7-Eleven Hands Out Free Slurpees July 11

Article written by Jennifer Squires

Pick up a gratis icy, sweet drink at your neighborhood 7-Eleven from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11.

The chain will give away an estimated 7 million Slurpees on Thursday at a retail value of $7.6 million, 7-Eleven vice president of marketing and brand innovation  Laura Gordon told USA Today.

It's all a part of celebrating July 11, or 7-11, which is the day the convenience store chain designated at the company's birthday.

"It helps us reconnect with people who love the Slurpee," USA Today quoted her as saying.

This year, the free Slurpees will be upgraded from a promotional 7.11-ounce cup to 12 ounces, the standard small cups.

If you like what you're slurping, 7-Eleven wants you to get your groove on with the "Slurpee Dance." Learn the moves—a mash-up of crumping, the Harlem Shake and maybe a little Running Man—from the video above then upload your own versions YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

7-Eleven marks 86 years of doing business this year. Dubbed the "first convenience store," the international company launched in 1972 when a Southland Ice Company employee in Dallas began selling essentials from an ice dock. The retailing giant now has nearly 8,200 locations in North America and more than 38,100 worldwide.

7-Eleven is located Rohnert Park at 1704 E Cotati Ave.