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Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard will hand out free six-ounce Italian ices at all of its locations, the company said in a news release on Monday, Mar. 10. It will happen on Thursday, Mar. 20, which is also the first day of spring.
The one-day giveaway is a long-standing celebration for the popular frozen treat chain, which expects to serve around one million cups of Italian ice during the event.
"Rita's First Day of Spring Giveaway has been more than just a tradition — it's a moment of pure joy and connection that marks the start of a new season with a refreshing cup of Rita's happiness," said CEO and president Linda Chadwick. "This cherished day highlights the bond between Rita's and our fans and inspires us to continue innovating with strategic new products."
Customers can try a new twist on the classic treat. Rita's is rolling out Skittles Italian Ice, inspired by the popular candy. The flavor will be available on Monday, Mar. 17, along with Skittles POP'd, a crunchy, freeze-dried candy topping that can be added to any treat.
According to its website, Rita's has 588 locations nationwide, including hundreds in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic:
- Pennsylvania - 195
- New Jersey - 110
- Maryland - 77
- Virginia - 20
- Delaware - 19
- New York - 17
- Connecticut - 6
- Washington, DC - 3
- Massachusetts - 1
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is releasing a new flavor based on the candy Skittles.
You could also win free Italian ice for a year. Customers who use the promo code "FDOS25" in the Rita's Ice app by Sunday, Mar. 23 will be entered into a sweepstakes and 30 winners will get 52 free small ices over the next year.
Ice cream lovers can also get a small vanilla soft-serve cone for free at Dairy Queen on March 20. The chain's annual Free Cone Day celebrates the first day of spring.
Rita's was founded in 1984 as "Rita's Water Ice" in Bensalem Township, PA, by former Philadelphia firefighter Bob Tumolo, who named the shop after his wife.
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