MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — In the Dairy Queen system, winter will be over and spring will officially begin March 15 with a Free Cone Day benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

“We want everyone to celebrate our official kick-off of spring by enjoying a signature DQ cone on us,” said Barry Westrum, executive vice president of marketing for American Dairy Queen Corporation.

Throughout the day, participating nonmall Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill locations across the U.S., including the Sidney store at 2194 Fair Road, will serve fans a free, small, vanilla, soft-serve cone with the signature curl on top (limit one per customer while supplies last).

“Last year’s success of Free Cone Day surpassed all expectations and we have our fans to thank for that,” said Westrum. “Together we raised $140,000 in one day for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and we averaged serving more than 1,330 cones per store. We are looking to surpass those numbers this year. We can’t wait.”

During Free Cone Day, the DQ system will accept donations for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which raises funds to help save and improve the lives of kids treated at 170 children’s hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. Over the last 30 years, the Dairy Queen system has raised more than $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in local communities.