Don’t miss any fun freebies. Be sure to check out our list of the Top National Days for freebies and deals to mark your calendar.

Dutch Bros. Coffee

Get a free state sticker with the purchase of any drink (including iced, hot, and blended teas) starting at 5 am, while supplies last.

McAlister’s Deli

McAlister’s Rewards members can get up to three free Flavor Shots on with purchase of a beverage from June 10 to 14.

Beverage options include sweet tea, unsweet tea, ½ sweet & ½ unsweet tea, ½ lemonade & ½ sweet/unsweet tea, lemonade or a fountain beverage.

PJ’s Coffee

All 32 oz. iced teas are $3.

QuikTrip

Get a free Big Q Tea with the coupon in the mobile app.

Raising Cane’s

Caniac Club members can get a free 22 oz. iced tea with the offer in their accounts. It’s valid through June 10.

Starbucks

Starbucks Rewards members who order hot or iced brewed tea and pay with the gift cards in their accounts can get free same-visit refills.

This is valid every day, not just on National Iced Tea Day.

If you do prefer pork, our slow cooker pulled pork recipe is for you.

Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sandwich Recipe

Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sandwich Ingredients:

You can get the full list of ingredients with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Onion – The onions act as a barrier between the chicken and the bottom of the slow cooker, preventing the chicken from burning or overcooking. You can use either a yellow or white onion.
• Chicken breast – The chicken breasts are boneless, so they’re much easier to shred and are preferred in this recipe. If you don’t have any, boneless chicken thighs could work, but they might change your cooking time.
• Barbecue sauce – Any brand or flavor of barbecue sauce works. For a more authentic recipe, we suggest an Eastern North Carolina vinegar-based barbecue sauce or a Western North Carolina tomato-vinegar barbecue sauce.
• Rice wine vinegar – This sweet vinegar cuts through the richness of the barbecue sauce. It also helps to tenderize the chicken and make it easier to shred it when it’s done. You can substitute white balsamic vinegar instead.
• Seasoning – We add seasoned salt to bring out all the flavors, brown sugar to add a little sweetness to balance the richness of the barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, which adds a smoky flavor.
• Garlic – This adds a little spice and seasoning to the recipe.
• Coleslaw – This is optional, but barbecue sandwiches in North Carolina are topped with coleslaw so if you want to stay traditional, you’ll want to add coleslaw. You can either buy bagged coleslaw to make this recipe a little easier or make your own with cabbage, carrots, and mayonnaise.
• Hamburger buns – Any type of bread or buns works, but hamburger buns are easiest and most commonly available.

How To Make Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sandwiches:

Slice the onion and add it to the bottom of the slow cooker.

You want to spread the onion out in a single layer so it acts as a barrier between the hot slow cooker bowl and the chicken. This ensures that the chicken doesn’t burn at the bottom before it’s cooked all the way through.

Place the chicken on top of the onion in the slow cooker.

Quick note: When I cook chicken, I always rinse it and pat it dry, then cut off any of the white fat.

You don’t have to do this, but I find that trimming the fat tends to make the chicken breast a more consistent texture when you’re pulling it.

In a bowl, add all of the sauce ingredients: barbecue sauce, rice wine vinegar, seasoned salt, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.

Whisk them together.

Pour the sauce over the chicken.

Grate in the garlic.

Cook on low for seven hours.

Quick note: Chicken needs to be at 165 F for safe consumption.

You could cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, but cooking the chicken faster tends to dry it out and it’s not as easy to pull, so you don’t end up with the pulled chicken texture that you’re looking for.

After the chicken is done cooking, shred it using two forks or meat claws, then stir it back into the sauce.

Let the chicken sit on the warm setting in the slow cooker to absorb some of the flavors.

Because shredding exposes the inside of the chicken pieces to the barbecue sauce, I like to let it sit for at least 15 minutes to absorb more flavor.

Toast the hamburger buns.

Add about a quarter to a half cup of the pulled chicken on top of the bottom half of the hamburger bun.

Top with coleslaw.

You can buy coleslaw mix or make homemade coleslaw. Personally, I shred a carrot and add it to a bowl with a half bag of shredded cabbage, then toss it with a quarter cup of dill pickle mayo.

Add the top half of the bun and serve.

Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sandwich: Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t miss any fun freebies. Be sure to check out our list of the Top National Days for freebies and deals to mark your calendar.

Avelo Airlines

Save with the budget airline when you book a flight with your BFF on June 7 to 9.

Buy one flight to Florida or Puerto Rico and get a second 50% off when you enter the promo code SUNSHINE at checkout. Flights must be between August 1 and December 4.

7 Brew

Buy one Brewed Perfect drink, get one free. This is happening on June 7 from 7 am to 7 pm.

Plus, you can get a collector’s cup when you purchase a large Brewed Perfect drink all month.

Blaze Pizza

Get the BFF bundle: two Build-Your-Own 11-inch pizzas, two fountain drinks, and two desserts for just $25.99.

If you’ve never been before, check out our Blaze Pizza review.

Bojangles

Get BOGO biscuit combos when you enter the code BOGOBISCUIT in the app at checkout.

Carl’s Jr.

Rewards members can get a Big Carl for $1 with the purchase of one at full price, through June 10.

Dunkin’

Dunkin’ Rewards members can get 100 bonus points when they order through the app.

Kilwins

Buy two pieces of fudge, get one free.

In the email about best friends day, Kilwins also reminds you to get free sample first, so don’t forget about that.

Love’s Travel Stops

Get a free 8.4 oz. Red Bull Sudachi Lime.

Moe’s Southwest Grill

Moe Rewards Members can get BOGO entrées, plus free chips and salsa, from June 8 to 14.

Choose from a Moe Value Meal, Burritos, Bowls, Stacks, Nachos, Quesadillas, Three Tacos, Salads, Loaded Fries or Grilled Burrito Dippers (2 ct.); excludes One Taco, Grilled Burrito Dipper (1 ct.), Kids Meals, Meal Kits, and Value Packs.

Noodles & Co.

Rewards members can get BOGO 50% on any entrées on June 8 and 9.

Outback Steakhouse

Kids eat free every Monday with the purchase of an adult entrée and National Best Friends Day falls on a Monday this year. So, if your kid is your BFF, this is perfect.

Shake Shack

Get a ShackBurger when you order Smoky BBQ Sandwich and enter the promo code BONUSBURGER at checkout. This is valid June 8 to 15.

Subway

Sub Club members can buy one footlong and get a second for 50% off after 4 pm with the code BOGO50.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Loyalty Members can get BOGO drinks (any drink, any size) from noon to 6 pm on June 6 to 8.

7-Eleven

7Rewards members can get a doughnut for only $.50. Just enter your rewards number at checkout.

Circle K

Get a doughnut and coffee for just $3.

Dunkin’

Dunkin’ Rewards members can get a free classic donut of your choice with any beverage purchase (excluding espresso shots). The purchase of a beverage and donut must be in the same transaction.

Classic donuts include Boston Kreme, Glazed, Jelly Filled, Apple N’ Spice, French Cruller, and more.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Get a free doughnut of your choice. Any doughnut, all day. No purchase necessary. This is valid for in-store customers only (not valid on online orders).

Plus, get an original glazed dozen for $2 when you buy any other dozen.

Legendary Doughnuts

When you purchase a doughnut, you’re entered for a chance to win free doughnuts for a year, a $50 gift card, or a free Red Bull Spritzer and doughnut.

Legendary Doughnuts is a super popular Washington-based chain that I tried in Issaquah.

LIDL

MyLidl members can get one free donut from the in-store bakery with the coupon in the myLidl app.

Parlor Doughnuts

Rewards members can get a free French Toast Layered Doughnut with any purchase.

Pinkbox Doughnuts

Nothing confirmed yet, but in the past, Pinkbox has given away limited edition t-shirts to customers who order a dozen doughnuts.

Randy’s Donuts

Any guest can get a free doughnut (from the classic category) from 6 am to noon. All locations are participating except Resorts World in Las Vegas and the LAX airport.

Sheetz

Nothing listed yet, but last year you could get a free donut June 6 to 10 with the purchase of any Sheetz Fountain drink, Sheetz Bros Coffee, or bottled beverage. The offer will be in your Sheetz app.

Speedway

Speedway Rewards members can get a doughnut for only $.50. Just enter your rewards number at checkout.

Tim Hortons

Tims Rewards Members can receive any classic or specialty donut free with purchase of any size beverage from June 1 to 7.

If dad spends his weekends at games, this list is perfect for him. And if you’re planning on going to a baseball game to root on your favorite team together, our list of what to pack for a baseball game will help assure you don’t forget anything.

Tailgating & Game Day Essentials

Regardless of if dad is watching his favorite MLB team or his kids’ little league game, these are the essentials he’ll need to enjoy all nine innings.

Bluetooth Speaker With Team Logo

Part of the fun of baseball games is tailgating before the game. You put on some music, grill some food, and hang out with your friends before heading into the stadium.

The perfect addition to dad’s pre-game is a Bluetooth speaker with his favorite team’s logo on it. It’s great for a homegate or a backyard barbecue, when he can’t make it to the ballpark, too.

Insulated Travel Mug With Team Logo

I’m obsessed with my insulated travel mugs. I have a couple of them and use them every day to keep my drinks cold. They’re so much better than regular cups.

So, if your dad doesn’t have one, a travel mug with his favorite baseball team’s logo on it is a great gift idea. He can use it for his coffee on the way to work or his soda when he’s sitting on the porch relaxing.

Foldable Camping Chair

Good dads go to all their children’s little league games. But, that doesn’t mean they wanna sit on a hard bench all season.

So, get dad a foldable camping chair that’s more comfortable than the stands. If you can find a backpack chair with a cooler on the back and a cup holder on the side, well, that’s even better.

Fun & Novelty Gifts

If you’re looking for something fun to get dad, this section has it.

Baseball Jersey-Shaped Cutting Board

Part of the fun of tailgating before a game, for my dad anyway, is grilling a bunch of food. He loves manning the grill with the other dads.

So a few years ago, I got him this baseball jersey-shaped cutting board. You can put a team logo on the front and dad’s name and favorite number on the back, just like a real jersey. It’s such a good gift — even if dad just ends up using it as a display piece in the kitchen like mine does.

Insulated Cooler

A cooler is so important to a baseball dad. He can use it at a tailgate before an MLB game, to keep his drinks cold during his kids’ little league games, on a road trip to a travel ball game, or just sitting at home watching a game in his garage with his friends.

If all dad has is a large cooler, a smaller, portable insulated cooler is a really good idea.

Custom bobblehead

My brother has been collecting bobbleheads of baseball players for as long as I can remember. He has a ton from promotions from going to baseball games, plus others that he’s bought online. So, when a friend of his was thinking of a unique gift for him, he made him a custom bobblehead. It was such a cool idea.

So, if you are trying to find a gift for the dad who has everything, make him a custom bobblehead. There’s a very good chance he doesn’t have one of those.

Apparel & Wearable Gifts

Deck dad out in his favorite team gear with the ideas here.

Team Baseball Cap

My dad takes a long walk every day. Since he lives in Florida, he wears a hat to walk to protect his face. That does mean his hats get worn out from so much sun and need to be replaced often.

So, if your dad wears hats, get him a nice team baseball cap, even if he already has one. There’s a chance he’ll wear it out and need a replacement.

Custom Jersey

I got my dad two gifts for Father’s Day this year: a joke jersey that was on clearance (of a former player who was on my dad’s favorite team for a hot minute) and then a jersey with our last name on it.

If you don’t want dad’s name on a shirt, you could just literally customize it with the word DAD or GRANDPA and choose the number 1 to be the jersey number — since, of course, your dad is #1.

Experience Gifts

Give dad a gift that he won’t forget: time together.

MLB game tickets

What dad really wants, more than anything, is to spend time with you. So, give him that time. Figure out a day when you’re both free, then pick him up tickets for an MLB game. He’ll love it.

If you need to stretch a little to make it happen, you can always look for tickets on StubHub. We’ve used that to get discounted New York Mets tickets. And then we spent the savings on food inside the stadium.

Budget-Friendly Gifts (Under $30)

If your wallet is a little light this year, get dad something from this section. Still great ideas, just easier on the budget.

Bottle Opener Keychain With Team Logo

If you’re like us, you’re forever asking for a bottle opener. And, if you gift dad a bottle opener keychain, he’ll always have one ready when someone asks.

I love this one with the team logo on it, partially because the bright colors help dad to find his keys when they’re missing and partially because it shows dad you actually thought about this gift. You didn’t just grab something at the gas station on the way to Father’s Day dinner.

Team Logo Koozies

I didn’t know what a can koozie was until we moved to North Carolina and noticed everyone using them on their cans. It’s a great way to keep condensation off your hands when you’re outside, like at a baseball game.

Definitely pick one up for dad with his favorite baseball team on it. They’re so thin, so he can leave it in a pocket on his cooler and he’ll have it handy anytime he has a canned beverage.

Baseball Cookies

If dad has a sweet tooth, and doesn’t need any more stuff, make him some chocolate covered Oreo baseball cookies. They’re so easy to make (with our tutorial below) and keep this a really budget-friendly option.

If you don’t want to make them, you can order baseball-themed cookies online instead (although, they’ll cost more). Dad will love them either way.

