How To Win Free Ice Cream For Life At McDonald's

Ever wondered what it’d be like to win a lifetime supply of your favorite treat? Thanks to McDonald's latest promotion, you might just be able to. Jul. 16 is National Ice Cream Day, and to celebrate the momentous occasion, McDonald’s is serving up something huge: all the free ice cream you could want. So, here’s how to win free ice cream for life at McDonald’s this month.

It’s basically Willy Wonka in the Chocolate Factory IRL: All you have to do is find the sought-after "Golden Cone," and you’ll unlock a lifetime of free McDonald’s soft serve. But only one lucky patron will win, and thanks to the streamlining element of the app — which patrons must download to play — your odds of winning are pretty limited. Still, free ice cream for life is nothing to scoff at — especially when it comes in the form of those soft, pillowy swirls.

According to McDonald's, the grand prize giveaway will happen sometime between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time on July 16 in a McDonald's location. Download the app, order your cone, and you might just be surprised with a limited edition “Golden Arches Cone,” which entitles the winner to the creme de la creme of free ice cream: all you can eat for an entire lifetime.

The giveaway is part of a McDonald’s initiative to help celebrate its new soft-serve recipe. Now free of artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. McD’s changed up the recipe for the iconic dessert last fall, but the switch went mostly unnoticed by fans. Now they're giving the new-and-improved recipe the limelight it deserves with a free ice cream giveaway in honor of the holiday, and a social media campaign to match.

In anticipation of the contest, McDonald’s teamed up with Nerdist to dole out ‘soft-served’ compliments to select brand fans on Twitter Monday night under the #SoftServed calling card. Smooth, sweet, and aiming for the receiver's soft-spot, it's a perfect compliment to the giveaway component.

Even if you don’t find the Golden Cone, you can still cash in on free ice cream at McDonald’s locations nationwide. McD’s will be giving out free cones all day long on Jul. 16 through the McDonald’s app, so stop by your nearest shop (or cruise through the drive-thru), download the app, and enjoy some soft-serve under the golden arches.