- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- Food
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every September 22
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍦
National Ice Cream Cone Day celebrates the brilliant invention that lets us enjoy ice cream without the mess every September 22. Grab your favorite flavor in a waffle, sugar, or wafer cone. Indulge in this sweet treat and share your perfect scoop with friends and family!
Want to sponsor National Ice Cream Cone Day? Learn how
Expected National Ice Cream Cone Day Deals
While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Ice Cream Cone Day often brings sweet deals. Expect chains like Dairy Queen, Baskin-Robbins, and McDonald’s to offer discounted cones, free upgrades, or special limited-time flavors. Local creameries and independent scoop shops often run their own promotions, perhaps a buy-one-get-one-free cone or a special ‘Cone Day’ creation. Even grocery brands like Ben & Jerry’s or Haagen-Dazs might feature discounts on their cone-ready pints. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as September 22 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Ice Cream Cone Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #IceCreamConeDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your favorite cones, creative toppings, or a behind-the-scenes look at making your own.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #IceCreamConeDay. Film a fun video trying different cone types, reviewing unique ice cream parlors, or attempting an extreme cone-stacking challenge.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #IceCreamConeDay. Ask your community about their favorite cone flavor combinations or share local deals from their favorite scoop shops.
National Ice Cream Cone Day Hero
Charles R. Menches
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Ice Cream Cone Day
Local ice cream parlors and dessert shops can celebrate National Ice Cream Cone Day by offering special discounts on cones or introducing unique cone-and-flavor pairings. Consider a ‘build-your-own-cone’ bar with various cone types and toppings. Bakeries could feature homemade waffle cones, while restaurants might add an ice cream cone dessert special to their menu. Promote these offerings on social media using #IceCreamConeDay to attract customers looking for a sweet treat.
National Ice Cream Cone Day FAQs
When is National Ice Cream Cone Day?
National Ice Cream Cone Day 2026 is celebrated on Tuesday, September 22, offering a delightful mid-week excuse to enjoy your favorite frozen treat.
Who invented the ice cream cone?
While several individuals have laid claim, Charles R. Menches is often credited with inventing the ice cream cone at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. He reportedly used rolled waffles to serve ice cream when dishes ran out.
What is the most popular type of ice cream cone?
Sugar cones and waffle cones are generally the most popular choices, prized for their crisp texture and ability to hold generous scoops. Cake cones, also known as wafer cones, offer a softer, more delicate option.
How many ice cream cones are consumed annually in the US?
Americans consume billions of ice cream cones each year, with estimates suggesting over 20 billion cones are produced globally. This highlights the enduring popularity of this simple yet ingenious dessert delivery system.
National Ice Cream Cone Day Activities
Try making your own cones
Making ice cream cones is not nearly as hard as it seems. You don't even need a waffle press to make a fresh and delicious cone for your ice cream. Now, get to it!
Eat some ice cream
Much simpler than making your own cones, go try out that new ice cream parlor down the street. Search for ice cream on Yelp and see where your ice cream adventure takes you. Don't limit your choices because, happily, ice cream, sorbet, gelato and soft- serve also come on cones!
Decorate ice cream cones
Buy a pack of standard sugar cones and decorate them! Dip in chocolate, add sprinkles, white chocolate and dark chocolate stripes plus a little food color. Get creative and be prepared for your next ice cream party.
Why We Love National Ice Cream Cone Day
Ice cream cones add flavor and texture
Part of the appeal of the ice cream cone is the added textures and flavors that it adds to your desert. Chocolate ice cream is made infinitely better when you add a pretzel cone, or adding a crunchy vanilla cone to your mango sorbet makes the desert much more dynamic.
Ice cream cones are eco-friendly
Besides being a delicious addition to the ice cream treat that you're holding in your hand; every time you eat ice cream in a cone you're doing the planet a favor by not using a plastic, disposable spoon and cup. So, love the planet and enjoy your ice cream at the same time — it's almost like you CAN have your cake and eat it, too!
Ice cream cones rule over cups
Cone or cup? It's the classic question for America's ice cream lovers. While this point is open to some discussion (maybe a thing to discuss over your ice cream with friends,) but obviously cones rule and cups drool.
National Ice Cream Cone Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | September 22 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | September 22 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | September 22 | Friday |
| 2029 | September 22 | Saturday |
| 2030 | September 22 | Sunday |
Social Media Tips for National Ice Cream Cone Day
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