Portable phone charger

Our phones are impossible to live without, especially if you’re at a zoo. Some zoos will require mobile tickets, so you need your phones for entry. Some only have mobile park maps, so you need the phone for that.

Plus, you need it to take photos, stay in touch in case your group gets separated, and as a GPS to get home from the zoo.

So, make sure you pack a portable phone charger so you don’t have to stress over your phone’s battery.

What To Wear To The Zoo

Comfortable shoes

The zoo is a lot of walking for everyone. So, we suggest wearing your most comfortable shoes or sneakers because you’ll be on your feet all day.

Flip flops aren’t ideal because there can be lots of wet areas or cold areas, if your zoo has a tundra exhibit or penguin enclosure.

So, shoes without a grip or open toed shoes aren’t great in those spaces.

Rain gear (maybe)

If you’re going on a rainy day, you should wear rain jackets and boots. I would suggest those over rain ponchos because ponchos are disposable, and, like straws, might not be great for the animals if one happens to blow out of the garbage and into an animal’s habitat.

What To Bring To The Zoo With Kids

Stroller or wagon

Zoos are usually pretty big, which means lots of walking for your little kids. Yes, there is stopping at different areas to see animals, but it’s still tiresome.

So, to make the day more enjoyable for everyone, pack a stroller or wagon. That way, your kids can take a break from walking or your youngest kid can take a nap while your older kids enjoy the rest of the zoo.

Extra clothes

Some zoos have a splash pad area for kids, so pack an extra pair of clothes in case your child runs through the water and gets wet.

Most others have a playground area where kids may dig in the dirt. That’s a lot of fun until it’s time to pack everyone in the car and your child is about to trek a load of dirt inside.

Having an extra set of clothes to change them into for the ride home is great. Having a pair of pajamas just in case your child falls asleep on the way home is better because then you can just tuck them into bed as soon as you park.

A hat

You’re definitely going to put sunscreen on your children’s faces throughout the day, but you should also pack a hat for them to wear.

It’s just an extra level of protection and a way to keep the sun off their faces. Sure, the brim might get in the way of seeing the very top of the giraffe, but that’s better than sunburn.

Dollar store toys

Kids always want to stop in the gift shop for souvenirs no matter where they are. So, of course, the zoo is no different. But, gift shop toys are so expensive.

So, do yourself a favor and go to the dollar store before you go to the zoo for things like bubbles or stuffed animals. Pack those items in your bag and keep them hidden from your kids. When they ask to go into the gift shop, tell them you’ve already bought them something special from there and take out your pre-bought souvenirs.

Your kids won’t know the difference and your wallet will be much happier.

Day At The Zoo: Frequently Asked Questions

If you bought too many cherry tomatoes and you’re looking for another way to use them, they’re perfect in our simple tomato salad. We love eating that in the summer.

Roasted Tomato Burrata Salad Recipe

Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

Roasted Tomato Burrata Salad Ingredients:

You can get the full list of ingredients with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Cherry tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes add a nice pop of sweetness to the salad. They are also pretty small so they cook quickly. If you can’t find them, you can substitute grape tomatoes
• Olive oil – You need a little olive oil so the tomatoes don’t stick to the pan while you’re roasting them.
• White balsamic vinegar – This adds a sweetness to balance the olive oil on the tomatoes.
• Salt – This brings out the sweetness in the tomatoes.
• Burrata cheese – You can find burrata in the specialty cheese section of your local grocery store. It often comes in a two-pack, but we only use one in this recipe.
• Basil puree paste – This coats the burrata and tomatoes and adds an earthy flavor. Using the paste adds much more flavor than you’d get from fresh basil. If you can’t find this, you can use basil pesto.

How To Make Roasted Tomato Burrata Salad:

Pre-heat the oven to 400 F.

Rinse the cherry tomatoes and pat them dry.

Quick note: You do need to dry them because the olive oil will slip off wet tomatoes.

Put the dried tomatoes into a medium sized bowl.

Drizzle them with olive oil.

Sprinkle the salt on top.

Gently stir everything together so the tomatoes all coated with the oil and salt.

I actually just shake the bowl that they’re in rather than using a spoon to stir just so I have one less thing to wash.

Pour the tomatoes onto a small baking sheet.

We use a 11″ x 13″-inch sheet pan with higher sides. You don’t want the tomatoes rolling off the tray, so you want a higher side to keep them on the tray.

Bake the tomatoes for 10 minutes until the skin starts to blister.

If you used grape tomatoes instead, you may need to cook them a couple minutes longer.

Remove the pan from the oven.

Use a bamboo spoon to gently tap the tomatoes to crack the skin and push them to the edges of the sheet pan.

Take the burrata out of its package gently and pat it dry on a paper towel to remove excess water.

Place the dried burrata on the center of the tray.

Gently split it open from the inside and let the burrata heat just a little bit.

Quick note: You want to use room temperature burrata. That will cause the center to be more oozy than it would be if you use it straight from the refrigerator.

But, since you’re letting it sit on the warm tray for a minute anyway, it’s okay if you forget to take it out of the fridge until the last second.

Gently toss the Stracciatella cheese (Stracciatella is the actual name of the cheese inside the burrata) around with the tomatoes.

Drizzle the basil paste on top.

Gently mix the basil in with the stracciatella cheese and the tomatoes to lightly coat them.

I serve it straight from the baking tray rather than moving it to a serving tray.

Roasted Tomato Burrata Salad: Frequently Asked Questions

Homemade Pickles From Leftover Pickle Juice

The easiest way to use a lot of cucumbers is to turn them into pickles. And you can do that by reusing pickle juice from store-bought pickles.

It’s such a simple method that helps with food waste and extends your grocery budget.

Cucumber Hummus Bites

If you’re looking for a simple party appetizer, these cucumber hummus bites are it.

Slices of cucumber are topped with dill hummus, parsley, cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese crumbles to make a really delicious bite.

Real quick. If you’re going to be cooking with any type of beans besides refried beans, you’re going to want to drain them. I used to pour the can of beans into a large handheld strainer. Which always worked, but it was annoying large and bulky.

So, I bought a can colander and it’s the best kitchen gadget I’ve bought in a really long time. You open the can, put the can colander on top, flip it over, and it drains. That’s it. 

So, if you’re going to be cooking with cans of beans, you’re gonna wanna spend the couple dollars on one of these. Trust me.

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken With Corn And Beans

Black beans are added to the slow cooker along with corn, chicken, and salsa to make this really hearty salsa chicken in the slow cooker.

You can swap the beans for kidney beans instead if you have a can of those in the pantry waiting to be used.

Chicken Chili

Chili is known for being filled with beans, so of course, you’ll find beans in our chicken chili. It actually only has two cans: dark kidney beans and black beans.

Of course, there are other ingredients like bell peppers (which aren’t usually found in chili) and chili powder (which is), making it a really nice twist on a traditional chili.

Mexican Kidney Beans

A can of kidney beans is the main ingredient in these Mexican kidney beans, which taste just like beans you’d get at a restaurant.

They’re the perfect addition to your Taco Tuesday dinners.

Taco Dip

Refried beans are the base of this taco dip, which is the perfect recipe for game day.

The beans are topped with all your favorite taco toppings, like lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. Buy your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy.

This is just one of the annual days restaurants celebrate with free food. Make sure you don’t miss out on any this year. Check out our list of the Top 20+ National Days For Freebies And Deals and mark your calendars.

National Hamburger Day: Freebies And Deals

All of these deals are happening on May 28 unless otherwise noted.

Arby’s

Rewards members can guy one sandwich, get one free (including Classic Roast Beef, Beef ’n Cheddar and Crispy Chicken sandwich) from May 28 to 31.

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

Get a BD’s All American Burger and a classic side for $10.

BJ’s Brewhouse

BJ’s Brewhouse released an all-new Wagyu Burger for National Burger Month. It also has a $13 Pizookie Meal Deal with the All-American Smash Burger.

Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay

Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay is doing a month of deals to celebrate National Burger Month, including a specific National Hamburger Day deal.

• May 1 to 3: $9 Palace Classic (4 oz. burger) with regular or sweet potato fries
• May 4 to 10: Free regular or sweet potato fries with any burger purchase
• May 11 to 17: Buy one, get one burger free
• May 18 to 24: $9 Palace Classic (4 oz. burger) with regular or sweet potato fries
• May 28: Get a Signature Crunchburger (4 oz. or 6 oz.) for $5.28

Buffalo Wild Wings

Get 50% off any burger with the promo code GOBURGER.

Burger 21

Patty Perks members will have an offer in their app to get $5 Cheesy’s all day.

BurgerFi

For the month of May, you can upgrade any burger to a wagyu beef for free.

Burger King

Royal Perks members can get a free hamburger with a $3 purchase via the BK app.

Carl’s Jr

Rewards members can buy one Famous Star and get a second for 1¢ with the offer in the mobile app.

Checkers & Rally’s

Buy one classic burger, get one free on May 27 and 28.

Dairy Queen

DQ rewards members can get a $1 off a Signature Stackburger from May 25 to 31 with the coupon in the Dairy Queen app.

Del Taco

Del Yeah! members can get BOGO Double Del Cheeseburgers.

Dunkin’

Dunkin’ Rewards members can get 50 bonus points with orders placed after 1 pm.

​Habit Burger Grill

CharClub members can get two Charburgers for the price of one when you enter the promo code 2CHARS at checkout from May 28 to June 3.

Hardee’s

Hardee’s Rewards members can buy one Famous Star and get a second for 1¢ with the offer in the mobile app.

Jack In The Box

Get a free Jr. Jumbo Jack with any purchase.

Krystal

Rewards members can get $.50 Krystals with the offer in the app.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s has an app exclusive deal for a $3 Big Mac or Quarter Pounder.

Ruby Tuesday

Get a Smashed Burger and all you can eat salad for $8.99.

Shake Shack

Get a Shake Shack single burger for free with a $10 minimum purchase when you use the promo code BURGERMONTH all May long. The burger changes weekly and will follow this schedule:

• May 1 to 10: ShackBurger
• May 11 to 17: SmokeShack
• May 18 to 24: Bacon Cheeseburger
• May 25 to May 31: ShackBurger

Smashburger

Get any single burger for just $5.28 when you use the promo code 528SINGLE.

Sonic Drive-In

Sonic rewards members can get a free Sonic Smasher or All-American Smasher with a $5 purchase. This is valid from May 4 to 31.

Steak ‘n Shake

Wear any American flag item (a hat, pin, etc.) and get a free Double Steakburger. Valid in store only.

The Greene Turtle

Buy one burger, get the second for free when you dine in.

Wendy’s

Last year, Wendy’s Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for 1 cent with any purchase in the app from May 28 to June 1 but we haven’t seen anything for 2026 yet.

White Castle

Get a $25 gift card for $19.21 with the coupon here. Valid until May 31.

Wahlburgers

Wahlburgers is offering three new burgers for National Burger Month: The Our Burger, BBQ Bacon Burger, and OFD.

There will also be a contest on the restaurant’s Instagram to win lunch with Chef Paul Wahlburger.

Wayback Burgers

Wayback Rewards members can either dine in or order online and get $5 Classic Burgers. There’s a limit of 2.

Whataburger

Get a free Whataburger when you order medium fries and a drink. You’ll also be entered to win free Whataburger for a Year.

Getting somewhere and realizing you forgot to pack something is one of the worst feelings. So, to help you avoid that, we put together the ultimate list of packing lists.

We have lists for attractions like the zoo or waterpark, a carry-on packing list if you’re flying, and more.

What To Pack For A Baseball Game

Fanatics sponsored this post and we got a bunch of our team gear for our next baseball game from the brand to help create this post.

Affiliate links are included and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

Game Essentials

This section is filled with your non-negotiables: everything you need to get into the game and to be comfortable while you’re there.

Stadium-Approved Bag

A lot of stadiums have bag policies now. Some allow a small clutch purse and others require a clear bag so all of your contents can be seen when you’re going through security.

Citi Field, where I go most often, allows the very popular Bogg Bag, even though it’s not a clear bag. But, it still has to fit into the stadium’s size requirements. The Mets-branded Bogg Bags come in three sizes, and only the smaller two sizes fit within the guidelines, so keep that in mind when you’re ordering.

I really like that bag because it’s super sturdy, dries very quickly, is easy to clean, and holds everything that you need for a baseball game. Plus, they’re super on trend right now.

Phone & Portable Charger

We just mentioned how important it is for you to have your phone because you may need it to access your tickets. It’s also important to make sure your phone is charged.

Sure, you’ll be watching the game. But, you’ll also be taking a ton of videos of you and your friends in the stands and your favorite player on the field.

So, pack a portable charger — and make sure its charged. That way, you’ll have it in case you need to call and Uber, if you need a GPS to get to your next stop, etc.

Credit/debit card

More stadiums are going cashless now. And not all of them have technology that allows you to pay with Apple Pay or another app. So, you want to make sure that you have your credit or debit card with you because you may not be able to get a jumbo hotdog at the concession stand with cash.

If you want to look like the ultimate fan, you can buy a team branded wallet to hold your credit card (and, honestly, maybe a little cash in case the stadium’s card readers go down). Then, take that bad boy out when it’s time to pay and you’ll impress all the other fans around you.

