The Dairy Queen along old U.S. Highway 14 in Janesville, Minnesota, in 2012. The sign is vintage late 1940s or early 1950s. Click here to read my story about the Janesville DQ. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo 2012.
HAPPY FIRST DAY of spring, dear readers!
If you live in a cold weather state like me, you welcome March 20, even if the weather and landscape feel and appear more winter than spring. It’s a mental thing for us Minnesotans, a reminder that the “real spring” is only months away. Spring, in my Minnesota mind, arrives in May.
Over at Dairy Queen, they’re going by the calendar, celebrating spring’s official arrival today with “Free Cone Day.” You can get one free small vanilla ice cream cone at any non-mall participating DQ in the U.S.
And, if you’re so inclined, you can donate to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, DQ’s March 20 fundraiser focus. Because, you know, you’re getting that freebie and you’re generous.
© Copyright 2017 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
We went to DQ yesterday- Peanut Buster Parfait! Now we have to go back today-right?!
Absolutely, back today.
A real Minnesotan does not let the weather come between them and an ice cream cone. It is terribly disappointing when the small DQ’s close for the season. Where is their courage?
Ah, how true, Greg. Yeah, I don’t know what’s with the annual closures other than it doesn’t make sense from a business standpoint apparently. Or these DQ owners fled to warmer climates.
Ah! We have a DQ a mile away and I didn’t know about this promotion! Very nice. I’ll have to tell Mick, the resident ice cream lover.
Enjoy those cones! Happy spring, my friend.
That looks just about like the Dairy Queen in Windom that remember going to as a child. I sure wish we had one here in Fairbanks, we used have 2 but one closed down and the other blew up because of a gas explosion years ago. I sure miss having banana splits and chocolate malts there…………… Enjoy your DQ!
Well, when you move back to the Midwest, you should find plenty of Dairy Queens. So what’s the go-to soft serve ice cream place in Fairbanks?
Sam’s Club a big box store or Fred Meyers a department store are two of the ones available for taking the grand kids and myself to. Not many soft serve choices here.
Ok, then, at least you have somewhere to take the grandkids.
We went to DQ to get our free small cone for my birthday treat! Happy Spring!
And happy birthday!
We just got home from the DQ after a church meeting. Sat outside with church friends and laughed and talked and ate our free ($5 donation) cones.
Ha ha the sign was the first thing I noticed. Yum free ice cream. Beautiful the last few days. Rain and snow later this week. I guess Mother Nature didn’t get an updated calendar
I heard the “s” word was in the forecast. Go away, I say.
In my mind when the DQ opens it is indeed the unofficial start of spring. Happy Happy!!
Spoken like a true Minnesotan.