First day of spring 2023: Dairy Queen and Rita's giving away free ice-cream for first day of spring

 First day of spring 2023:  Dairy Queen and Rita's giving away free ice-cream for first day of spring

The first day of spring is here – and both Dairy Queen and Rita's are offering free treats to celebrate.

Monday, which marks 2023's first day of spring, is "Free Cone Day" at Dairy Queen. Customers can pick up a free small cone of DQ's "iconic curl" free of charge, according to an announcement from the fast food chain.

The free small cones will be offered at participating non-mall locations all day Monday while supplies last, Dairy Queen said. One cone is limited per person.

"We like to think of Free Cone Day as the beginning of our favorite season – treat season!" Maria Hokanson, executive vice president for marketing at American Dairy Queen Corporation, said in a statement.

Rita's free Italian ice

Meanwhile, Monday also marks the 31st First Day of Spring celebration at Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard. All guests who visit a Rita's location on Monday can get a free Italian ice in the flavor of their choice, according to a company press release.

Rita's expects to give away about 1 million cups of Italian ice across its more than 550 locations on Monday. Customers can find a nearby location on Rita's website.

"We're excited to continue our beloved Italian Ice giveaway tradition on the First Day of Spring as we take pride in lifting the spirits of many of our fans across the country," Linda Chadwick, CEO of Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, said in a statement.

Customers who use Rita's app will also be able to enter for a chance to win "Free Ice for a Year" by entering the promo code SPRING23 through Monday. Complete rules for the chain's sweepstakes can be found on "ritasice.com".