Comfort & Weather Protection

This section has everything you need to enjoy the game no matter the weather, from hot sun to cool nights to sudden rain delays.

Layers

Baseball games are three hours long — and that’s not including extra innings. It’s the only sport where they’re like, “Oh my gosh, this has been going on forever. Let’s build in a reason for you to stretch.”

It also means that the outfit you wear on the way in may not be the same exact outfit you wear on the way out. It can warm up during the day if it’s a 1 pm start. And, if it’s a 7:05 start that goes into extra innings, it can cool down.

So, you have to be prepared for all weather. If not, you’re running into that overpriced team store to buy appropriate clothing.

If it’s a nice day, start in a team tank top or a t-shirt and throw a sweatshirt in your bag. Then, when the sun starts to set, grab that sweatshirt and avoid being cold.

You may also want to start the day in a baseball cap to block the sun off of your face. You can take it off if your head gets sweaty or flip it inside out if you need a rally cap in the ninth.

Bug Spray

Depending on what stadium you’re going to and what time of year it is, you’re going to have to deal with some type of bug. I mean, you’re sitting outside. That’s the bugs’ home.

We have to deal with no-see-ums in North Carolina when we go watch our local collegiate baseball team play and the only thing that works is Buggins spray. There’s one for gnats and no-see-ums and another one for mosquitoes. We have both and use either one depending on the time of year.

Bring both of these with you to the game and apply them so that your hands are free to catch foul balls and not swatting at bugs all game.

Sunscreen

Since you’re sitting outside at a baseball game with very little cover (unless you’re sitting in the nosebleed seats), wear sunscreen to protect your skin.

You’ll probably apply some before you leave the house so that you’re wearing it while you’re standing on the line to get into the stadium before the game begins. But, you’ll probably want to reapply it at least once during the game. So, don’t forget to pack it.

Sunglasses

Most baseball games start during the day, when it’s light out. So, you want to protect your eyes with sunglasses.

You don’t want to be squinting when your favorite player gets up to bat and miss an exciting play because the sun’s in your eyes.

You can pick up cute baseball-themed sunglasses so if you get on the Jumbotron at the game, you look great.

Poncho Or Umbrella

We’ve all been to at least one rainy baseball game. If it’s a light rain, the game goes on. Which is not enjoyable if you’re not prepared.

You can usually bring umbrellas into MLB stadiums (although we do suggest that you check the stadium’s policy because they can vary).

In case you can’t bring your umbrella, you can bring a poncho. A poncho is actually nicer for the fans around you because you’re not blocking their view (as you would be with an umbrella). It’s also easier for you because ponchos fold up and fit in your bag a lot easier than an umbrella.

Fun tip. Pack your poncho in a ziptop plastic bag (or a wet bathing suit bag, if you have one). Then, when you’re done wearing it, you can fold it and put it back into its bag. That’ll prevent it from getting everything else in your bag wet.

Reusable Hand Warmers

When I went to a game for my brother’s birthday last year, we sat in the party section. That was great because it was the middle of summer and those premium seats had air conditioning. For fall games, there is build-in heat.

But, if you’re sitting in a regular section, you don’t get that technology. So, if it’s cold, you get cold.

So, for those games, pack a pair of reusable hand warmers. I prefer them over the single-use ones because you can charge them via USB and reuse them anytime.

The pair we have is magnetic, too, so they’re really easy to keep together and assure they don’t get lost in your bag.

Portable Fan

I bought two pocket-sized portable fans last summer after borrowing one from someone at an outdoor concert, and I don’t know why I didn’t buy them sooner. It’s perfect for taking with you to a baseball game, too.

Portable fans are a perfect way to cool you off on those hot summer afternoons (without having to fold your program into a homemade fan).

Our portable fans also have a phone charger, so we don’t have to pack an extra portable charger. One less thing to pack means one less thing to potentially forget.

Food, Drinks & Hydration

This section has everything you need to stay fed and hydrated so you’re not overspending at the concession stand.

Water Bottle Or Empty Plastic Cups

When you’re sitting outside in the sun for three hours, you’re gonna get thirsty.

Yes, you can buy a drink at the concession stands, but if you’re trying to make this into a frugal outing, bring a water bottle. Once you finish it, you can refill it at the water fountains around the concourse to make sure that you stay hydrated.

Most stadiums allow you to bring in one factory-sealed, clear plastic water bottle per person. You can also bring in plastic cups, so if you have a team-branded plastic cup from a souvenir soda from last game, bring that back.

I’m sure you love your team-branded YETI cups, but you can’t bring insulated metal thermoses into the stadium.

Snacks

One of my favorite reasons for going to a baseball game is to eat all the snacks. And yes, there are some fun stadium snacks, but you can also pack some to save you a little bit of money.

What you can bring in depends on the stadium, although most allow individual sized bags of chips and sandwiches. If you bought a big family-size bag of chips to tailgate in the parking lot, put the rest into smaller ziptop bags before you get to the stadium.

Check the stadium’s policy on fruit before you try to pack some too. Usually cut fruit is allowed, but whole fruit isn’t (because a whole apple can turn into a dangerous projectile real fast if the fans start getting angry when a team is losing).

Tailgate & Cleanup Essentials

This section has everything you need to set up (and take down) a fun tailgate before the game.

Bluetooth Speaker

When we were growing up and tailgating, my dad always brought a portable AM/FM radio. We’d listen to the baseball pre-game in the parking lot while grilling hot dogs.

Now, our tailgating list has upgraded to include a team-branded Bluetooth speaker. Having the team’s pre-game playing, or even just some good music, really gets everyone in a good mood and ready to have a fun time.

Before you leave for the game, make sure that your speaker is fully charged. If not, you’ll lose your tunes and have a quiet tailgate.

Garbage Bags

Growing up, we always learned to leave somewhere neater than you found it. And that includes your tailgate.

You’re going to be creating garbage: empty cans, plastic packages for meat that you grilled, paper plates, etc. It’s your responsibility to clean that up.

So pack large plastic garbage bags and tape them to the end of your picnic table. Then, when you’re done, tie that up and throw it away in the nearest trash can.

And, if there isn’t a trash can close to where your tailgate is, put that garbage in your car and bring it home to throw away. Absolutely do not leave it behind for someone else to deal with.

Napkins/Small Cleanup Kit

When we would tailgate, we packed our own chairs and folding tables. We’d bring plastic tablecloths and throw then away for easy cleanup.

But, we’d still bring napkins and a small cleanup kit with cleaning wipes, to wipe down the tables before putting them back in the car, just in case the tablecloth ripped and something messy got on the tables.

Wipes/Hand Sanitizer

Tailgating happens outdoors and involves finger foods, like hamburgers and hot dogs. What it doesn’t always involve is proximity to a bathroom.

So if you’re putting raw meat on a grill or eating some sticky chicken wings, you’re gonna want to clean your hands. Without running water close, wipes and hand sanitizer is your next best option.

“Extras” & Personal Must-Haves

This section has everything you need to make the game luckier, more fun, and more enjoyable.

A Lucky Charm

If you’re a sports fan, you’re definitely superstitious. You have a pair of lucky socks or your child has a lucky stuffed mascot that needs to be present for your team to win.

If you forget to pack this, and your team loses, this will be why.

So, whatever that lucky thing is, make sure you pack it and bring it with you to the stadium. Especially if you’re a Mets fan. Because if the Mets’ 12 game losing streak this season was because you forgot to wear your lucky bracelet, I’m gonna be upset.

Baseball Glove

I’ve been to countless baseball games in my life and I never had a foul ball or a home run ball hit towards me, however, that didn’t stop me from bringing a baseball glove to the game. Even when we had nosebleed tickets, we had hope.

Baseball gloves do take up a lot of space in your Bogg Bag, so I wouldn’t suggest bringing one if you’re an adult because you know better.

But, if you’re bringing kids to a game, giving them the hope that they’ll have a ball hit towards them may actually be the only way to get them to sit through all nine innings.

If you bought too many cucumbers, and you’re looking for a way to use them, we have a great list of easy recipes with cucumbers to give you some more ideas.

You’ll get a recipes for cucumber soup, cucumber hummus bites, and more.

Cucumber Chickpea Salad With Feta Recipe

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How To Make Cucumber Chickpea Salad With Feta:

You can get the full list of ingredients with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Canned chickpeas – Canned chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a very inexpensive way to add substance to a salad. Dried chickpeas need to be soaked overnight, so although you can use them, you can’t quickly make this salad with them. And being able to make this in minutes is part of the salad’s appeal.
• Cucumber – We use an American cucumber in this recipe because it’s the most commonly available one in the grocery store. But, you can use an English cucumber as well. It would add a little more crunch to the recipe.
• Red onion – Red onion is more mild than a white or yellow onion and adds a little bit of texture and sweetness rather than a strong, bitter flavor to your salads.
• Feta cheese – Packaged feta cheese crumbles are easy to use, but you could buy a block of feta and cut that yourself. If you can’t find any, you can substitute goat cheese, but that will add a tangy flavor to the salad.
• Olive oil – This is the base of your vinaigrette, which will cover the entire salad, so we suggest a high quality extra-virgin olive oil.
• Vinegar – We use combination of white balsamic vinegar and rice wine vinegar. The white balsamic vinegar adds acidity and the rice wine vinegar adds sweetness. Together, they add a really nice balance to the vinaigrette.
• Seasoning – We use salt to bring out the flavors of the dressing, lemon pepper seasoning to add a tanginess, and dried dill because it complements the cucumber.

How To Make Cucumber Chickpea Salad With Feta:

Drain and rinse your canned chickpeas.

Pat the chickpeas dry.

If the chickpeas are wet when you put them into the bowl, the dressing will slide off and won’t get incorporated into the chickpeas, leaving them pretty bland.

Pour the chickpeas into a large bowl.

Cut your cucumber into quarter-inch rounds. Then cut each round into six pieces.

Quick note: You don’t have to be exact about this and I do cut the smaller rounds into four, not six, pieces. But, you want them to be as similarly sized to the chickpeas as possible because it makes the salad easier to eat.

Add the cucumber into the bowl with the chickpeas.

Thinly slice the red onion.

You want the red onion to add a little bit of bite to the salad, but adding large slices is really overwhelming.

Add the sliced red onion to the bowl with the other ingredients.

Add in the feta cheese crumbles.

If you have a block of feta cheese, you can chop that and add it to the bowl instead. That only takes a couple minutes, but using pre-crumbled feta cheese makes the salad a little bit easier. And sometimes, we’re about convenience.

In a small bowl, add the olive oil, both vinegars, salt, lemon pepper seasoning, and dill.

Whisk together until all of the ingredients are combined.

If you don’t have a whisk, you can mix this with a spoon.

Pour the homemade vinaigrette on top of the salad ingredients in the bowl.

Gently toss them together to combine.

I use a pair of tongs for this, but you could use a spoon.

Add a pinch of salt on top of the ingredients, then put the bowl in the refrigerator for 45 minutes.

The ingredients in the bottom of the bowl sit in the vinaigrette and absorb the flavor that way. But, since there’s less of the dressing on the ingredients on the top of the salad, I like to add the extra pinch of salt to help season them and drain some of the water out.

Once the salad has chilled, serve it in bowls.

There will be a pool of liquid at the bottom of the bowl. It’s a mix of vinaigrette that has fallen to the bottom and water that was extracted from the cucumbers from the salt. You can pour a little bit of this back on top of the salad after you plate it.

Cucumber Chickpea Salad With Feta: Frequently Asked Questions

Memorial Day: Frequently Asked Questions

A Guide To Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC

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Drugstore Divas has no association with any of the venues or concert series. So, be sure to check each one’s website for any changes.

Quick Guide: Free Summer Concerts Around Wilmington

Best Free Summer Concert Series in Wilmington, NC

Boardwalk Blast (Carolina Beach)

Where: Carolina Beach Gazebo Stage (Carolina Beach Ave S, Carolina Beach)

Dates/Times: Thursdays from May 28 to August 27, plus Friday of Memorial Day Weekend (May 22) and Labor Day Weekend (September 4) | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Details: There’s a little bit of seating around the stage, but most people bring their own beach chairs. Fireworks start at 9 pm every concert, so it’s a very cool experience to listen to the band while you watch the fireworks.

Parking: There’s a bunch of paid public parking around the boardwalk area.

Insider tip: There’s one way in and out of Carolina Beach, so leaving is very slow because of all the traffic. Definitely pack your patience.

Summer Concerts in Wilmington, NC: Frequently Asked Questions

If you bought a lot of imitation crab because it has gone viral and you’re wondering what else to do with it, you should try our spicy kani salad. It’s a really traditional Japanese side salad recipe made with the crab and cucumber.

Spicy Air Fryer Imitation Crab Bites Recipe

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Spicy Air Fryer Imitation Crab Bites Ingredients:

You can get the full list of ingredients with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Imitation crab sticks – The sticks work better than the imitation lump crab meat because you can cut them into a uniform size so they cook evenly.
• Thai-style Sweet Chili Sauce – We use bottled Thai-style sweet chili sauce because it makes this recipe easy. It’s a sweet and spicy sticky sauce that adds flavor and also helps the Parmesan cheese to adhere to the imitation crab pieces.
• Fancy shredded Parmesan cheese – This adds a little salt to the imitation crab bites and a lot of texture, which is a great contrast. We don’t suggest using grated Parmesan because it doesn’t add the texture that you’re looking for.

