- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- DessertFood
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every December 13
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍦
National Ice Cream Day scoops up joy every December 13, inviting everyone to celebrate the beloved frozen dessert. While the summer heat may be long gone, this is the perfect excuse to cozy up with a pint or gather friends for a sweet treat. Indulge in classic flavors, experiment with new creations, and discover local creameries.
Want to sponsor National Ice Cream Day? Learn how
Expected National Ice Cream Day Deals
While National Ice Cream Day in December might not see the same widespread free cone giveaways as its summer counterpart, many brands still offer sweet deals to celebrate. Expect local creameries and grocery stores to feature promotions on pints and specialty flavors. In past years, brands like Breyers and Talenti have offered discounts on their premium lines, while smaller, artisanal shops often run limited-time seasonal flavors. Keep an eye out for BOGO deals at regional chains such as Cold Stone Creamery or Dairy Queen, especially on their take-home treats. Some online retailers might also offer bundles or free shipping on ice cream-related merchandise. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as December 13 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Ice Cream Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalIceCreamDay. Film a creative video of your favorite winter-themed ice cream recipe or a fun taste test.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalIceCreamDay. Share a vibrant photo of your ice cream indulgence, perhaps a festive holiday flavor or a unique sundae creation.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalIceCreamDay. Ask your community to share their go-to ice cream flavor and favorite local shop.
National Ice Cream Day Hero
Nancy Johnson
National Ice Cream Day timeline
People of the Persian Empire started making ice cream. by pouring concentrate of grape juice over snow.
Nancy Johnson invents and patents the first hand-cranked ice cream maker.
Ben took a $5 course on ice-cream making and opened the first Ben & Jerry's in a converted Burlington gas station.
8.9% of
the milk produced in the U.S. was used to
make frozen dairy products.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Ice Cream Day
Local businesses can sweeten National Ice Cream Day on December 13 with festive promotions. Ice cream shops can offer special winter-themed flavors, such as peppermint bark or eggnog, or run a ‘buy one pint, get one half off’ deal. Restaurants could feature a unique ice cream dessert on their menu for the day. Even non-food retailers could partner with a local creamery to offer a small scoop with every purchase, creating a memorable customer experience and supporting another local business.
National Ice Cream Day - Survey Results
Data gathered by a top London Marketing Agency
National Ice Cream Day FAQs
When is National Ice Cream Day?
National Ice Cream Day 2026 falls on Sunday, December 13. This day invites a leisurely weekend indulgence in your favorite frozen treat, perfect for family gatherings.
How much ice cream do Americans eat annually?
Americans consume approximately 20 pounds of ice cream per person each year, making it one of the nation’s most beloved desserts. This equates to about 48 pints per person, showcasing a significant sweet tooth.
What is the most popular ice cream flavor?
Vanilla consistently ranks as the most popular ice cream flavor in the United States, favored for its versatility and classic appeal. Chocolate and strawberry often follow closely behind in national surveys.
Is there more than one National Ice Cream Day?
Yes, there are actually two widely recognized National Ice Cream Days. The more prominent one is celebrated on the third Sunday in July, while this observance falls annually on December 13, offering a winter celebration.
National Ice Cream Day Activities
Try a new flavor
There are hundreds of flavors of ice cream beyond just chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. If you’re feeling zesty, find a parlor that offers lemon meringue, or even horseradish ice cream. Or, if seafood is more your thing, find one of the joints on the east coast that serve up lobster ice cream. If you don’t like it, at least you can say you tried.
Go old school
Before the commercial success of ice cream in America in the 1800s, ice cream was typically reserved as a special summertime treat. But now, thanks to simple and cheap at-home devices, you can make whatever flavor you want. All you need is eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and the flavorings of your choice. It may take longer than a quick trip to the grocery store, but it’s a fun way to enjoy this cold confection.
Volunteer in your community
Serving ice cream is a tried and true way to bring a community together. This may be at the ice cream parlor in a local assisted living center, or perhaps at a free ice cream giveaway at the park, funded by donations. However you do it, the community will be brought closer together by this longtime summer food favorite.
Take the Ice Cream Day Quiz
Why We Love National Ice Cream Day
It makes us happy
Now this may seem a bit too obvious, but ice cream makes us happy. If you need proof, just ask some of the neuroscientists over at the University of Sussex in England. In one study, the scientists found that vanilla ice cream activates a part of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex. In simpler terms, when we eat ice cream, the pleasure center of our brain lights up. This is great news. Thanks science.
It’s social
Whether we’re scrambling down the street chasing the ice cream truck or meeting up with friends at the local dairy, ice cream is more than just a cool treat — it’s a social outing. You can’t beat a shared banana split. Need a place where three generations of a family can all find something they want? An ice cream parlor’s the place to be.
There are endless varieties
Almost as soon as ice cream was sold in America, people started adding new flavors and experimenting with the creation process. Now, more than 200 years later, it’s hard to imagine a flavor of ice cream that’s yet to be invented. Bacon, garlic, wasabi, and fish egg ice cream flavors are all out there at the moment, just to name a few.
National Ice Cream Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 13 | Sunday |
| 2027 | December 13 | Monday |
| 2028 | December 13 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | December 13 | Thursday |
| 2030 | December 13 | Friday |
Social Media Tips for National Ice Cream Day
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