Veterans Day 2026: Free meals, the Merced parade and other ways Merced County is saying thanks

Veterans and active-duty service members can get free meals, coffee and museum admission around Merced County on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Most of the offers below come from national chains, and they’re listed by Military.com and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Merced Neighbors checked each chain’s own store list to find the locations in Merced County. Many of these restaurants are franchises, and the chains say the deals are good only at participating locations, so call ahead before you go.

Bring proof of service, such as a military ID, a veteran ID card or a DD-214. Each business decides what it accepts. Drinks, tips and tax usually aren’t included.

Free meals

Applebee’s (1734 W. Olive Ave., Merced; 820 Commerce Ave., Atwater): a free entrée from a limited Veterans Day menu for veterans and active-duty members. Dine-in only.

Chili’s (1075 W. Olive Ave., Merced; 1905 E. Pacheco Blvd., Los Banos): a free meal from a limited menu for veterans and active-duty members. Dine-in only.

Olive Garden (721 W. Olive Ave., Merced): a free entrée from a special menu for veterans and current service members who dine in.

In-N-Out (1579 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced; 28900 Henry Miller Road, Santa Nella): a free burger, fries and drink for veterans, active-duty members, reservists and National Guard members with proof of service.

Wendy’s (1400 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced; 800 Bellevue Road, Atwater; 503 Pacheco Blvd., Los Banos): a free Dave’s Single for veterans and active-duty members, inside or at the drive-thru.

Sizzler (1334 W. Olive Ave., Merced): a free lunch and a nonalcoholic drink until 4 p.m. for veterans and active-duty members. The choices are a 6-ounce tri-tip sirloin, Malibu chicken or a half-dozen crispy shrimp.

Little Caesars (63 E. 16th St. and 3250 G St., Merced; 300 Bellevue Road, Atwater): a free lunch combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for veterans and active-duty members, in the store only.

Denny’s (1128 W. 13th St., Merced; 1601 Sycamore Ave., Atwater; 1491 W. Pacheco Blvd., Los Banos; 12820 Highway 33, Gustine): a free Original Grand Slam from 5 a.m. to noon for veterans and active-duty members with a military ID.

IHOP (1315 W. Pacheco Blvd., Los Banos; 12310 S. Highway 33, Santa Nella): a free Red, White and Blueberry Pancake Combo for veterans and active-duty members with proof of service. Dine-in only.

Coffee, doughnuts and snacks

Starbucks (about 20 stores in Merced, Atwater, Los Banos, Livingston and Santa Nella): a free tall brewed coffee, hot or iced, for veterans, service members and military spouses at participating stores.

Dunkin’ (805 S. Coffee St., Merced): a free doughnut for active and retired military, one per person, while supplies last. In the store only, not through the app.

Chipotle (3110 R St. and 3120 Campus Parkway, Merced; 1420 E. Pacheco Blvd., Los Banos): free chips with guacamole, queso blanco or salsa with a purchase of $5 or more for veterans and active-duty members, all day.

A short drive away

Several chains with Veterans Day offers don’t have a restaurant in Merced County. The closest are in Turlock and Modesto:

• Texas Roadhouse (1665 Countryside Drive, Turlock) is handing out vouchers for a free meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to veterans and active-duty members with proof of service. The vouchers can be used through May 31, 2027.
• Red Robin in Turlock, Outback Steakhouse and BJ’s in Modesto and Buffalo Wild Wings in Turlock also have offers. Check each chain’s website for details.

Events

Merced County Veterans Day Parade, downtown Merced: The county’s 22nd annual parade opens with a ceremony at 1 p.m. The parade starts at 2 p.m., the Merced County Veterans Services Office says. A military flyover is scheduled, followed by a ceremony for local officials and the grand marshals. The ceremony is at Bob Hart Square, and the parade runs along West Main Street between G and O streets, the Los Banos Enterprise reported. For details, call the Veterans Services Office at (209) 385-7588.

Gustine Veterans Day Parade: The parade starts at 11 a.m., according to the City of Gustine’s calendar. It ends at Veterans Memorial Hall, 145 Fifth St., where a program for veterans follows, the Los Banos Enterprise reported.

Castle Air Museum, Atwater: Admission is free for veterans and active-duty service members from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the museum says. The museum is at 5050 Santa Fe Drive, and it invites parade-goers to stop by afterward. Other visitors pay regular admission.

Field of Honor, Merced College: The Sunrise Rotary Field of Honor, a display of flags honoring veterans, stays up at Merced College, 3600 M St., through Saturday, Nov. 14, the Los Banos Enterprise reported. Its closing ceremony is from 2 to 3 p.m. that day.

Help for veterans all year

The Merced County Veterans Services Office helps veterans and their families apply for VA benefits, including disability pay, health care and pensions. It’s at 1920 Customer Care Way in Atwater, and it can be reached at (209) 385-7588 or vetserv@countyofmerced.com.

Sources: Military.com, Veterans Day restaurant deals, updated Nov. 11, 2026. VA News, 2026 Veterans Day discounts and free meals. Store addresses from each chain’s official location pages. Merced County Veterans Services Office. City of Gustine calendar. Castle Air Museum. Los Banos Enterprise, Nov. 6, 2026.