Memorial Day Weekend Giveaway Ideas
Memorial Day is this coming Monday, May 25, and for many people the long weekend marks the unofficial start of summer: cookouts, trips, yard work and time with family. If you'd like to run a giveaway over the weekend, there's still time to set one up today. Here are some ideas, plus a few thoughts on getting the tone right.
Getting the tone right
Memorial Day is a day to remember those who died while serving in the U.S. military. Many businesses run weekend promotions, and that's normal, but a giveaway that uses the day as a pure sales hook can feel off to some followers. A few simple guidelines:
- Frame your giveaway around the long weekend and the start of summer rather than the day itself.
- If you mention Memorial Day, do it sincerely, for example with a short note of remembrance.
- Avoid using military imagery or service members' stories to promote a prize.
- Consider pairing your giveaway with a donation to a veterans' or military families' organization you've researched, and say so plainly.
Ideas for the long weekend
The cookout kit
Food shops, butchers, bakeries, spice sellers and kitchenware stores can put together a cookout bundle. Ask people to comment with their must-have dish for a weekend barbecue. The comments double as a fun recipe swap.
Summer starter pack
Clothing, beauty and lifestyle brands can offer a "first day of summer" bundle: sunglasses, a tote, sunscreen, a sun hat. Prompt: "Comment with where you're spending your first summer weekend."
Garden and outdoor
Garden centers and hardware stores often see a busy weekend anyway. A planter set, a tool bundle, or a gift card toward outdoor projects fits the moment.
Local experience
Cafés, ice cream shops, activity centers and restaurants can give away a voucher for a summer visit. Experiences don't need shipping, which helps with a short timeline.
Give back
Run a simple giveaway and, for each eligible entry, pledge a fixed donation to a cause, up to a maximum you set in advance. Be precise and honest about what you'll give, and follow up with proof of the donation once it's made.
A weekend timeline
Since you're starting on Friday, keep the giveaway short:
- Friday: post the giveaway with clear rules and a closing time on Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
- Saturday and Sunday: a quick story reminder each day. Reply to comments when you can, but enjoy your weekend too.
- Monday night or Tuesday: close entries, run the draw and contact the winner.
- Later that week: announce, ship or deliver the prize, and share a thank-you.
Pick a closing time when you'll actually be available. If you'll be away all Monday, close Tuesday morning instead and say so in the rules.
Keep the rules short
Holiday weekend scrolling is casual. People won't read much, so put the essentials in the first few lines of the caption:
"Long weekend giveaway! Win our cookout bundle. To enter, comment with your must-have barbecue side. One entry per person, U.S. residents 18+. Closes Tuesday 9 am Eastern. Full rules in the pinned comment."
Put the full rules, including eligibility, how the winner is contacted and what happens if they don't reply, in the pinned comment or on your website. Rules for giveaways vary by state and by platform. This is general guidance, not legal advice, so check your local requirements and the platform's promotion guidelines.
Running the draw
When you're back at your desk, load the post's comments into RaffleSelect from the right giveaway page: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or TikTok. Then:
- Turn on the duplicate filter for one entry per person.
- Add your own account and staff to the block list if you're on Silver or above.
- Draw your winner plus one or two substitutes. After a holiday weekend, winners can be slow to check messages.
- Save the winner certificate for your announcement.
If you posted the giveaway on more than one platform, the Platinum plan can combine entries into a single multi-network draw.
After the weekend
Thank everyone who entered, not just the winner. If you made a donation, share the receipt or confirmation (with personal details removed). It's a respectful way to close a giveaway on a weekend that means a lot to many of your followers.
Enjoy the long weekend, and when entries close, pick your winner on RaffleSelect.