.

Participating Dairy Queen locations nationwide will offer a free small vanilla cone to customers on March 20.

Maria Hokanson, executive vice president of marketing at Dairy Queen, released a company-wide statement on March 3.

“Free Cone Day is by far one of our favorite days of the year,” Hokanson said. “There’s nothing sweeter than enjoying a tasty cone – on DQ – to kick off a season full of reasons to celebrate.”

Sarah Shibu, junior public health major, loves to try new flavors of ice cream and visiting new places.

“I enjoy trying new ice cream flavors, but chocolate chip, vanilla, strawberry ice cream are very iconic ice creams that I remember from my childhood, and the interesting fact is that I can get a free ice cream,” Shibu said.

Usually, Dairy Queen makes its annual Free Cone Day on the first day of spring. Guests have the option of dipping their ice cream cone in chocolate for $1, which will also go to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

For some students, the event is about the memories they make more than the free ice cream.

“Usually, I love to enjoy ice cream with my family because those are stories we can talk about in the future but when an ice cream store offers free ice cream that is very interesting,” Natalie Bostic, sophomore elementary education major, said.

For Juan Olvera, freshman computer science major, it is about finding places to visit with his friends.

“I love to find new activities to do, such as seeking events, in campus activities and special offers and many other activities, but once I heard about the Dairy Queen activity, I think it is somewhere we can go to change the routine of the day,” Olvera said.

Dairy Queen has a variety of treats, including sundaes, cones and ice cream bars, as well as food like burgers, chicken strips and hot dogs. Many Dairy Queen locations are usually open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.