Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo of the Little DQ of Faribault.
JUST AS WINTER BEGINS to feel too long, a sure sign of spring springs forth in my southeastern Minnesota community. The Little DQ of Faribault opens today. And the masses are rejoicing, if Facebook is an indication of how much locals welcome need this break from winter.
Every year for the past several, Randy and I, like so many others here in the land of cold and snow, have embraced this re-opening of the walk-up/drive-up Dairy Queen at 309 Lyndale Avenue North. The cozy ice cream shop closed for the season on November 1, while the larger Dairy Queen Brazier, just down Minnesota State Highway 60 to the west, stays open year-round.
Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
Around this time each February, the Little DQ opens with a Peanut Buster Parfait special, this year priced at $1.99 (same as last), limit of three, from February 28 to March 1. The deal is good at both locations. But you can bet the lines will be longer at the smaller DQ. This place holds nostalgic charm. That coupled with the traditional spring opening special draw winter-weary ice cream lovers.
Set against a backdrop of snow, the Peanut Buster Parfait. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
Never mind the calories—710. It’s best not to think about those as you dig into the hot fudge, the peanuts, the sweet sweet ice cream.
It’s seldom Randy and I indulge in Dairy Queen. But this Peanut Buster Parfait special, well, we can’t let it pass. We sit in our van with the heater blasting warmth while we enjoy our first unofficial taste of spring.
© Copyright 2020 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
What a sweet event! When someone orders 3 they don’t eat them all by themselves, right? Happy Sign of Spring to you.
Ruth, I sure hope someone doesn’t eat all three parfaits at once. I can hardly finish one. My niece buys three and freezes the ones she doesn’t eat. I thought that a great idea given the half-price special.
If nature won’t provide spring, Minnesotans know how to start the process. I love that about my native state and it’s residents. Three cheers for the Little Dairy Queen. Enjoy!
I thoroughly plan to enjoy my PB Parfait. Temps in the 40s expected for Saturday and Sunday. Yeah! Spring is coming.
I remember a similar post of yours in the past. A lovely ritual! 🙂
Your memory is right. I’ve written about this several times.
We were in Faribault today and wanted to stop at the DQ but ran out of time…had to get home for Ezra’s nap!
I’m sorry you ran out of time. We enjoyed our parfaits. And, yes, a long line of cars snaked around the building. Randy walked up for ours and that proved quicker.
Yeah for spring and peanut butter parfaits!! My personal favorite too
Indeed, yeah for those tasty parfaits. Beautiful weekend here with near 60 in the upcoming weekend forecast.
God bless that little Dairy Queen and those that work there, it and the Peanut Buster Parfait are Americana at its finest. But Audrey, first those yummy Bismarck’s and then those addictive Peanut Buster Parfaits!? There goes my diet…and you are a bad influence haha.
Oh, oh. Moderation, Brian, moderation.
I got a pleasant visual of the two of you sitting in the van with the heater blasting, enjoying that parfait!! Very few DQ’s exist in Oklahoma – but there is one just 23 miles away that is open year-round. It’s been years since I’ve indulged in DQ ice cream, but oh the memories of enjoying it as a kid!
I’m happy to have brought back some wonderful childhood memories for you.
The image of you and Randy sitting in the van with heater blasting made me smile. That is one of my favorite DQ treats but havent indulged for awhile. Of Rochesters 3 Dairy Queens, one opened in Mid February, another will open in March, but not sure about the 3rd. My motto would be “if you open, they will come” no matter the temperature outside 🙂
I think that’s true about “they will come.” I’m surprised Rochester doesn’t have a DQ that’s open year-round.
Me too, I wish we did!
I remember the spring opening of Dairyland in Fergus Falls while growing up on a farm near there. Later, while attending Community College and working there, Dairyland was my dining place all too often. And the snow was often still quite visible some of those years also!
Thank you for sharing your Dairyland in Fergus Falls connection to ice cream shops. Be sure to read my post about this place which means so much to you:
https://mnprairieroots.com/2013/06/13/dairyland-an-old-fashioned-drive-in-in-fergus-falls/