Just a reminder that there are freebies to be had today!

Dunkin' Donuts is giving doughnuts to kids under 12 in costume until 6 p.m. today, and Chapel Hill Comics is giving away comics to folks who show up in costume and allow them to take a photo for their Web site.

Taco Bell is giving away Black Jack Tacos from 6 p.m. till midnight.

Happy Halloween, everyone! Have a fun (and safe) time tonight! 

Here's a heads up on a couple of Halloween freebies that you could collect tomorrow (along with your candy, of course).

*Taco Bell stores will be giving away free Black Jack tacos from 6 p.m to midnight.

*Dunkin' Donuts stores will be giving away a free doughnut to any child age 12 and under who comes to a participating store dressed in a costume (click Read More below for the list of stores). From noon to 6 p.m.

*And Chapel Hill Comics will give people who come to the store in costume a free comic. Warning: part of the deal is that they get to take your picture for their Web site, so think carefully when selecting your costume. The comic selection includes Popeye, Betty, Star Wars, Casper and Little Lulu. The store will close at 6 p.m.

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These will probably go quickly so I wanted to post them before Friday Freebies.

The Beinggirl Web site is offering two new samples:

*One for a sample kit including 2 Tampax Pearl Tampons, 1 Compak Pearl Tampon, 1 Always Infinity Maxi-Pad, 2 Always Pantiliners, and 1 Always Feminine Wipe. You can find that one HERE.

*And one for Tampax Pearl HERE (scroll down, the sample is at the bottom). 

The Walker Auto Parts store at U.S. 70 and Yeargan Road in Garner is having a grand opening today. To celebrate, the company will host a ceremony at 11:45 a.m. and a fre hot dog lunch.

To read about Walker's recent partnership with NAPA and expansion in our area, click here to read my column from a few weeks ago.

Starting today, Baskin-Robbins stores will start offering free samples of Smooth & Creamy Cookies N' Cream Hard Candy.

The candy is new but is the latest in a line of ice cream-inspired confections.

The free candy will be given out as long as supplies last, so you may find some stores that have it around longer than others. 

Many of you probably know that Starbucks introduced its new instant coffee this week, a product it has called VIA.

Now the coffee company has announced its VIA Taste Challenge, a promotion that will run from Oct. 2 through Oct. 5. The gist: drop by any participating Starbucks store and see if you can tell the difference between the instant and the fresh-brewed. In exchange for your effort, Starbucks will give you a free tall brewed coffee.

I should note that the fine print says "good on your next visit with offer card," which I take to mean that you get some sort of card/coupon for use at a later time. Still, free coffee is free coffee. Click here to view the promotion.

Sorry for the late notice on this one, everyone, but I just found out myself.

Hardee's stores owned by franchisee Boddie-Noell will be giving away free cookies for the rest of today. Rocky Mount-based Boddie-Noell owns 341 stores, including all of the Triangle locations.

The new fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies are being given away to celebrate their introduction to the Hardee's menu. Every lunch/dinner guest today will be eligible to receive one through closing time (11 p.m. or midnight for most stores). No purchase is necessary. The Big Cookies normally retail for two for $1.

The folks at the Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q in Zebulon are being downright neighborly.

The company is offering a freebie this weekend to welcome the Victory Lane Quick Oil Change, which opened this week at the Triangle East Shopping Center -- right next to the Zebulon Smithfield's restaurant.

On Saturday only, customers can get a free Bar-B-Q sandwich with a purchase if they bring in a receipt from Victory Lane. The address: 121 Wakelon St.

I'd usually wait to post this until Friday Freebies, but I think this one will go quickly.

There's a new sample of Always Infinity pads available through the BeingGirl Web site. You can find it here...

For those of you who just might be at a TGI Friday's restaurant tomorrow, sit at the bar and pay particular attention to the Dallas-New York game.

Friday's has announced that if a punt hits the video board inside the stadium during the game, resulting in a replay as it did previously this year, Friday's will reward football fans who are watching the game in the bar with FREE Crispy Green Bean Fries.

The normal fine print applies: one order per person, valid only at the bar, valid the first time the punt hits the video board during the game. (though if it happened twice, that would be pretty amazing...)