Hot? Try a free Slurpee

SEATTE -- Slurpee lovers will want to head to 7-Eleven on Thursday to cool off with a free small Slurpee. What's the occasion for this icy drink giveaway? A birthday, of course.

The convenience store chain is celebrating its 86th birthday July 11, also known as 7-Eleven Day. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. you can get a small Slurpee while supplies last.

The ICEE, the original version of the Slurpee, was invented in the 1950s. In 1965, 7-Eleven made a deal with The ICEE Co. that allowed 7-Eleven to sell the drinks under another name. In 1967, the Slurpee was born, named after the sound made when sucking the drink through a straw.

If you're a Slurpee fiend, you can also download the 7-Eleven smartphone app for discounts and information on limited-edition flavors.

And if you're really hardcore, you can learn the Slurpee dance. It involves waving your arms around and convulsing like a person who's had too many Slurpees.

An 8-ounce Fanta wild cherry Slurpee has 66 calories and 18 grams of sugar.

From the LA Times