Fridays are always cool, but this one, July 11, is especially so because it is Slurpee Day.
On what will mark the convenience store chain’s 98th birthday – its first store opened in Dallas in 1927 – participating 7-Eleven, Speedway or Stripes stores will be giving out a free small Slurpee.
7-Eleven has celebrated its birthday with free Slurpees since 2002. A special twist this year, select 7-Eleven and Speedway locations will also give members of the 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards loyalty programs special Slurpee-activated temporary tongue tattoos. The S-shaped tattoos, when placed on the tongue after sipping the frozen drink, appear in blue, green, red or purple.
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How to get a free Slurpee at 7-Eleven
Visit a participating 7-Eleven on Friday, July 11, and you can get a small Slurpee (one per customer, no purchase necessary; while supplies last).
There’s also a way to get a second freebie. To secure your second drink, scan your 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards app on July 11, and you will get a coupon for another free small Slurpee redeemable through July 31.
Where to get Slurpee Day tongue tattoos
Members of 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards can get one of the Tongue-toos at locations in these cities:
7-Eleven locations: Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Diego, Tampa and Washington, D.C.
Speedway locations: Albuquerque, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Greenville, Indianapolis, Louisville and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Other National Slurpee Day specials:
Sip: The limited-time pineapple-berry blend flavor, MTN Dew Infinite Swirl Slurpee, is back at 7-Eleven (also available as a fountain drink or in 20-ounce bottles).
Save: On deliveries on July 11 – get $7.11 off any purchase of $20 or more with the 7NOW Delivery app (use promo code 711DAY).
Accessorize: Shop 7-Eleven’s special Birthday Collection, including T-shirts and Slurpee costumes online at 7Collection.
Win: Each day, 7-Eleven gives customers the chance to win $5,000 in the 7-Eleven and Speedway apps (through Jan. 6, 2026).
Slurpee history
7-Eleven licensed the frozen drink in 1965 from Omar Knedlik, who founded what became the Icee company. At his Dairy Queen franchise in Coffeyville, Kansas, he sold bottles of Coke partly frozen, according to Kansas Public Radio.
With the help of the John E. Mitchell manufacturing firm, he designed and built a machine in 1960, patented it in 1962, and began calling it Icee, according to Smithsonian magazine. The Dallas, Texas-based manufacturing firm, which made artillery shells and missiles during World War II, sold 300 machines within five years, Priceonomics.com, a data news site, reported. When 7-Eleven bought machines, the company called its version of the drink “Slurpee.”
Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Free Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven is here on Friday, July 11
