Free Slurpees in Vernon Hills July 11

7-Eleven will celebrate its 86th birthday this week—on July 11 (7-11)—and continue its tradition of free Slurpees nationwide.

Participating 7-Eleven stores will give away free small Slurpees—an upgrade from last year's 7.11-ounce freebies as well as other party favors.

7-Eleven, Inc. has also choreographed a celebration dance to mark its 86th birthday, Thursday, July 11, better known by fans of its popular frozen drink as Free Slurpee Day, according to a press release from the company. 

Big things are in store and online for the festivities:

• Free small Slurpee drinks -- That’s a full 12 ounces, almost double the previous years’ 7.11-ounce size. Offered from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on Thursday, July 11, at participating 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. and Canada

• Slurpee dance -- To celebrate means to dance, and to celebrate free Slurpee drinks means to Slurpee dance. YouTube dancing phenom Nathan Barnatt has posted his own version of the Slurpee dance as well as how-to videos on www.7-eleven.com/slurpeedance and YouTube. To party down publicly, fans are encouraged to download the Slurpee Dance theme song, follow Nathan’s lead or make up their own moves and post to 7-Eleven’s Facebook fan page, on Twitter, YouTube or Vine with the tag @slurpee #slurpeedance.

• Fab flavors -- This year’s summer’s featured Slurpee flavors are made in the shade, or made for the shade – specifically Slurpee Strawberry Lemonshade and Slurpee Lite Sugar-Free Mango Lemonade.

• Party favors-- The tiny party hats are back, along with tiny dancers, and assorted human-size bows and bands (for heads and wrists). Download the party paraphernalia at www.7-eleven.com/SlurpeeDance. Print, cut out, affix and party down.

• Slurpee swag -- Slurpee fans can show their true colors by purchasing Slurpee-branded merchandise, available at participating 7-Eleven stores with mix-and-match promotional pricing. Hats and sandals are two for $8.99 or $5.99 each, while T-shirts and tank tops are two for $11.99, or $8.99 each. Neon-colored Slurpee sunglasses also are available for $4.99 a pair. Previously, all merchandise was only available through the Slurpee Rewards catalog.

• Motivational chinchilla! -- Those needing a little extra motivation to get their groove on can download Pam, the motivational chinchilla with four affirming phrases. Because everyone needs a little encouragement, especially from a cute, fuzzy animal.

• Keep up with what’s ‘APP’-ening -- Download the 7-Eleven app at the iTunes store or Google Play to take advantage of all the #Awesummer freebies and exclusive deals and special offers available all summer long. New ones are announced each week.

• Star-Studded Birthday Beach Bash! -- Actress Nikki Reed, best known for playing Rosalie Hale in the “Twilight” movie saga, threw a birthday beach bash this week for 7-Eleven at a Malibu beach house, complete with giant Slurpee cup sandcastle art created by award-winning sand sculptor Mark Mason and the Sandtastic team, music and, of course, the Slurpee Dance. 

"I have loved Slurpees since I was a kid,” Reed said. “I’m really excited that this year I get to celebrate 7-Eleven’s birthday by throwing them a birthday party."

7-Eleven, the world’s first convenience store, began its run in the summer of 1927 when a Southland Ice Company employee started selling bread, milk and eggs on an ice dock in a Dallas suburb. Since that inauspicious start, “convenience” has become big business. The small ice company has grown into a major international retailing chain with approximately 10,100 7-Eleven stores in North America and more than 50,700 stores worldwide.

7-Eleven has celebrated its birthday on July 11 for decades, but it wasn’t until its 75th birthday in 2002 that its stores began hosting birthday parties coast-to-coast with free Slurpee drinks for its customers.

Grab a free Slurpee at one of the following 7-Eleven locations in the Vernon Hills area:

• 145 Town Line Road, Vernon Hills

• 600 S. Butterfield Road, Mundelein

• 1165 Weiland, Buffalo Grove