Ann Arbor Ben & Jerry's Draws Massive Crowd for Free Cone Day

The local franchise sees high turnout as residents line up for free ice cream scoops on the national promotion.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:38pm

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An abstract, impressionistic scene of a crowd of people waiting in line outside an ice cream shop, with soft, blurred pools of warm, colorful light creating a dreamlike, atmospheric mood.The vibrant energy and community spirit of Ann Arbor's annual Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day celebration.Ann Arbor Today

Hundreds of Ann Arbor residents, including many University of Michigan students, waited in a long line outside the downtown Ben & Jerry's location on Tuesday, April 14th to take advantage of the national franchise's annual Free Cone Day promotion. The crowd braved near 80-degree heat to claim a free scoop of their favorite ice cream flavor, with popular choices including coffee, chocolate, and more. The franchise owner said the turnout has been exceptionally high this year due to the warm weather, with the line typically building up after 3pm as classes let out at the nearby university.

Why it matters

Free Cone Day is a long-standing annual tradition for Ben & Jerry's, drawing crowds to their locations nationwide. For the Ann Arbor franchise, the promotion provides a boost in foot traffic and community engagement, particularly with the nearby university population. The large turnout also highlights the appeal of free food and the power of social media to spread awareness of such events.

The details

The Ben & Jerry's location at 304 S. State St. in downtown Ann Arbor saw a line of over 190 people waiting for their free ice cream scoops on Tuesday. The franchise has partnered with the local Sigma Kappa sorority for the past 5 years to help staff the event, with 35 sorority members coming in to scoop ice cream for the 8-hour promotion. The franchise owner, Matthew Arthur, said they had to order a significant amount of extra ice cream, focusing on popular flavors while eliminating those with potential allergens.

  • The Free Cone Day promotion ran from 12pm to 8pm on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
  • The line typically builds up after 3pm as main classes let out at the nearby University of Michigan campus.

The players

Alganesh Woldegebriel

A 40-year-old mother of two who waited in line for free ice cream, hoping to get a coffee-flavored scoop.

Matthew Arthur

The 55-year-old franchise owner of the Ann Arbor Ben & Jerry's location, who said the turnout has been exceptionally high this year due to the warm weather.

Lilly Freeman

A 21-year-old University of Michigan junior who came to the event after seeing it advertised on social media, planning to get a chocolate-flavored scoop.

Gack Treppins

A 21-year-old University of Michigan junior and Lilly Freeman's partner, who said he has enough free time to wait in line for the free ice cream.

Sigma Kappa

The sorority that has partnered with the Ann Arbor Ben & Jerry's location for the past 5 years to help staff the Free Cone Day event.

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What they’re saying

“It must be some gold ice cream (if) we have to wait (in) this long line.”

— Alganesh Woldegebriel, Mother of two

“If I'm in Ann Arbor and there's fun things to do just randomly, might as well.”

— Lilly Freeman, University of Michigan junior

“I like free ice cream. I have enough free time that I think it's worth it.”

— Gack Treppins, University of Michigan junior

What’s next

The Ben & Jerry's franchise will continue to partner with the Sigma Kappa sorority for future Free Cone Day events, leveraging the volunteer support to handle the high demand.

The takeaway

Free food promotions like Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day demonstrate the power of community engagement and social media to draw large crowds, even in the face of long lines and warm weather. The event highlights the appeal of accessible, feel-good experiences that bring people together around a shared love of ice cream.