Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven Is Extra Special This Year

Slurpee Day, celebrated every year at 7-Eleven on 7/11, is a red-letter day for fans of the iconic slushy. Free small Slurpees — icy as they are — are an exciting thing to look forward to on a hot summer day. This year, though, the occasion is extra special, because even though the Slurpee doesn’t look a day over 59, the drink is celebrating its 60th birthday.

What is 7-Eleven doing for the Slurpee's 60th birthday?

To mark this six-decade milestone on Saturday, July 11, the convenience chain is not only offering its annual Slurpee giveaway, but also introducing colorful and festive commemorative 60th Anniversary Slurpee Day cups and a new celebratory Slurpee flavor: Mountain Dew Confetti Chill.

The frozen drinks and commemorative cups will be available at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes locations nationwide.

I had a chance to sample the new, limited-time-only celebratory Slurpee flavor, served up in a commemorative cup, ahead of this year’s Slurpee Day. (It was served up fresh from a Slurpee truck making its way to several stops in New York City.) Here’s what you can expect.

What does 7-Eleven’s new Mountain Dew Confetti Chill Slurpee flavor taste like?

Officially, the new limited-edition flavor “blends bright citrus with notes of sweet vanilla icing for a lemon cake-inspired twist on the classic frozen treat.” The drink is white (not, like, Mountain Dew yellow-green), but you have the option to sprinkle on pink, green and blue sugar crystals for what the brand calls a “colorful finishing touch.”

I didn’t have chance to sprinkle sugar on mine, and I did kind of miss the celebratory “confetti” factor, visually, but I didn’t miss the extra sweetness. I found the Slurpee flavor absolutely delicious on its own. I definitely tasted vanilla cake and citrus (I guess that’s the Mountain Dew factor, but it was subtle) and, while gently sweet, the drink wasn’t even remotely cloying. It was light and refreshing — an almost sophisticated and minimalist Slurpee. (Is a “sophisticated Slurpee” an oxymoron?) Ultimately, it struck me as kind of a grownup version of the classic slushy — which is, I guess, suitable for a 60th birthday.

I can’t claim to have tasted much more than a small fraction of the more than 300 Slurpee flavors that 7-Eleven has offered since introducing the drink in 1966, but this one might have become an instant favorite. It was right up there with my go-to faves, Coca-Cola and Cherry. I honestly loved it.

What else is on 7-Eleven’s Slurpee Day menu this year?

Along with free small Slurpees, participating stores are also offering Slurpee Day deals on the following party-suitable menu items:

• 50-cent classic glazed doughnuts for  7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members.
• Two corn dogs for $2 all day long at Laredo Taco Company locations.
• A BOGO offer on an eight-piece Raise the Roost nugget order.
• A 7-Select Birthday Cake Snack Pie for $1. “The limited-time treat packs classic birthday cake flavor into a flaky handheld pastry, making every bite feel like a celebration,” according to the brand.

Does 7-Eleven have anything else special planned for Slurpee Day this year?

Yes. On July 11, a handful of 7-Eleven and Speedway stores across the country are hosting a “Slurpee Date experience” for people (romantic couples, besties and other duos) who want to bond over a Slurpee drink.

The experience includes a “Slurpee Date photo-op bench,” where pairs can pose for a professional photographer and take home a photo as a commemorative keepsake. These select locations will also offer “limited-edition bedazzled Slurpee ’S’ double straws – inspired by the brand's diamond anniversary,” providing a “playful” way to share a Slurpee with a special pal.

The “Slurpee Date experience” will be available only at these locations:

• Los Angeles (7-Eleven): 8541 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
• Columbus (Speedway): 1805 Jackson Pike, Columbus, OH 43223
• Dallas Fort Worth (7-Eleven): 9750 Walnut Hill Ln, Dallas, TX 752386
• New York/New Jersey (7-Eleven): 1215 NW Central Ave, Seaside Park, NJ 08752

The experience is, 7-Eleven says, “a fun, low-pressure way to ditch over-planned dates for something a little more slurpious. Because a great date doesn't need a fancy reservation; sometimes, all it takes is two people, two straws and one Slurpee drink.” Cute.

Happy birthday, Slurpee. And many happy returns.

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