How To Make Spicy Air Fryer Imitation Crab Bites:

Cut the imitation crab sticks into three even pieces each.

Making sure they’re cut evenly means they’ll cook evenly in the air fryer.

Put a glass on top of each piece, and, while you’re pushing down on the glass, turn it. This will cause the pieces of imitation crab meat to fan out slightly.

Doing this makes them flatter and thinner, which gives them crispier edges.

I saw this method on social media and was super impressed. So, I didn’t make it up, I’m just sharing the hack.

If you don’t smash the imitation crab, you won’t get the crunch you want. And, if you just try to smash these down with your hand, they’ll puff back up into their original shape. So this method of flattening and twisting helps them stay flat.

Brush the sweet chili sauce across each piece.

A little bit goes a long way because the imitation crab has a really delicate flavor. So, you want to sauce them, but not over-sauce them.

Sprinkle the fancy shredded Parmesan cheese on top of each piece.

Place each piece of crab in the air fryer, making sure to not crowd them. You want there to be enough room for airflow to make these crunchy. If you crowd them, they’ll kind of roast and won’t get that crispness you’re looking for.

Cook them in a preheated 375 F air fryer for 10 minutes until the imitation crab is crunchy and the sauce darkens.

Quick note: We don’t spray our air fryer basket, but if you’re worried about sticking, you can lay down parchment paper or an air fryer basket liner.

The sauce getting dark doesn’t mean it’s burnt. It’s just the sugar in the sauce caramelizing. So, if you’re one of those people who checks the air fryer a dozen times when you’re making a recipe for the first time, don’t let the color of the sauce force you to pull them out early. I promise you it’s fine.

Serve these with a little more sauce for dipping.

Variations:

There are so many flavor combinations for these imitation crab bites. You can experiment with any type of sugary sauce on them, like a hot honey or maple syrup. Melted butter and salt are another really good option.

Instead of topping with Parmesan cheese, you could use everything bagel seasoning or furikake.

Air Fryer Imitation Crab Bites: Frequently Asked Questions

Since you can’t fold your clothes when they’re wrinkled, you might as well spend that time cleaning the laundry room. Find the ten things you forget to clean in the laundry room and make sure you clean those in our post.

How To Remove Wrinkles Without An Iron

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Use a steamer

If you have a hand steamer, its sole purpose is to remove wrinkles.

Hang your clothes, run the steamer over it, and then leave it hanging for a couple minutes. It’ll remove the wrinkles quickly.

If you’re in a hotel, there may be one in your room. Just quickly look up directions if you’ve never used one before (but they’re pretty simple to use).

Take a hot shower

If you’re in a hotel where there’s no dryer access, but you realized the outfit you brought for dinner is wrinkled, there’s an easy solution.

Hang your clothes in the bathroom on a towel hook while you’re taking a hot shower with the door closed. This allows steam to build and release the fibers in the fabric, which is what causes the wrinkles.

This is best for light wrinkles and thinner fabrics, like dress shirts and thin dresses. It doesn’t work that great for thicker fabrics like linen and heavy cotton.

Use a hair dryer

If you’re in a hotel but don’t have time for a shower, look in the bathroom for the hotel room’s hair dryer. That’s usually one of the hotel’s amenities.

Lightly dampen the fabric with water and blow dry the wrinkles out.

This can take a little bit of time, so it’s not something that will work at the last minute as you’re running out the door. But it’s good if you have a little time.

Use a damp washcloth

If you’re away at college in a dorm room and don’t have easy access to a dryer (plus, those usually cost money) and don’t own a hair dryer, grab a washcloth.

Run it under water, then place your clothing on a clean, flat surface like your mattress or desk.

Stretch the fabric flat, rub the damp washcloth over it, then let it air dry. Air drying does take a while, so this isn’t the fastest method, but it’ll get the job done.

Use wrinkle-release spray

If you have light wrinkles in your clothes, you can use a wrinkle-release spray on them.

Shake the spray, then lightly spritz the fabric (you want it damp, not soaked), then gently pull at the fabric to stretch the fibers to get the wrinkles out. You can also give it a good shake, too.

Then, hang it up until you’re ready to wear it.

Use a flat iron on collars and hems

If your dress shirt is mostly fine, but a wrinkled collar is a problem, grab your flat iron. Heat it, just as you would if you were straightening your hair, and rub it on your shirt’s collar to get the wrinkle out.

This will also work on the hem of your pants as well.

For your safety, you don’t want the flat iron to be on low/medium heat and you don’t want to linger too long on the fabric so you avoid potentially burning it.

Remove Wrinkles Without Ironing: Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re making these for a Star Wars-themed party, you might need some gifts for the guest of honor. For some ideas, check out our list of gifts for Star Wars fans. There are ideas for soap, LEGO sets, and everything in between.

DIY Star Wars Lightsaber Centerpieces

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DIY Star Wars Lightsaber Centerpieces Supplies:

You can get the full list of supplies in the how to card below.

• Tall glass candles – We use 8-inch candles, which Dollar Tree calls “tall” glass candles. They’re similar to glass prayer-style candles with wax inside.
• Frosted glass spray paint – This paint gives a semi-transparent, etched look to the glass candles, creating a cool effect when the flashlight is turned on.
• Mini flashlights – You need these to be about 4-inches, so they’re small enough to be hidden in the bottom half of your glass candle.
• Pencil – You’ll use this to measure onto the glass.
• Silver paint – Cheap acrylic paint works best. You could also use spray paint, but it may come out streaky.
• Paint brush – You need this to paint the silver paint onto the glass and also to stir the Mod Podge and food coloring together.
• Mod Podge – This is mixed with food coloring to add color to the top of the lightsaber.
• Food coloring – Gel food coloring will give you more vibrant colors, but traditional food coloring works too.
• Cup – You need something to mix together the Mod Podge and food coloring.
• Decorations – You’ll need silver ribbon, black chalkboard stickers, electrical tape, and beads (plus glue) to decorate the lightsabers’ handle and grip.

How To Make DIY Star Wars Lightsaber Centerpieces:

We’re starting with tall glass candles, but we only want the glass portion, not the candle. In theory you could use tall glasses and skip the next couple steps, but those are actually more expensive than buying the tall candles at the dollar store.

Remove any stickers from the candles.

If there’s any stickiness left behind, you can remove it with a little Goo Gone.

Put all the candles into a large pot of water on the stove. Heat over medium heat until the water heats up enough to melt the wax in the candles.

Carefully pour the wax into a different container so you can save it for future projects. Personally, I pour it into silicone molds to make wax melts. If you are going to throw your wax away, please remember not to toss the wax down the sink.

If all the wax isn’t out, you can pour hot water (not boiling) into the candles and it’ll float all the extra wax to the surface so you can remove it.

Just be really careful if you do this because you don’t want the glass to crack.

Dry your candles.

Spray paint the entire outside with the frosted glass spray paint.

Spray it thinly and from far away. If you spray it too close or too thick, it will come out streaky.

Quick note: You want to spray paint outdoors, not indoors, in a well ventilated area. You can put these on a piece of scrap paper to spray them. My cousin actually stood them on an umbrella stand for an outdoor table.

Let the paint dry completely.

Place the flashlight next to the candle.

Measure where it lands and add a light pencil mark there.

Apply the silver paint from the bottom of the glass candle to the line you just drew.

You want this to be completely opaque to hide the flashlight, so you may need to paint multiple layers.

Don’t worry about making the line completely straight. You’re going to cover this when you’re decorating.

Let the paint dry completely.

In a small cup, mix together Mod Podge with some water and food coloring.

There’s no real measurements to this. You just have to eyeball it based on how opaque or transparent you want your lightsabers.

In this post, we use mostly Mod Podge with only a couple drops of food coloring.

If I had to guesstimate, I’d say it’s about 1/4 cup of Mod Podge, 1 to 2 tablespoons of water and 10 drops of traditional food coloring (or about four drops of gel food coloring).

You’ll be swirling this around the candle and pouring most of it out to reuse for another candle, so don’t feel like you need to make a ton of it. A small amount goes a long way.

Stir with the back of the paintbrush until the color is evenly mixed and the Mod Podge is a consistency you can pour.

The water is used to thin out the Mod Podge so it spreads easily. If you don’t feel like it will pour, you can add more water. But, you don’t want the Mod Podge to be too thin because then the color will be too transparent.

Pour the color into the candle, gently swirling it around until the entire inside of the candle is covered.

This is really difficult if you’re using just paint (I learned that from making our DIY No. 2 Pencil Holder), but it’s pretty easy with Mod Podge and water.

Pour the excess paint out into a reusable container (or back into the original plastic cup).

Place the candles upside down and allow them to dry for two hours.

If you craft a lot, we suggest getting a wire rack that’s strictly for craft projects (not food). You can place that on top of a foil-lined baking sheet.

Set the candles on top and let them drip that way. The aluminum foil will catch the excess paint and you can just ball it up and throw it out for easy clean up.

You could also set the candles on a piece of scrap paper as well. Just be careful of this because if you use thin paper, the excess paint could pool, saturate the paper, and rip it, getting paint all over whatever’s under the paper.

After two hours, place the candles on a foil-lined baking sheet in an oven preheated to 250 F for 30 minutes to seal the glue to the candles.

Make sure that the candles are completely empty and dry before putting them in the oven.

After 30 minutes, remove the candles from the oven and let the candles sit overnight on a counter to cool.

The next day, it’ll be time to decorate.

Wrap a piece of silver ribbon around the candle, where the silver paint ends.

You can either glue it down with a little white glue or Mod Podge. Either will work.

Take your chalkboard stickers and electrical tape and stick them on the silver paint to create the look of your lightsaber.

You can either copy your favorite lightsaber or decorate them however you feel is best.

Glue a red and black bead onto the handle to make the lightsaber’s buttons.

When you’re ready for your party, turn the flashlight on and carefully put it in the bottom of the lightsaber, then place them on top of decorative mirrors.

You don’t want to glue the flashlight to the bottom of the lightsaber because you won’t be able to get it out after that. Even if you don’t save the lightsaber centerpieces to reuse them, you still want to keep the flashlights.

DIY Star Wars Lightsaber Centerpieces: Frequently Asked Questions

More DIY Centerpiece Tutorials:

If you’re planning more themed parties and are looking for other centerpiece ideas, don’t forget about our Safari Baby Shower Centerpieces. We also have a The Cat in the Hat centerpiece tutorial and a The Lorax centerpiece tutorial that would be perfect for a Dr. Seuss-themed party.

Sumter Iris Festival History

The Sumter Iris Festival was started when a local businessman, J.J. Brennan, brought the idea of celebrating the gardens to the Kiwanis Club. If you know anything about the Kiwanis Club, the Kiwanians are always very good about supporting great ideas. So, the Kiwanians came on board and the festival was a go.

Eight years into it, the local radio station WFIG (appropriately named World Famous Iris Gardens — true story) convinced the popular (albeit questionable) American radio and television game show, Queen for a Day, to visit Sumter for the festival. Since the program aired nationally, the festival was in the homes of listeners from 500 radio stations nationwide that day.

That propelled Sumter’s Iris Festival to what it is today, a four-day festival at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, the United States’ only public park that features all eight species of swans. It’s also filled with Japanese Iris plants, which you can purchase during the festival (in limited quantities, so get there early if you want some). 

Besides plant sales, the festival also has over 200 craft vendors, a parade, food, and more.

Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

Visitor’s Info:

Transportation / Parking

There’s a huge parking lot at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, where you can park for free during the event.

For overflow, there will be shuttle buses from the Sumter County Civic Center to Swan Lake Iris Gardens on Saturday (11 am to 6:15 pm) and Sunday (10 am to 5:15 pm).

Sumter is a small town, so don’t rely on rideshare to get you to and from your hotel to the festival.

Weather Tips / What To Wear

You’re going to be walking on grass for most of the festival, so we suggest you wear comfortable sneakers. When we went, it had rained the day before and the morning of the festival, so I was really wishing that I had packed my rain boots.

Since you are outside for the entire festival with no shade, we also suggest you wear sunscreen to protect your skin.

We didn’t notice any bugs at the festival, but we do always use Buggins spray when we’re at an outdoor festival in the South because the no-see-ums are really abundant.

What To Bring

Bring cash and credit cards, since some of the vendors are cash only and some are card only.

If the weather is bad, you want to bring a small umbrella that can fit in your purse. The parking lot is at the entrance of Swan Lake Park and the festival is in the back, so it’s not easy to walk back to the car if you forgot something or if it starts to rain and you need your umbrella.

Where To Stay

We stayed at the Hyatt Place Sumter / Downtown when we went to the Iris Festival. It’s a short drive from Swan Lake Iris Gardens and walking distance from Sumter Original Brewery in downtown Sumter, our favorite place to hang out in town, and many local restaurant.

The hotel has free parking and complimentary breakfast, two hotel amenities we look for when booking our trips. Plus, the hotel is really clean and the staff was great and super kind when we were in town.

Other Things To Do in Sumter, SC:

We went to Sumter for the first time a few years ago and found so many things to do in Sumter, South Carolina. There was lots of live music, lots of good food, and more. It’s a fun town to spend the weekend in.

