SPRING HAS UNOFFICIALLY ARRIVED in Faribault. The Little DQ opened this past weekend. And that, in my community, signals closing the door on winter and cracking it open to spring. Never mind that winter can continue well into April, sometimes even May, here in the North. But let’s not consider that possibility. There are enough other things to feel pessimistic about right now.
Sunday evening Randy and I drove across town to the local walk-up/drive-up Dairy Queen for the $2.49 Peanut Buster Parfait opening weekend special. That’s always the bargain treat when The Little DQ opens at the end of February and then closes in October.
Since these are typically the only two times we go to DQ in a year, I was excited to get this fudgy, salty, sweet treat. We pulled up around 8 pm, surprised not to see a line of vehicles. But then again it was the end of the weekend, the hours winding down to the 10 pm closing.
A friendly voice greeted us over the intercom as Randy ordered two Peanut Buster Parfaits. “We’re out of peanuts,” the teen on the other end told us. “You can substitute something else.”
After some grumbling between us, we settled on M & Ms as a peanut replacement. I was too surprised to fully consider other options. My mind was fixated on peanuts because a Peanut Buster Parfait is simply not a Peanut Buster Parfait without the peanuts.
We both shared the thought that employees of The Little DQ could have sourced peanuts from the next door convenience store, a grocery store across the highway or even the other DQ down the road. Never mind. It was just an idea.
And so we ate our minimally fudgy M & M Parfaits and reminisced about the other time we arrived at The Little DQ to order Peanut Buster Parfaits on closing weekend. “We’re out of ice cream,” said the voice on the other end of the intercom. At least this time we got ice cream.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Closed from October to now? Some of the best ice cream I ever had was in the winter – mainly because it didn’t melt before I could finish it.
Excellent point on melting ice cream. But, yes, this particular DQ closes at the end of October and then reopens around this time. There’s a larger dine-in DQ just down the road.
Awww I’m sorry they ran out of peanuts. But what a great ending, your remembering the time they ran out of ice cream! Happy Almost Spring?
Yes, at least we got ice cream this time. And there was no line of vehicles.
Oh, Audrey! This is just sad!! 😦 I hope you are well, Dear Friend. ❤
I’m doing fairly well, Penny. It’s good to hear from you, my friend.
Bummer! But hopefully the M and M’s were a yummy substitute! Anytime is ice cream time but I do love your tradition.
It was OK. Not as good as a Peanut Buster Parfait.
I’m sorry they were out of peanuts; it can be a bit disconcerting when you’re set on something and to have it not be available. I love our local DQs!! The owners (I think sisters?) are fantastic, they own the Pequot, Pine River, and Nisswa(?) DQ’s. My husband’s cousin works at those locations going where needed. They are all so friendly. And since one of the owners has a daughter with a gluten allergy, they have gluten free buns which are not available at all DQs.❤️
It was disappointing, but certainly not the end of the world. There are far worse things happening now than a shortage of peanuts at the DQ.
Aww! There need to be some comforting things we can count on right now!
I hear you, Kathleen. I hear you.
that is so funny/frustrating. this is also one of my friend’s very favorite item for dq. clearly the kids working there are not natural problem solvers or thinking about the big rush on those special days.
This would have been an easy problem to solve, in my opinion. But there’s probably policy and protocol or whatever.
right
In thinking about this a little bit more, having done a lot of catering and waitressing in my days, I was wondering if maybe they will not let them buy things from any outside sources. It could be a problem with liability if someone got food poisoned, or they had a bad product and sold that as a DQ item. Just a thought on the front end, though it would’ve been smart if they supplied them with extra things on these special days ahead of time.
I had that thought, too, regarding purchasing food elsewhere. And, yes, better planning may be needed to assure food supply is adequate.
oh no how was it with the m&m’s?
Not that great. I really wanted a Peanut Buster Parfait. There’s no substitute for that. Even if I like M & Ms.
Our local ice cream stand just opened, Immediately there was a line of folks huddled against the cold and wind, but determined to get their ice cream.
You paint a strong visual with your words. I can definitely picture the scene.