First Day Of Spring Freebies And Deals—Ice Cream, Italian Ice, & More
Spring doesn't just bring warmer weather—it's also peak season for food freebies. Brands know that after months of cold and gray, people are ready to celebrate with something sweet, refreshing, and sometimes, even, free. That's why Dairy Queen, Rita's, and more are rolling out their annual free treats and promotions to mark the change in seasons.
There's something about the first warm day of the year that just feels different. After months of winter's chill, longer days and sunnier skies make everything seem a little brighter. It's the season of shedding layers, stepping outside, and craving something cold and sweet—which is why frozen treats have become a springtime ritual.
For many, the first cone of the season or a refreshing Italian Ice marks a shift—eating lunch outside instead of indoors, taking a walk after dinner instead of bundling up inside. Brands like Dairy Queen and Rita's have tapped into that seasonal shift, turning the first day of spring into a moment worth celebrating (and showing up for).
Because really, what better way to welcome sunshine and warm breezes after a long winter than with something cold, sweet, and free?
Most of these First Day of Spring deals are available in-store, but some require loyalty apps or promo codes. To be sure you don't miss out, check your favorite brand's app or website before heading out.
Whether you're grabbing a free Dairy Queen cone, sipping on a Jamba Juice smoothie, or trying Rita's new Skittles Italian Ice, there's no better way to kick off the first day of Spring than with something sweet on the house.
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
2 Possible Reasons Warren Buffett Shunned His Favorite Stock for the Fourth Straight Quarter, Despite Sitting on $344 Billion in Cash
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He authorized $77.8 billion worth of buybacks between 2018 and mid-2024, which is more than double what he has ever invested in any other stock. However, he hasn't authorized any buybacks for the past four consecutive quarters, which might be concerning for investors who follow the Oracle of Omaha's every move. Does he think a stock market crash is on the way, or is he no longer bullish on Berkshire's prospects? Below, I'll highlight two plausible reasons for the pause. Warren Buffett turned Berkshire into a cash-generating machine Before diving into the two possible reasons for Buffett's recent inaction on buybacks, let's examine why Berkshire is sitting on so much cash. First, the conglomerate has been a net seller of stocks for 11 straight quarters on the back of historically expensive valuations, which has freed up a mountain of cash. It even sold more than half of its stake in Apple last year; after investing about $38 billion in the iPhone maker between 2016 and 2023, the position was worth more than $170 billion in early 2024, so it was probably wise to cash in some of those gains. Second, Berkshire is a cash-generating machine. It owns numerous insurance, utilities, and logistics companies that deliver steady income and earns a truckload of dividends each year from its stock portfolio. The conglomerate is on track to receive $2.1 billion in dividends during 2025 from just three stocks alone: American Express, Chevron, and Coca-Cola. With so much money coming in, why is Buffett hesitating to repurchase Berkshire stock? The first possible reason: Berkshire's valuation Buybacks reduce the number of shares in circulation, which organically increases the price per share by a proportionate amount and gives each shareholder a larger stake in the company. In other words, they are great for investors. Berkshire stock has generated a compound annual return of 19.9% since Buffett took the helm, crushing the average annual gain of 10.4% in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period. Therefore, chances are Berkshire will outperform almost any other stock Buffett could invest in, which minimizes the opportunity cost of performing buybacks. However, Buffett has a keen eye for value and he never wants to overpay for a stock -- not even his own. Berkshire is currently trading at a price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of 2.5, which is a huge 25% premium to its 10-year average of 2. Berkshire stock last traded in line with its average P/S in early 2024. Interestingly, the buybacks stopped after the second quarter of that year, which could be a sign Buffett thinks the stock is simply too expensive at these levels. The second possible reason: Succession Berkshire can repurchase its own stock at management's discretion as long as the balance of its cash and equivalents is more than $30 billion. 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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,427!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,119,863!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 11, 2025 American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Anthony Di Pizio has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, and Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Possible Reasons Warren Buffett Shunned His Favorite Stock for the Fourth Straight Quarter, Despite Sitting on $344 Billion in Cash was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
06-08-2025
- Newsweek
Dairy Queen Announces Major Menu Change Starting This Month
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Hamilton Spectator
21-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Port Colborne's iconic Dairy Queen sign shines again after decades in the dark
A beloved piece of Main Street history returned to the Port Colborne skyline this week as the Dairy Queen was reinstalled and lit up for the first time in more than 40 years. The neon sign, which sat dark for decades , was lifted back onto the roof of the long-standing ice cream bar Wednesday following months of effort by owner Rick Wilsher, local officials and members of the community. 'It hasn't been repaired or lit in over 40 years,' Wilsher said. 'Bylaws prevented that from happening.' The sign's restoration wasn't just a matter of maintenance; it took political effort and community collaboration to bring it back to life. Wilsher said a developer friend of his has contacts in politics. He also credited support from local city councillors Gary Bruno and Ron Bodner, as well as funding through the community improvement program, which covered half the cost of removing the sign for repairs. 'They approached me and said, under the facade and improvement program, we'll allow you to take the sign off for repair, and (the city) paid half,' Wilsher explained. 'And here we are.' The sign was restored in Niagara Falls and transported back to Port Colborne early Wednesday morning. It was lit that night, with local photographer Chris de Laat, known for his 'Cool September Night at Dairy Queen' print, on hand to capture the moment. An official relighting ceremony is planned for Sept. 13. Wilsher said there will be a street party and Sunday event featuring a mini parade of vintage cars to mark the store's 70 years in business. 'It's basically the community throughout the ages (that) have demanded it stay the way it is,' he said. Wilsher also shared that this Dairy Queen is the only royalty-free location in Canada, a unique arrangement that dates back to the store's original owner, John Sergnese. 'Every time they would threaten him with legal action about upgrading his store, he told them, 'see you in court', and it never happened,' Wilsher said. To honour that legacy, Rick will be placing a memorial bench out front, using the front end of a 1955 Chrysler, to commemorate Sergnese's impact. 'This is a special day for me today,' he said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