If you’re looking for things to do in the area, check out neighboring Santee, SC. We went last March for the Elloree Trials and spent part of our time at the Palmetto Traverse, a putting course at Lake Marion Golf Course. We’re not golfers, but still really enjoyed ourselves.

If you need a way to use the rest of the bananas in the bunch (since this recipe only needs one banana), try something off our Easy Recipes To Make With Bananas list.

Mango Banana Berry Smoothie Recipe

Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

Mango Banana Berry Smoothie Ingredients:

You can get the full list of ingredients with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Banana – The banana acts as both a sweetener and a thickener to give the smoothie a creamy texture.
• Mango – The mango adds a sweetness to the smoothie, plus gives it a nice tropical flavor to balance the berries. We use a fresh mango, but you could use frozen mango instead.
• Frozen blackberries – Frozen berries add a coldness to the smoothie without needing to chill it or add ice (which will melt and dilute the flavor). We like the way the tart blackberries balance the sweetness in the mango, but you could substitute other berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, etc.) if you prefer those.
• Liquid of your choice – You have a lot of options here. Water or coconut water add hydration; oat or almond milk is a dairy free option for a creamy base; plain Greek yogurt or kefir adds protein.

How To Make A Mango Banana Berry Smoothie:

We make these smoothies in two single serve blender cups that are attachments for our blender. If your blender doesn’t have similar those attachments, you can make it in the main blender pitcher then pour it into cups.

That’s actually what we do with our homemade frozen lemonades.

Peel and slice a banana.

Divide the pieces between two blender cups.

Peel and cut the mango.

Divide the pieces between two blender cups.

Fill the blender cup to the max fill line with frozen blackberries.

It’ll be about 3/4 of a cup of berries per blender cup.

Quick note: A lot of people add chia seeds, flax seeds, protein powder, or collagen powder to their smoothies to add protein and make them stay fuller longer. If you want to do that, you can add them here.

My mom adds spinach to her smoothies, so you could add that here too. Personally, I think that changes the flavor a lot and takes away from the sweetness of the smoothie. So, you might want to add honey, agave syrup, or a splash of vanilla to the smoothie too to bring back some sweetness (unless you like the green smoothie taste and then, in that case, add your spinach alone).

Pour the liquid into the blender cup until the cup is filled to the max fill line.

If you prefer a thicker smoothie, you can add less liquid.

Blend everything together until the liquid is thin enough to sip.

If your smoothie is still too thick after you blend it, you can either blend it a little longer to break the fruit up more or add a little more liquid to the blender cup to thin it out.

Pour the smoothie into a cup and enjoy.

Mango Banana Berry Smoothie: Frequently Asked Questions

The Wilmington Greek Festival is just one of the great festivals in the Port City. For more, check out A Guide To Festivals In Wilmington, NC and mark your calendar so you don’t miss anything this festival season.

Wilmington Greek Festival 2026: Dates & Details

• Dates: May 15 to 17, 2026
• Location: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (608 S College Road)
• Cost: There’s a $5 admission charge for adults (kids under 12 are free) and that admission is valid all weekend long, so hang on to your ticket. Food is an additional cost.

Wilmington Greek Festival: Schedule of Events

Quick note: Food will be available all festival. You can see the menu ahead of time here.

Friday, May 15: 11 am to 9 pm

Church tours: 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 6:30 pm* (* Byzantine Musical Performance)

Cooking demos: 4:30 pm

Dance performances: 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 16: 11 am to 9 pm

Church tours: 11:30 am, 2:30 pm*, 3:30 pm, and 4:30 pm** (* Byzantine Musical Performance, ** Evening Prayer Service)

Cooking demos: 4:30 pm

Dance performances: 1:30 pm, 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm

Sunday, May 17: 11 am to 5 pm

Church tours: 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm

Dance performances: 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm

Food

A few tents are set up in front of the church parking lot selling various food, like gyros, Greek salad, spanakopita (also known as Greek spinach pie), dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves), baklava, and more. My absolute favorite food item has been the baklava ice cream — a bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with honey and broken pieces of baklava.

There’s a huge tent with tables and seats underneath, so you can get some shade while you eat.

There’s also a drive through event where you can purchase food (more about that below).

Entertainment

The large tent is also where the band sets up. This year, there will be performances by Lazaros, a band that plays popular and traditional music.

There’s a full dance floor and people do use that, so wear your dancing shoes. There are also dance performances at scheduled times (listed above).

Cooking demonstrations happen once each day, but it’s in a very small room with limited seating. So if you want to learn how to cook Greek food, get to the demonstration early.

Parking / Transportation

We suggest that you drive to the Wilmington Greek Festival because there isn’t any public transportation nearby. But, keep in mind that everyone drives, which means that College Road backs up, usually way past New Centre Drive, so just be ready for potential traffic.

There’s no parking at the church itself, with the exception of limited handicap parking.

You can park for free at the UNCW Auxiliary Lot (behind Taco Bell) with a shuttle that brings you to and from the festival.

Wilmington Greek Festival Drive Thru Information

If you just want to pick up some food, you can use the drive-through option.

There’s a specific drive through menu that you order from while you’re in the car. Your food is then delivered to you. There’s no mobile app for the festival, so you can’t order ahead for curbside pickup service. You still have to drive to the festival for in person service.

If you like cooking at home, check out The Ultimate Guide To Saving Money By Cooking At Home. You’ll learn cooking tips, about what kitchen tools you should invest in now, and more.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Homemade banana bread is the most popular way to use up overripe bananas. We add chocolate chips to our recipe, which makes it taste so indulgent and gives it some extra sweetness.

You can add walnuts too, if you prefer, but it’s great with just the chocolate chips.

Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes

These chocolate chip banana pancakes are made from scratch and loaded with bananas and chocolate chips before baking. The bananas add a creaminess to the batter and you get banana flavor in every bite.

These are a really great make ahead breakfast recipe too. You can make a bunch, freeze them, and then reheat them when you’re hungry.

Chocolate Banana Ice Cream

Chocolate banana ice cream (also known as nice cream) is a dairy-free dessert made from bananas, sweetener, and cocoa powder. Plus, you don’t need an ice cream maker to make it. You just need a blender.

Riper bananas work best in this recipe, so it’s a good way to use up those when you’re not in the mood for banana bread.

Mango Banana Berry Smoothie

The banana in this mango banana berry smoothie gives it such a creamy texture, but it’s the berry flavor that you’re really tasting here.

You can add whatever flavored water or juice you have at home to thin out the smoothie and make it drinkable.

Shark Pudding Cups

These shark pudding cups are a twist on a traditional banana pudding, made with sliced bananas and banana cream pudding mix in individual servings. With a shark gummy candy on top to make them perfect for your Shark Week viewing parties.

If you want, you can leave the gummy sharks off, but don’t leave out the banana slices. They make the entire dessert so banana-forward.

Banana And Nutella Croffle (Croissant Waffle)

Sliced bananas and Nutella are baked in crescent dough to make this delicious croffle (a cross between a croissant and a waffle), which is a popular Korean street food trend.

Traditionally, a croffle is dipped in sugar before cooking, but this version puts the sweetness on the inside.

7 Brew

Buy any two medium or large drinks and get a free 7 Brewzie (while supplies last).

Arby’s

Get BOGO sandwiches from May 8 to 10 with the offer in the app.

Aroma Joe’s

Get a free 24 oz. any iced drink (in-store).

Avelo Airlines

Get 20% off select flights from May 9 to November 17 with the promo code MOM. Valid from May 9 to 11.

Baskin’ Robbins

Get $5 off a cake purchase of $35 all May. Plus, get BOGO scoops on May 9.

Biggby Coffee

Get BOGO coffee or $1 off a specialty beverage.

Bruegger’s Bagels

You can pre-order a heart-shaped bagel starting on May 7.

Circle K

Inner Circle members who get 5 or more gallons of gas on May 9 to 11 and get a coupon for a free Polar Pop, Froster, or coffee that’s valid for 7 days.

Circle K is encouraging you to fill up gas mom’s tank and get her a drink too.

CRU Wine Bar and Bistro

The restaurant is serving a three-course prix fixe brunch

Edible Arrangements

Save 15% off select products with the promo code LUVMOM15.

H&H Bagels

Get 10% off online order with the promo code MOTHERSDAY from May 3 to 10.

Hardee’s

Get 23% off app orders.

Hooters

Kids eat free, moms get flowers, and everyone gets half off seafood.

Huddle House

Get double rewards points for dining in from May 8 to 10.

Jason’s Deli

Deli Dollars rewards members can get a free dessert with an entree purchase.

KFC

Get $0 delivery on all mobile app orders from May 8 to 10.

Long John Silver’s

Get an 8-piece family meal with your choice of fish or chicken, hushpuppies, and family side for $20 when you enter the promo code MOTHER26 at checkout.

Lowe’s Home Improvement

Moms and mother figures can get a free 1-pint flower on May 9.

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Rewards members can get bonus points for Bundtlet Tower purchases made by May 3. Get 300 bonus points if you pre-order The Bundt (8″ cake), The Big Bundt (10″ cake) or Bundtinis for a pickup date of May 9 or 10.

Panera Bread

MyPanera rewards members can get $5 off a $25+ delivery order from May 8 to 10 with the offer in the mobile app.

Outback Steakhouse

Outback has a special menu from May 6 to 10.

Raisin’ Canes

Caniac Club Members will have an offer on their card for buy one get one free box combos at participating locations.

You need to be signed up by May 9 in order to get the offer.

Restaurant.com

Get 40% off $25+ purchases with the code MOM40 here. This is valid from May 5 to 10.

Rita’s

Get a small Italian ice for $1 with any $2 purchase via the mobile app.

Scooter’s Coffee

Get BOGO drinks with the coupon in the mobile app. This is valid on May 7 to 10, after 11 am.

Shake Shack

Get a free ShackBurger with any $10+ app purchase when you enter the code FREEBURGER.

You can also get a free Chicken Shack sandwich (or lettuce wrap) with a $10+ app purchase when you use the code CHICKENSUNDAY.

Shoney’s Restaurants

Moms will get a free slice of strawberry pie for dessert.

Walgreens

Get a free 8×10 photo with the code MVPMOM (valid May 8 to 10).

Wienerschnitzel

Moms get a free chili dog, small fries, and a small soda.

When we made these for my godson’s Communion, he suggested we make them again for Easter. He’s right. They’d make a great Easter dessert.

We have some other recipes for easy Easter desserts too, if you’re looking for those.

Easy No-Bake Cross Wafer Cookies Recipe

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No-Bake Cross Wafer Cookies Recipe Ingredients:

You can get the full list of ingredients with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Wafer cookies – Any brand or flavor of wafer cookies works.
• Almond bark – Almond bark is used to hold the wafer cookies in a cross shape and to secure the sprinkles. It’s easier to work with than chocolate chips, especially if you’re making these with kids. You can use almond bark a little bit slower and if it hardens, you can just reheat it. If you’re using vanilla cookies, use vanilla almond bark. For chocolate cookies, use chocolate almond bark.
• Sprinkles – I used a pack that came with multiple shapes and colors of sprinkles. Since it was a mixed pack, it was easier for my nephew to just add one pinch from a single pack instead of multiple pinches from multiple sprinkle packs, which would slow the process down (and maybe lose his attention too).

How To Make No-Bake Cross Wafer Cookies:

Use a butter knife to cut some of the wafer cookies into thirds. These will be the pieces for the side of the cross.

I originally asked my nephew to just cut them in half because I thought it was easier for him to eyeball half rather than thirds, but he immediately realized the ratio of the cross was wrong.

So he went back and trimmed the pieces a little. Cutting them in thirds from the start means you don’t have to trim them later.

You need two side pieces per cross, and one full wafer, so don’t cut all of them.

Put the vanilla almond bark into a microwave-safe bowl and heat according to the package.

Quick note: The easiest way to do this is to cut the almond bark into pieces and microwave it on high for one minute. Then, take it out to stir. Repeat this at 30-second intervals until the chocolate is completely melted. It usually takes me about 90 seconds.

Dip one end of the cut wafer cookies into the melted almond bark.

Place it on the whole wafer cookie about a third of the way down.

You don’t have to measure this. Just allow your child to eyeball it.

If they’re preparing for their First Communion or Confirmation, they’re sure to have seen tons of crosses by now, so they’ll know the proper placement.

Stick another piece of cut wafer cookie into the vanilla almond bark and stick it on the other side of the whole wafer cookie to make a cross.

Put the cookie down on a parchment paper- or silicone baking mat-lined cookie sheet.

Personally, I prefer to use a silicone baking mat because it’s reusable, which is better for the Earth and saves you money. But, parchment paper works fine too.

Just make sure you’re putting something down because if you don’t, the melted almond bark will harden onto the cookie sheet and stick.

Continue until you’re done with all of your crosses.

You’re going to use the same melted almond bark to decorate your cookies.

If it has started to harden, you can simply put it back in the microwave for 30 seconds to reheat it. That’s part of the beauty of using almond bark. You wouldn’t be able to do that with chocolate chips.

Scoop the melted vanilla almond bark into a ziptop plastic bag.

Cut off a small portion in the corner of the bag to turn it into a piping bag.

