Maybe you’ve participated in Starbucks Red Cup Day in the past, or maybe you have absolutely no idea what it is – either way, we’re pouring out all of the details around this Starbucks holiday tradition that many look forward to every year.
So when does the annual Starbucks Red Cup Day take place…and what is it all about, anyway? It’s a festive giveaway for customers that revolves around the famous red Starbucks holiday cup. Mark your calendars for November and keep reading for everything you need to know.
What is Starbucks Red Cup Day?
Starbucks Red Cup Day is a yearly nationwide giveaway event that celebrates the holiday season at Starbucks. At participating stores across the US, customers can receive a free reusable red cup – the quintessential holiday-themed red cup that Starbucks is known for – when they order a hand-crafted holiday drink, whether it’s a hot drink, an iced drink, or a blended drink.
All you need to do is order a seasonal holiday beverage at Starbucks on Red Cup Day, and your drink will come in a free reusable red cup that you can keep for future use (as long as supplies last). The cup comes in a grande size, which is 16 ounces, with a holiday-themed mod design.
The best part is that this is a gift that keeps on giving: customers who bring their reusable cup back with them to Starbucks get a $0.10 discount on their drink order (and 25 bonus stars on the mobile app). This is part of Starbucks’ effort to reduce waste by 50% by the year 2030.
When is Starbucks Red Cup Day?
Starbucks Red Cup Day falls on a different date every year, but in the past it’s typically been celebrated on the third Thursday in November. So this past year, in 2023, Red Cup Day took place on November 16.
As for 2024, this coming Red Cup Day will presumably fall on Thursday, November 21 – but Starbucks will announce the official date closer to the holiday season.
How do you participate in Starbucks Red Cup Day?
It’s easy to participate to get your free red cup, because you can order pretty much any way you’d like. That means if you order in person at the store, on the Starbucks mobile app, or even online through a delivery service like Uber Eats or DoorDash, all of the above will qualify for the giveaway.
The only requirement is that you order a hand-crafted holiday beverage, which will be one of the many seasonal fall or winter beverages on the menu. Starbucks holiday brewed coffee – Starbucks Christmas Blend and Christmas Starbucks Reserve – are not a part of the offer, but pretty much any other holiday drink is up for grabs.
To give you an idea of what drinks are considered handcrafted holiday beverages, below is the full list of participating beverages on the menu for 2023:
- Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
- Caramel Brulée Latte
- Chestnut Praline Latte
- Gingerbread Latte
- Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai
- Hot Chocolate
- Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Oleato Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Peppermint Mocha
- Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
- Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
- White Hot Chocolate
Red Cup Day is a giveaway event that takes place at Starbucks locations across the US to celebrate the holiday season every year. On Red Cup Day, customers who order one of Starbucks’ hand-crafted holiday beverages will receive a free reusable red cup while supplies last.
While Starbucks hasn’t announced the exact date of Red Cup Day for this coming holiday season in 2024, the event typically falls on the third Thursday of November, so there’s a good chance Red Cup Day will take place on November 21, 2024.
As long as you order a participating holiday beverage (any of Starbucks’ seasonal fall or winter hand-crafted drinks) on Red Cup Day, you can place your order any way you’d like: in person at a participating location, on the Starbucks mobile app, or through a delivery service like Uber Eats or DoorDash.
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