Cow Appreciation Day is returning to Chick-fil-A for the first time since 2019. The chain is reviving the event today (July 14) as part of its 80th birthday celebrations.
The company had put the tradition on hold when the pandemic hit.
The premise remains the same. You show up dressed like a cow, and you can walk out with a free entrée. This year’s event will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time at participating locations across the country.
What you can order depends on when you get there. In the morning, the free options are a Chicken Biscuit or a 4-count of Chick-n-Minis. For lunch and dinner, the selection expands to include the Original or Spicy Chicken Sandwich, an 8-count of Original or Grilled Nuggets, or a 3-count of Chick-n-Strips.
Kids 12 and under can get a select entrée plus a prize, though the exact offerings vary by location and are available only while supplies last.
There are a few rules you’ve got to abide by to claim the free meal. The offer is good for dine-in, carry-out, and drive-thru, but it has to be done in person. Orders placed through the Chick-fil-A app or via delivery are not eligible.
The whole cow theme has been central to Chick-fil-A’s brand for a good three decades now. It began in 1995 with the now iconic and intentionally misspelled “Eat Mor Chikin” slogan on a billboard in Atlanta, with the cows humorously lobbying customers to choose chicken over beef. Two years later, in 1997, the cows landed their first TV commercial.
The chicken sandwich chain leaned into the nostalgia when announcing the comeback: “The return of Cow Appreciation Day gives longtime fans a chance to relive a favorite summer tradition, while introducing a whole new generation to the fun of The Cows,” the company said in a release.
For anyone planning to cash in, the formula is straightforward. Put together some kind of cow costume, get to a Chick-fil-A before 7 p.m. on July 14, and the entrée is on the house.
Sources: Chick-fil-A, Cow Appreciation Day, USA TODAY