Alternately, you could use a piping bag with a piping tip.

Pipe the chocolate over the cross cookies.

Immediately add these sprinkles on top of the melted chocolate.

Continue until you’ve decorated all of the cookies.

Then, let them cool for at least an hour until the chocolate is completely hardened. The timing varies on how warm it is in your house.

You want to cool them on the counter. If you put them in the refrigerator, the almond bark may bloom and your cookies won’t look very pretty. When they’re ready, package them in treat bags with a ribbon on top.

I was at my brother’s house where cookie decorating supplies are limited so we used plastic bags and paper shred. My nephew loved how they looked, and, honestly, that’s all that mattered.

After you package them, we suggest storing them in a cake pan so they can travel to wherever you’re having the party. You want them to have as much space between them as possible so that they don’t break because they’re going to be fragile.

Tips For Making These With Kids

These are such a fun cookie for kids to make completely on their own (with adult supervision) for their First Communion or to make for their religion class. To make sure it goes smoothly, here are a couple tips I learned from making these with my 7-year-old nephew.

Make a piping bag from a plastic bag

If I was making these myself, I would use a parchment bag and piping tip. But, when I’m decorating cookies with kids, I find it easier to make a piping bag out of a plastic bag.

It’s a little neater this way because, if you’ve used a piping bag before, you know the filling wants to move up and out of the top of the bag (even if you twist it properly), which creates a big mess if you’re using that with the kids.

Also, chocolate pools in the piping tip and will harden in there if the kids are moving slowly, making it hard for them to pipe the chocolate.

Use almond bark

Kids move slowly sometimes, especially when they’re concentrating and trying to do a good job on something. So, they may be dipping the cookies and decorating them slowly. That’s fine. Let them take their time.

If the almond bark hardens, you can simply re-microwave it and continue on. If you’re using chocolate chips, you can’t do that. You have to work quickly, which will make your child feel rushed.

Let your kid enjoy it

If you’re making these with kids, you really want to take a step back and let them pipe the chocolate as haphazardly as they want and add as many or as a few sprinkles as their heart desires. There will be an urge to do it your way, but just let your kid enjoy it.

That being said, you do want to encourage them to pipe the chocolate and sprinkle the cookies one at a time. If they tried to pipe all the cookies at the same time, the almond bark will harden on top of the cookies by the time they’re ready to decorate and the sprinkles won’t stick.

Variations For Easter Or Confirmation

These work really well for other Christian holidays or celebrations, like Easter. If you do want to make them for another holiday, just change the sprinkles you’re using.

Pastel sprinkles would be perfect for Easter because it feels like springtime. Pink sprinkles would be great for a baby girl’s baptism and blue sprinkles would be good for a baby boy’s baptism. For Confirmation, you could do something neutral like gold and silver sprinkles.

Land of Oz 2026: Dates & Details

What is the Land of Oz theme park?

The Land of Oz is a permanent Wizard of Oz-themed park that’s opened seasonally. It’s sectioned into Kansas, Auntie Em’s house, and the Emerald City, complete with the Yellow Brick Road and the Wicked Witch’s castle.

Unlike a typical theme park, there are no rides. However, there is the Over The Rainbow observation deck, though, which gives you a great view of the park and the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.

When it’s open, it’s a large-scale immersive experience with all the characters from the Wizard of Oz acting out the songs and plot points from the movie.

Where is the Land of Oz Located?

It’s located at Beech Mountain Ski Resort (1007 Beech Mountain Parkway; Beech Mountain, NC), in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.

It’s a short drive to Boone (home of Appalachian State University) and Linville, which has the popular attractions of Linville Caverns and Linville Falls.

Tickets for Land of Oz (2026)

There are two ticketed events for 2026 at the Land of Oz.

The first is Tea With Dorothy & Aunt Em, taking place in June and July. Tickets are $95. You can register for the pre-sale on May 6 here. Tickets go on sale to the public on May 7 and are limited to 1,700.

The second is Autumn at Oz. Tickets go on sale in June, are limited, and sell out quickly. Prices for Autumn at Oz 2026 haven’t been announced yet, but are expected to be around $60.

This is a really popular event. I know people who have tried to get tickets every year and always miss out. So register for the pre-sale for Tea With Dorothy & Aunt Em if you definitely want to go.

For Autumn at Oz, make sure to get on the Land of Oz website right before tickets go on sale. Refresh constantly until the minute they go on sale. That will give you the best chance of securing tickets for the day you want to attend.

Autumn at Oz (Main Event)

• Dates: September 2026 (select weekends)
• What it is: It’s a large-scale immersive experience, opening for its 33rd season.
• What you’ll do: You start in Kansas, walk through Auntie Em’s house and encounter a tornado, then show up in Oz where you’ll walk the Yellow Brick Road, watching live performances of the entire Wizard of Oz movie along the way.
• Best for: Wizard Of Oz fans (not Wicked fans) who don’t mind crowds.

Tea With Dorothy & Aunt Em (New for 2026)

• Dates: June 6, 7, 12, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28, then July 4, 5, 10 and 12
• What it is: A brand new musical comedy experience at the Land of Oz. This replaces Journey with Dorothy, which ended in 2019.
• What to expect: This is a limited, smaller-scale immersive experience. It’s not based on the full movie, like Autumn at Oz.
• Best for: Casual fans who don’t need to see the entire movie recreated.

The Emerald City

Once you get through the gate to enter Oz, any of the claustrophobia you may have been feeling because of the enormous number of people on the Yellow Brick Road is gone because Oz is wide open.

There’s a huge gift shop, a section with souvenir and food vendors, and the Over The Rainbow observation deck.

There’s the state fair Omaha balloon in front of the theater that you can take a photo in. When you enter, the entire cast is available for photo opportunities.

And, the main draw, there’s the theater for the final scene.

The final scene happens every 30 minutes, so if you are on line for a souvenir or for food, don’t rush. You can just catch the next performance.

Speaking of Oz, this is the first time you can get actual food in the park.

Back in Kansas, there’s a food vendor selling kettle corn, fudge, cinnamon rolls, and other sweets. But nothing that you’re going to have for lunch. In Oz, you can buy sandwiches and wraps (and yes, vegan options are available).

You can check out the Over The Rainbow observation deck either before or after the final show. It’s an additional charge and does have 127 steps to get up to it (which means 127 steps to get back down as well). The Land of Oz is a lot of walking and those 127 steps might be too much for some guests.

I bring this up because when we were visiting the Land of Oz, we actually had to wait because there was a a woman had experienced a medical emergency at the top of the deck. She felt faint and the medical team was called to meet her at the top and then carry her down, via an evacuation chair.

The view at the top, though beautiful, isn’t much different than what you see from the Judy Garland Memorial Overlook at the beginning of the park. So, if you don’t add it on to your ticket, you’re not missing much.

Conclusion

The entire Land of Oz experience is amazing. You really do feel like you’re in Kansas and the Emerald City. It’s fun to experience the different lands and watch a live-action reenactment of the movie.

The cast is phenomenally talented. And so gracious with their time.

They are so good at portraying the characters you love from the movie and it’s so fun to see them coming to life, right in front of you.

Autumn at Oz is definitely worth experiencing once. It doesn’t change annually, so don’t feel like you have to make multiple trips. But, if you’re a Wizard Of Oz fan, you definitely want to plan a visit.

Land of Oz: Frequently Asked Questions

Baja’s Mexican Restaurant

Spend $35 and get free chips and salsa. Spend $50 and get two free chips and salsa or a $10 gift card for your next visit.

Chili’s

Get a Classic Marg for $5, a Popping Boba Marg (the May Marg of the Month) for $6, or a Patrón Frozen Marg for $7.

Laredo Taco

Customers can get BOGO burritos, a $6 walking taco, and $3 small frozen margaritas.

Outback Steakhouse

Get a Bloomin’ Onion and a drink (either a soda or a 16 oz. domestic draft beer) for $10.

Randy’s Doughnuts

No deals, but the famous doughnut shop is brining back its Mango Lemonade and Mango Tajin Doughnut in time for Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco De Mayo Giveaways

Aroma Joe’s

Teachers can get a free 24 oz. any iced drink (in-store).

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

Teachers can score happy hour deals from May 4 to 8, including $4 drinks and $6 food from 3 pm to 6 pm. This excludes North Carolina. In South Carolina, hours are 4 pm to 6 pm. p.m.

Bojangles

Enter the fast food restaurant’s sweepstakes here for a chance to win free food and merch for your school staff. You have until April 24 to enter and everyone who enters will get a coupon for 10% off in their email on April 27.

Carrabba’s

Get $50 off a $250+ catering order with the promo code 50OFF250.

This is being promoted as a Teacher Appreciation Week deal, but it’s valid until May 31.

Chick-fil-A

As a company, Chick-fil-A does celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day, but the offers are decided by the individual franchises.

Look for social media posts from your local franchises to see what’s being offered.

Chipotle

Chipotle is giving away 100,000 burritos to teachers. Head over to this link to enter your email address now through May 12 for a chance to be selected.

Crumbl Cookies

Enter your favorite teacher here for a chance for for them to win $20,000. Nominees are being accepted until May 4.

Dog Haus

Teachers get 20% off with a valid ID from May 4 to 8.

Einstein Bros Bagels

Get a free bagel and shmear with any purchase on May 6 with the coupon in the mobile app.

Insomnia Cookies

Get BOGO Classic or Deluxe cookies.

Jason’s Deli

From now until April 17, you can nominate a teacher here for a chance to win 100 free meals for their school.

McAlister’s Deli

Educators can get a complimentary tea from May 4 to 8, no purchase necessary.

Choose from a Big Sweet Tea, Unsweet Tea, ½ Sweet & ½ Unsweet Tea, or ½ Lemonade & ½ Sweet/Unsweet Tea.

Mod Pizza

Get BOGO pizza or salad when you show your badge at the register from May 4 to 7.

Noodles & Company

Save 10% on catering orders of $150 or more with the promo code APPRECIATION2026. This is valid through May 8.

Potbelly

Get a free cookie or regular fountain drink with any entrée purchase in restaurant from May 5 to 12 when you show your badge at checkout.

Shake Shack

Teachers can get a free Single ShackBurger or Veggie Shack with any purchase from May 4 to 12. Make sure to show any ID at checkout.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Teachers can get a free brewed hot or iced coffee or tea in any size with a valid ID.

Whataburger

Educators and school staff can get a free breakfast from 5 am to 9 am.

Choose from a Breakfast on a Bun, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, or Breakfast Taquito.

More National Day Deals:

This is just one of the times during the year when restaurants give out free food and discounts. To mark your calendar and make sure you don’t miss any, we have a huge list of the Top National Days for deals that you should absolutely check out.

​The South Carolina Festival Of Flowers takes place in uptown Greenwood, SC.

If you’re traveling to the city of Greenwood for it and you’re looking for other things to do while you’re in town, check out our Things To Do In Greenwood, SC post.

South Carolina Festival Of Flowers History

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South Carolina Festival Of Flowers Schedule Of Events

The topiary sculptures will be on display throughout Greenwood from June 1 through July 12

Thursday, June 4

Beach Music Blast: The free live concert will be performed in Uptown Greenwood. It starts with Rhonda McDaniel at 6 pm followed by The Swinging Medallions from 7 pm to 9 pm. Bring your camp chairs and hang out in front of the stage. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Juried Art Show: An adult juried art show will be held. The artwork will be on display at the Arts Center of Greenwood from June 4 to July 25. Cash prizes will be given to the winners.

The Museum’s Special Exhibit Opening Reception: The Museum will feature an exhibit on South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution. The opening reception is free to the public from 5 pm to 6:30 pm.

Friday, June 12

Annie: The play will be performed at the Greenwood Community Theatre (110 Main St North). This is opening night and the play will run through Sunday, June 21.

Using a concierge is just one of the ways to stretch your vacation budget.

For more ideas, check out our how to travel on a budget post, filled with ideas like frugal amenities to look for when you book a hotel, money saving tips for food on vacation, and more.

How A Hotel Concierge Can Help You Save Money On Vacation

Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

Avoiding Overpriced Tourist Restaurants

If you don’t know where to eat, a concierge can help you decide — and help you avoid expensive restaurants that aren’t worth it.

Let the concierge know what type of cuisine you’re in the mood for and what your price range is. He’ll be able to recommend a great place, including budget-friendly options that might not have popped up on your google search.

Because we all know those expensive tourist traps aren’t where the locals are going.

Yes, I love eating at the restaurants I see when I’m scrolling social media. And you should go to some of them. But some aren’t worth your money. A concierge can help you avoid overspending on a bad meal that only looks good on Instagram.

Finding Better Values And Discounts

A concierge and the hotel you’re staying at may have partnerships with local bars, restaurants, and attractions that can save you money on your trip.

If you know where you want to eat or visit, stop by the concierge’s desk to ask if the hotel has a coupon or discount.

When we were in Nashville, we got a coupon for a free moonshine tasting at Ole Smokey Moonshine through our hotel. Since Pete was already planning on doing that, this freebie ended up being an unexpected way to save on our overall trip cost.

Other times, when we’ve checked into a hotel, we’ve been given coupons for free appetizers or discounts at local restaurants, which helped to save money on food on our trips.

Sometimes you can get a discount by showing your hotel key. That’s a way for the attraction or restaurant to thank the hotel for sending customers. And that thank you is passed along to you in the form of savings.

Saving Money On Fitness

You don’t want to stop your fitness routine when you’re on vacation, but paying for a day pass at a local gym can get expensive.

Using a hotel’s gym means you can avoid that cost. But, not every hotel has its own fitness center and some have limited hours.

A concierge may be able to let you know about a neighboring gym or fitness center that allows free access for hotel guests.

If you’re planning on working out offsite, check with the hotel concierge and see what the rules are. You may need to show your room key or need a printed pass from the hotel in order to use the gym.

Preventing Costly Hotel Mistakes

We went to Hilton Head Island for a work trip a couple summers ago. When I tried to log on to the hotel’s WiFi and it wasn’t connecting, I was worried. I needed it so I could work. I mean, that was the whole purpose of us being there.

Pete and I went down to the concierge and, luckily, he was great and was able to solve our connection problem and get us online. That meant I didn’t have to waste any time trying to find and pay for a hotspot and miss important work deadlines.

So, if you have something going wrong at the hotel, ask the concierge. He can help you avoid paying for costly fixes (like, in my case, an unnecessary hotspot). He can also help you much quicker than you can probably help yourself, and we all know, time is money.

Getting Around Without Overspending

When you’re trying to get to an attraction, you might immediately think of booking a ride with a rideshare app. But, rideshares and taxis are usually the most expensive choice and eat up a lot of your travel budget.

A concierge will be able to let you know if it’s cheaper to take public transportation or to walk, which can add up to a ton of savings.

The concierge will also know about road closures, which your GPS might not know about.

When we were in Puerto Rico, we were trying to get to the natural pond at El Yunque Natural Forest. There was a mudslide that closed the direct route, so the office staff alerted us of an updated route and told us only Apple Maps had it. Google maps did not.

Without that tip, we would have been driving around in circles, wasting our time and gas, and maybe never made it to the natural pond.

Getting Free Perks for Special Occasions

If you’re on vacation for an occasion, like a birthday or an anniversary, and you want something special set up in the hotel room, let the concierge know.

We went to Washington, DC for Pete’s dad’s 70th birthday a few years ago, and I mentioned the reason for our trip when I booked the hotel. The staff was so sweet and set up a bottle of wine, water, snacks, and a card for his dad to see when he got to his room.

Pete’s dad actually checked in before us, so he knew we didn’t sneak into his room to set it up. What he didn’t know is we didn’t pay for this. It was a free perk from the hotel, which meant we didn’t have to buy a gift basket or balloons ourselves. Yay for savings.

You can’t expect this type of freebie from the hotel, but if you do get it, it’s a really nice perk.

Saving On Airport Transportation

In the age of rideshare, that’s usually the default choice to get to and from the airport. In fact, when we stayed in San Antonio, we were able to book our rides via the app days in advance. But, it was really expensive.

Some cities don’t have great ride share (like ours!), so you’re better off asking the concierge for help.

The concierge will know if the hotel offers complimentary airport shuttle service. If not, the concierge can suggest taxi services that are reliable and cheaper than rideshare. He may even be able to set your ride up for you so you’re not scrambling at the last minute and paying a rush fee.

Saving on Luggage / Storage Fees

We had an early flight when we went to Texas, which meant we got to our hotel a couple hours before check in. We went straight there and kindly asked if early check in was a possibility. We were told yes, but for a hefty fee (almost the cost of a full night’s stay).

While we were debating paying that, the concierge stopped us and said that we could store our luggage at the hotel for free and go explore the town. It would be there for us when we checked in.

She also said that if we had a late flight after checkout, we could store our bags there as well and pick them up before going to the airport.

We’ve done something similar in Japan and Las Vegas too, and it really does save you a lot of money (because paying to check in early or paying for luggage storage in town is really expensive).

Avoiding Parking Fees (Or Expensive Parking Decisions)

Parking is downtown Wilmington is pretty confusing. There ae public lots, which are cheap, private lots, which are expensive, and then street parking, which is free in some places but not everywhere. It’s a little complicated and parking in the wrong spot can get costly (especially if you get a parking ticket, which is expensive).

Before you drive somewhere, you should stop by and chat with the concierge to see if there are any parking rules or restrictions you should be aware of. The concierge can also let you know about any free parking spots that are close to your destination, eliminating your parking costs completely.

I love making burgers for dinner. They’re always so satisfying and you can customize them so much that they never get boring.

For more ideas, check out our list of really good burger recipes. There are ones you make on the grill, others you make in the oven, beef burgers, turkey burgers, veggie burgers, more.

Nashville Hot Chicken Burgers Recipe

Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

Nashville Hot Chicken Burgers Ingredients:

You can get the full list of ingredients with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Flour – All-purpose flour coats the chicken to give it a crust and keep it moist.
• Nashville hot chicken seasoning – I personally think the McCormick Nashville hot chicken seasoning has the best overall flavor, but you can use any brand.
• Brown sugar – Hattie B’s hot chicken adds brown sugar into its seasoning blend so you taste more than just heat. It adds a really good flavor so we add this to ours.
• Egg – This helps the flour and seasoning stick to the patty.
• Ground chicken – We use lean ground chicken, but starting this on the stovetop and finishing it in the oven keeps in the moisture so you don’t miss the fat.
• Spicy Panko breadcrumbs – These act as a binder to keep the patties together and also as a way to spice the meat.
• Mayonnaise – We use a low-fat mayo to add a little fat back into the chicken patties. If you don’t use as lean of a cut of ground chicken, you can probably skip the mayo.
• Garlic – This adds spice and flavor to the chicken.
• Hamburger buns – Any sort of bun works.
• Coleslaw – Traditionally, hot chicken is topped with coleslaw. But, it’s optional.

Pour the flour onto a plate.

You can use a small bowl too, but I always use plates when I’m making a breading station.

Add in the Nashville hot seasoning.

Add in the brown sugar.

Stir until the seasoning and sugar are evenly distributed throughout the flour.

Taste the seasoning here. The hot seasoning gets diluted from the flour. It’ll get a little hotter while it cooks. I wouldn’t add any less Nashville hot seasoning to this, but you could add more if you want a spicier burger.

Crack the egg into a second plate.

Gently scramble it with a fork.

Put the ground chicken into a large bowl.

Add in the Panko breadcrumbs.

Add in the mayo.

Grate in the garlic.

If you don’t have a grater, you can chop the garlic really fine and add it that way. I just prefer the grater because the garlic is finer and incorporates into the chicken.

Mix until everything is combined.

Take some of the chicken mixture and form a patty (which is about 1/2 inch thick).

The patty should hold together because of the breadcrumbs in the chicken, but just be careful when you’re dredging it to keep its shape. If it starts to become more oval than round, you can just push the sides in to keep it tighter.

Put it in the seasoned flour and coat both sides, making sure to knock off any excess.

Quick note: Ground chicken is wet, which can prevent breading from sticking evenly. So, you coat it in seasoned flour first to absorb the moisture. The flour does become a little sticky, which is good. If you skipped this layer, the egg wouldn’t stick to the wet chicken.

Move it to the egg mixture and coat both sides. Again, make sure you knock off any excess.

Another quick note: Because the flour is sticky, the egg has something to grip onto it. The egg layer acts as a binder between the chicken and the second coat of breading. If you skipped this, you would only have a moist breading that would slip off the chicken.

Put it back into the seasoned flour and coat both sides. And, once again, knock off any excess.

Final quick note: The second coat of seasoned flour gives the patties a crust and texture. It also gives the burger a lot of its flavor. Since this is a burger, not a deep fried piece of chicken, it won’t be as crunchy as a fried chicken sandwich, but it will have a nice texture.

Continue until you’re done with all the chicken. You should be able to get five patties out of this recipe. They don’t have to be exactly the same size, but they’ll cook evenly if they are.

Heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. You need just enough to lightly coat the bottom of the pan.

Quick note: We prefer olive oil because of its flavor, but you could use a canola or vegetable oil instead.

Add the chicken patties to the pan.

Heat them for four minutes until a crust forms.

You should be able to easily slide a spatula under the patty.

Add a drizzle of olive oil on top of each patty, then flip them.

Cook them on the other side for three minutes.

Again, you want to cook them until a crust forms and you can slide the spatula under. These won’t cook to a deep golden brown like a fried chicken sandwich. But you’ll notice the crust forming.

Put the entire skillet in the preheated oven for six minutes.

Quick note: If your skillet isn’t oven safe (it says so on the bottom of the pan), you’ll want to transfer the patties to a baking sheet and put that inside the oven instead.

The chicken is done when its internal temperature reaches 165 F.

Put the chicken burger between a toasted bun and top with coleslaw.

Nashville Hot Chicken Burgers: Frequently Asked Questions

Soft Pretzel S’mores

These soft pretzel s’mores are a really fun twist on a classic treat. Instead of using graham crackers as the base, everything is layered on a soft pretzel for a delicious sweet-and-salty snack.

What makes these so easy is that you’re using marshmallow creme, not melted marshmallow, so you don’t have to worry about a flame.

No Bake S’mores Cookies With Marshmallow Fluff

If you’re in the mood for s’mores but don’t want to start a campfire, these no bake s’mores cookies with marshmallow fluff should be your go-to.

They have all the classic flavors of s’mores without any baking. Plus, they come together in just minutes using simple ingredients you probably already have at home, making them such a simple treat.

Puff Pastry S’mores Bites

Instead of using graham crackers, these puff pastry s’mores bites start with store-bought puff pastry as the base.

You broil them for a minute, so you get the delicious gooey marshmallow and melted chocolate that you expect from s’mores, just without the campfire.

S’mores Quesadillas

Sweet quesadillas aren’t something you see often, but these s’mores quesadillas will change your mind. They have the flavors of traditional s’mores, but with a tortilla in place of the graham crackers.

We make these as dessert when we’re having quesadillas for dinner, since we already have the quesadilla maker out.

S’mores Fudge

The easiest way to have just a bite of s’mores is with our s’mores fudge recipe. It’s a great twist on a simple two-ingredient fudge.

You need to make this ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge before you can cut it, so you want to make it before the s’mores craving hits.

Foil-Wrapped Grilled S’mores

Traditionally, s’mores are made on a campfire. But, if you’re at home, you can easily make s’mores on the grill instead.

A grill is large enough to cook a bunch of s’mores at once, so this is the perfect way to make s’mores for a crowd. Plus, since they’re wrapped in foil, they don’t make a mess, which means there’s no cleanup after.

Spooky S’mores Wedding Favors

Spooky s’mores wedding favors might sound too niche, especially if you’re not planning a wedding, but these work perfectly for parties too.

At the core, these are packaged s’mores. But, the fun comes from customizing them for any holiday or celebration. You can use traditional Peeps for Easter, Christmas tree Peeps for a stocking stuffer, and more.

Philly Pretzel Factory

Get one free soft pretzel, no purchase necessary, on April 26.

Plus, if you have the app, you can get double points on anything else you buy.

Easy Pretzel Treat For National Pretzel Day

If you can’t make it out for National Pretzel Day, celebrate at home with our favorite pretzel recipe: s’mores soft pretzels. It turns a soft pretzel into a summer treat.

Fayetteville Dogwood Festival 2026 Dates & Details

• Dates: April 24 to 26, 2026
• Location: Festival Park (335 Ray Ave) and the surrounding downtown Fayetteville area
• Cost: Free to attend (although things like food and kids rides cost money)
• Times: Friday: 5 pm to 9:30 pm (Festival Park opens at 4 pm); Saturday: noon to 9:30 pm (Festival Park opens at 11 am); Sunday: noon to 8 pm (Festival Park opens at 11 am)

Festival Hours & What to Expect Each Day

Friday, April 24

All events are happening from 5 pm to 9:30 pm.

• Blood drive
• Food and drink, plus marketplace vendors: There will be 135 vendors and 26 food and drink vendors open.
• Kid zone: There will be a space for the kids, with a bounce house and more.
• Mechanical bull
• Midway Rides
• Ying Yang Twins concert: The concert opens with live DJ sets from Trev Truth & DJ Yodo followed by the Ying Yang Twins.

Saturday, April 25

All events are happening from noon to 9:30 pm, unless otherwise noted.

• Blood drive
• Car Show: This will be set up at the corner of Ray Ave and Maiden Lane.
• Concert: Saved By The 90s (a 90s cover band) and Echostone (a Carolina-based band) will be playing from 2 pm to 9 pm.
• DJ Problem: The DJ will be playing sets at 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.
• Earth Day Events
• Fascinate-U Fun
• Food and drink, plus marketplace vendors: There will be 135 vendors and 26 food and drink vendors open.
• Kid zone: There will be a space for the kids, with a bounce house and more.
• Mechanical bull
• Midway Rides

Sunday, April 26

All events are happening from noon to 8 pm, unless otherwise noted.

• Blood drive
• Exercise classes: There will be pure barre at noon, dancing without sin at 2 pm, 9 rounds at 4 pm, and burn boot camp at 6 pm.
• Food and drink, plus marketplace vendors: There will be 135 vendors and 26 food and drink vendors open.
• Kid zone: There will be a space for the kids, with a bounce house and more.
• Mechanical bull
• Midway Rides
• Poetry Slam: The Creative Corner Poetry Slam hosted by by El’Ja is happening from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

Top Reasons To Check Out The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival

Live music

We are huge fans of live music. If there’s a band playing, we’re going. The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival has DJs and the Ying Yang Twins on Friday and DJs, and 90s cover band, and a rock band on Saturday.

Food trucks

Food just tastes better off of a truck, doesn’t it? The field of Festival Park is lined with 26 food trucks selling everything from burgers to sno cones to pizza. You can bring your own food in and have a picnic if you prefer, but it’s just fun to have the availability of food trucks all around you.

The Kid Zone

We love standing in front of the stage and singing along, but that’s not not always so exciting for kids. That’s why the Kid Zone is great.

Wristband prices haven’t been announced yet for this year, but it’s usually unlimited rides on the bounce houses, 2-story slides, access to yard games, and more.

Vendor tents

We used to work at the local farmers’ market every week, so my heart is always with the vendor tents at events. It’s so much work to pack the car, set up, stay there all day, and peddle your wares (while often getting ignored by passers by).

This year, the festival is hosting over 130 vendors, so you’re bound to find something to buy.

Visitor Info / Tips for Attending

Parking

Street parking is free in downtown Fayetteville on the weekends, although expect those spots to fill up quickly. Paid street parking ends at 5 pm on Friday, so your best bet is to get to the festival right after work, pay until 5, and then leave your car there.

You can park in one of the public lots (on Hay St. and Franklin St.). Event parking is usually $5.

Be wary of private lots as they can charge whatever they want (and usually raise the prices on festival weekends).

What To Bring / Not Bring

Clear bags: You’re only allowed clear bags, no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. We prefer using clear backpacks at events that require clear bags because they’re easier to carry. If you don’t have one, you can also bring a small clutch (5″ x 7″). I have one of those but it barely holds my phone and keys.

Chairs: There is a huge grassy area in front of the stage and you are encouraged to bring your own lawn chairs to sit in front of the stage. We suggest you bring a collapsible picnic table as well, so you can easily eat your food and drinks.

Food and drink: You are able to bring your own food and drinks into the festival, so, although we love eating off a food truck, you definitely should bring your own water bottle and some snacks.

Cash and credit cards: Some vendors will only accept credit or debit cards and some will only accept cash (or may offer a discount for cash), so we suggest you have both with you. Of course, we never suggest carrying large amounts of cash to a festival.

What To Wear

Comfortable sneakers: The majority of the festival is at Festival Park, which is mostly grass and slightly hilly, so we suggest wearing sneakers. Also, closed toed shoes help protect your feet in case you’re dancing near someone and get stepped on.

Layers: It’s spring, which means it’s really warm during the day and then the temperature dips when the sun goes down. Since the festival ends past sundown, we suggest dressing in layers so you are comfortable all day.

Sunscreen: The festival is outside in the spring, so you definitely want sunscreen.

Bug spray: No-see-ums are a big problem in Southeast North Carolina and they’ll ruin your fun. The only thing we’ve found to work is Buggins spray.

Best Time To Go:

The least crowded time will be Friday, as soon as the festival starts, because most people will be at work or late Sunday, since most people will be getting ready for work on Monday.

The festival has boasted over 100,000 attendees over the three days in the past, so honestly, it’s gonna be crowded any time you go.

More Things To Do In Fayetteville, NC

We love Fayetteville. We used to go so often, we called it our home away from home. If you’re looking to go for the weekend and want to do more than just the festival, check out our list of things to do in Fayetteville, NC. It’s filled with restaurants, activities, hotel options, and more to plan your whole trip.

If you spent all your money already, our list of free things to do in Fayetteville will help you enjoy your time without opening your wallet.

And, if you’re hungry and don’t want food truck food, we really like Ramen Tsubaki for Japanese food and Napkins at Dirtbag Ales (which is the craft brewery’s on-site restaurant, so you get good food and good beer).

H-E-B

The Texas-based grocery store will be giving away up to 276,000 free reusable bags to customers at H-E-B, Central Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop, and Mi Tienda stores in Texas, beginning at 8 am.

You can purchase additional Earth Day reusable bags for $1.50.

Stewart’s Shops

Get a free hot coffee or tea (up to 32 oz.) when you bring it any refillable mug.

Yogurtland

Get BOGO dirt cups when you order online or via the mobile app and enter the promo code EARTHDAY at checkout.

Carvel

Buy one classic sundae, get one free.

Corner Bakery Cafe

All administrative professionals can get a free DC Chicken Salad Sandwich Combo (which is a DC Chicken Salad Sandwich, chips, and a drink). No purchase necessary.

If you’re ordering online or in the app, enter the promo code 4091 at checkout.

McCormick & Schmick’s

Get a free appetizer (up to $18 value) with the purchase of two entrees from April 21 to 25. You must mention the Administrative Professionals Week offer to get the freebie.

Schlotzsky’s

Buy one pizza, get one free.

Shake Shack

Get BOGO K-Shack items with the promo code SPICYSWEET.

Participating items include K-Shack BBQ Burger, K-Shack Fried Chicken Sandwich, K-Shack Fried Chicken Bites, K-Shack Spicy BBQ Fries, K-Shack Spicy BBQ Cheese Fries, and K-Shack Spicy Caramel Shake. 

TGI Friday’s

Get a free dessert or appetizer with any entree purchase.

The post says, “treat them (or yourself)” so sounds like this deal is for everyone.

National Cold Brew Day is just one of the annual holidays when chains offer freebies and deals to celebrate. Check out our list of the Top 20+ National Days For Freebies And Deals to make sure you mark your calendar and don’t miss any of the free food and drink all year long.

National Cold Brew Day Freebies And Deals

Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

National Cold Brew Day is Monday, April 20th. All of these deals are valid on that day only unless otherwise noted.

Also, we only included national or large regional chains on this list. Your local coffee shop may be participating, but it we included every local coffee shop, this list would be too overwhelming.

Another Broken Egg Cafe

Get a free cold brew coffee (or matcha) with any entree purchase.

This is valid until April 26.

Dunkin’

Dunkin’ Rewards Members can get 4X points on any cold brew purchase.

National Cold Brew Day falls on a Monday this year and Dunkin’ Rewards members always get 100 bonus points with mobile purchases on Mondays.

If you’re not a member, find out how to sign up for Dunkin’s rewards program here.

Dunn Brothers Coffee

Loyalty members can get a free small cold brew coffee.

Dutch Bros.

Loyalty members will get a free festival wristband starting at 5 am.

Last year it was with a cold brew purchase, but this year it seems like any medium or large drink will qualify.

Ellianos Coffee

Get any size cold brew for $3 with the coupon in the app.

Paris Baguette

PB Rewards members can get a medium cold brew for only $3.

Playa Bowls

Playa Rewards members can get a free 16 oz. Sweet Cream Cold Brew with the purchase of any bowl.

Port City Java

Loyalty members can get a cold brew for $1 when they order ahead in the mobile app.

Scooter’s Coffee

Members can get half off any cold brew (including Crème Cold Brews) on April 20 with the coupon in the app.

Tim Hortons

Rewards members can get 2X points on cold brew.

Make Cold Brew At Home:

If you don’t want to go out to pick up a coffee shop’s cold brew and would rather make it at home instead, check out our Super Simple Cold Brew Coffee recipe.

National Cold Brew Day happens to fall on April 20 every year also. So, we didn’t put any coffee deals in this post.

Instead, you can find all of those at our National Cold Brew Day freebies and deals post.

It’s a good day to be hungry and thirsty.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

You can get a Pizookie for $4.20 from 9 pm to close.

Bonefish Grill

Get a margarita or martini for $5.

Burger King

Get a 4-piece Cheesy Bacon Tots or Jalapeño Cheddar Bites reward for 400 Crowns.

Charleys Cheesesteaks

Charleys Rewards members should have an offer for a free cheese fry with $1+ purchase, valid April 20 to 22.

Chipotle

Wear a hockey jersey into Chipotle after 3 pm and receive BOGO entrees, up to 5.

Del Taco

Del Yeah! rewards members can get BOGO carne asada fries with the deal in the app from April 17 to 20.

Fatburger

Get an Original Fatburger for $4.20.

Firehouse Subs

Get a medium meatball sub for $6.99.

Insomnia Cookies

Insomnia rewards members can get two free classic cookies with the purchase of four classic cookies from April 18 to 20.

Jimmy John’s

Buy a Dream Rotation Meal, and get a second free with the promo code DREAMROTATION. I’m pretty sure this is valid for JJ Rewards members only.

KFC

Rewards members can get a pot pie combo (a pot pie and a drink) for $4.20.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Get a dozen original glazed doughnuts for just $7.99 from 4 pm to 6 pm.

Love’s Truck Stop 

Rewards members can get a free Quest Protein milkshake with the coupon in the app.

Mellow Mushroom

Get pretzel bites with regular or spicy beer cheese or four Mellow Rollz for $4.20.

Outback Steakhouse

Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree.

Panera Bread

MyPanera Rewards members can get $5 off a $25+ order with the coupon in the app.

Red Robin

Get the he Sky-High Towering Trio (a Towering Double Cheeseburger Slider Tower, a Towering Onion Ring Shorty, and a Cinnamon Sugar Doh! Ring Shorty) for $20.

Shake Shack

Get BOGO K-Shack items with the promo code SPICYSWEET. This is valid through April 22.

Participating items include K-Shack BBQ Burger, K-Shack Fried Chicken Sandwich, K-Shack Fried Chicken Bites, K-Shack Spicy BBQ Fries, K-Shack Spicy BBQ Cheese Fries, and K-Shack Spicy Caramel Shake. 

Snickers

Head to snickers.com/chill at noon for a chance to claim one of 200 Snickers ice cream x Carnell Tate six-pack ice cream packs.

Subway

Get BOGO footlong subs all month long with the promo code FLBOGO.

Also, you can get 30% off your next sub, wrap, salad or bowl now through April 26.

Wingstop

If you order a Wingstop Hot Box at 1 of 4 locations, you’ll get a free branded flavor trays.

This is happening at 1709 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA; 5134 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose, CA; 595 Piedmont Ave. NE, Ste. 330, Atlanta, GA; and 935 8th Ave., NY, NY.

Yogurtland

Real Rewards members can get 20% off their order.

Zaxby’s

The first 20,000 rewards members who enter the code BANANAS in the app can get a free Banana Pudding Milkshake with any $1+ purchase.

More National Day Deals:

This isn’t the only day when fast food restaurants celebrate with free food and drinks. For more, check out our full list of the top national days for freebies and deals. Mark your calendar and make sure you don’t miss any, like the Earth Day deals happening later this month.

We love s’mores without flames, so of course, we have a few more fire-free recipes for those.

Check out our list of Unique S’mores Recipes for ideas like soft pretzel s’mores and no bake s’mores cookies.

S’mores Fudge Recipe

Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

S’mores Fudge Ingredients:

You can get the full list of ingredients with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Sweetened condensed milk – This is the base of your fudge. It adds sweetness and the moisture needed to bind everything together to give you the texture of fudge.
• Chocolate chips – You can use any flavor of chocolate chips. We prefer semi-sweet chocolate chips, since the sweetened condensed milk adds a lot of sweetness. You could use dark or milk chocolate chips if you prefer.
• Mini marshmallows – Mini marshmallows distribute more evenly than full-sized ones do. If you only have full-sized ones, cut them into small pieces.
• Graham crackers – We use whole graham crackers that we break apart, but you can actually purchase graham cracker crumbs and use that.

How To Make S’mores Fudge:

Put the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl.

Pour in the sweetened condensed milk.

Microwave on high for one minute until the condensed milk is warm and the chocolate chips start to melt.

Stir the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk together until they’re completely combined.

Quick note: If the ingredients aren’t combining, you can put the bowl back and microwave and stir at 30-second intervals until it’s completely smooth.

Add the marshmallows into the chocolate mixture and stir gently until the marshmallows are coated.

You don’t want to overmix be cause that can melt the marshmallows.

As long as you stir gently, the marshmallows will stay whole and add a pillowy texture to those bites of fudge.

Pour the mixture into an aluminum foil-lined 8×8 inch pan.

Alternatively, you could line the pan with parchment paper. I just personally think foil is a little easier to fit into the pan, but either works.

Put the graham crackers in a plastic bag and break them into crumbs with your fingers.

You could gently hit them with a rolling pin to break them apart as well.

While the fudge mixture is still warm, sprinkle the crushed graham crackers on top.

They should stick to the fudge, but just in case, you can gently pat the crumbs down with the back of a spoon.

Put the pan in the fridge for at least two hours.

Pull the foil out from the pan and place it on a cutting board.

Use a sharp knife to cut it into squares.

I usually do six rows by six rows for a total of 36 pieces. You can cut them into smaller pieces if you’re making them for a party and trying to stretch them to feed a crowd.

S’mores Fudge: Frequently Asked Questions

More Fudge Recipes:

If you love homemade fudge, we have a few other recipes you’ll like. There’s our rocky road fudge, which is my favorite (because it’s the one my mom makes most often, so it tastes like nostalgia to me), and our watermelon fudge, which is always a big hit (because it’s decorated to look like watermelon, although doesn’t taste like it).

Be sure to check out all of our fudge recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth.