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National Ice Cream Day

Scoops of frozen delight that can cool you down on the hottest of days, and come in endless flavors and toppings.

Food & DrinkIce Cream75
Marketing angleinferred

Drive summer ice cream sales and foot traffic by positioning National Ice Cream Day as a guilt-free indulgence moment with limited-time flavors, bundles, and shareable treats.

Relevance 75high intent
  • Create-your-own flavor contest on Instagram/TikTok with user-generated content
  • Flash sale on ice cream bundles (banana splits, sandwiches, milkshakes) the week of the holiday
  • Partner with influencers for ice cream taste-tests and flavor reveals
  • In-store sampling events and limited-edition seasonal flavors tied to the day
Marketing playbookideas
Campaign ideas8
  • Launch a delivery-exclusive promotion with codes/coupons (like Baskin-Robbins did)—partner with DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub to reach customers at home
  • Run a social media sweepstakes asking followers to tag friends + use branded hashtag for a chance to win free ice cream for a year or $500+ gift card
  • Open pop-up sampling stations at high-traffic summer locations (malls, parks, farmers markets) to drive trial and foot traffic
  • Create limited-edition or surprise flavor drops teased on social media in days leading up to July 19th to build buzz and urgency
  • Host an influencer takeover day where creators visit your location, create content, and share it with their audiences for organic reach
  • Launch a 'build-your-own' sundae bar or flavor customization contest encouraging user-generated content with branded hashtag
  • Offer tiered rewards: small discount for in-store, bigger discount for loyalty members, free item with minimum purchase to maximize conversion
  • Partner with summer events (Fourth of July parties, outdoor concerts) for co-branded promotions and brand visibility
Social angles5
  • 🍦 Tag the friend you'd devour an entire sundae with for a chance to win FREE ice cream for a YEAR 🏆 #NationalIceCreamDay #[YourBrand]Sweeps
  • Summer's hottest day just got COOLER 😎 We're celebrating National Ice Cream Day ALL WEEK with exclusive deals you won't want to miss. What's your flavor?
  • POV: You're about to discover your new obsession 🤤 Our new limited-edition flavors drop TODAY for National Ice Cream Day. Which one are you trying first?
  • Vanilla? Chocolate? Cookies & cream? Let's settle this once and for all 🗳️ Vote for your fave and tag someone who shares your taste in the replies #NationalIceCreamDay
  • If ice cream could talk, it would thank you for celebrating National Ice Cream Day with us 🙏 Come scoop up these deals through July 19th ❄️
Ad copy starters4

“🍦 This Sunday is YOUR Sunday. Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with FREE scoops and exclusive deals. No purchase necessary at select locations.”

“Love ice cream? You're not alone—90% of Americans do. Join us July 19th for deals you've been scooping for all year.”

“Summer's sweetest day deserves summer's sweetest deal. National Ice Cream Day: July 19th. Mark your calendar.”

“One scoop or three? On National Ice Cream Day, we won't judge. Get yours before these deals melt away.”

Tips4
  • Start promotion planning 4+ weeks before July 19th—finalize flavors, partnerships, and inventory. Increase stock by 30% for peak traffic expected on the day.
  • Leverage the weekend timing (always third Sunday in July). 2026 falls on Sunday July 19th, perfect for family outings and foot traffic—plan accordingly with extended hours and extra staff.
  • Don't rely on discounts alone—use this day to trial new flavors, drive loyalty sign-ups, and capture email/phone data for future campaigns. Bundle free item offers with loyalty app enrollment.
  • Integrate across all channels: update Google Business Profile, email your list, tease on social media 1-2 weeks ahead, then execute in-store. Consistency across touchpoints drives awareness and redemption.
History

We have President Reagan to thank for National Ice Cream Day. He wanted to commemorate the treat that more than 90 percent of the population in the United States enjoy, and so he decided he would decree a day for ice cream.

He did so in 1984. Doing this actually ended up glorifying the dairy industry in the United States, and so it probably does not come as any surprise for you to learn that Ameircans eat more gallons of ice cream per year than anywhere else in the world.

In fact, they eat 23 gallons per annum to be precise. That’s a lot of ice cream, right? Reagan even created an Ice Cream month because he loved it so much. He described it as a wholesome and nutritious food that the vast majority of the United States loved.

And, it is not only the United States that love their ice cream. This is a dessert that is enjoyed all over the world.

We also need to understand the history of this incredible dessert. Ice cream is one of the oldest types of desserts. It is believed that the history of ice cream probably started in Iran’s Achaemenid Empire, in roughly 500BC.

This is when different flavors were combined with ice in order to create treats to enjoy during the summer months. In 400C, the Persians created a special chilled food, which was a mix of vermicelli and rose water, which was served to the Royals during the summer months.

The ice was mixed with fruits, saffron, and a number of other flavors. Bastani Sonnati is now the most popular type of Persian ice cream.

This is a type of Iranian ice cream that is made from pistachios, vanilla, saffron, rose water, sugar, eggs, and milk. It also often has frozen flakes of clotted cream inside. It’s a real treat!

How to celebrate

Enjoy Eating Some ICe Cream

Well, first of all, get yourself out there and enjoy a heaping scoop of ice cream! Then maybe an ice cream sandwich, and then a delicious milkshake! Ok, are you sugared up enough yet? We didn’t think so!

Banana Split Anyone?

The next thing you have to do is wolf down a delicious banana split and share an ice cream cake with your closest friends. Or just keep it all to yourself, we won’t tell! National Ice Cream Day is your chance to really indulge without any guilt or shame, and while you’re at it, try coming up with your own flavors!

Make Your Own Ice Cream

There are lots of tasty and incredible ice cream recipes online, so why not try your hand at creating your own ice cream? You may even decide to simply throw out the rulebook and add all of the flavors you love the most to see what the outcome is!

Try New Ice Cream Flavors

Let us know how you get on! We always love trying new ice cream flavors. Or, why not try your hand at creating one of the traditional ice cream treats, such as the Persian bastani sonnati dessert? You will definitely wow all of your friends if you post a picture of this on Instagram!

FAQ
What’s the most expensive ice cream ever made?
A New York-based restaurant, Serendipity 3, created the “Golden Opulence Sundae.” It costs $1,000 and features edible gold leaf, the finest vanilla beans from Madagascar, and rare chocolates from Tuscany. This luxurious dessert even includes caviar and is served in a crystal goblet that guests keep as a souvenir.
What’s the link between ice cream and World War II?
During World War II, ice cream became a morale booster for American troops. The U.S. Navy even built floating ice cream factories on ships to deliver the treat to soldiers in remote locations. These efforts made ice cream a symbol of comfort and home for many service members.
How does Thailand celebrate ice cream differently?
In Thailand, street vendors create rolled ice cream, a unique dessert made by pouring flavored milk onto a freezing pan. The mixture is scraped into thin rolls and served with toppings like fruits, cookies, or syrups. This playful method has become a global trend due to its mesmerizing preparation process.
Is there a connection between ice cream and sports?
Baseball stadiums in the U.S. popularized ice cream served in mini batting helmets in the 1970s. Fans could enjoy their favorite teams’ colors and logos on the souvenir bowls. Today, it’s a beloved tradition at games and a favorite among collectors.
What role did soda fountains play in ice cream history?
In the 19th century, soda fountains in pharmacies introduced the ice cream soda, a fizzy dessert drink. These fountains became social hubs where people gathered to enjoy creative concoctions. Ice cream sodas led to the creation of sundaes when laws banned serving sodas on Sundays.
What’s the science behind ice cream’s creamy texture?
Ice cream’s creamy texture comes from the balance of ice crystals, fat, and air. Manufacturers whip air into the mixture while freezing it, creating a smooth and fluffy texture. Premium brands use less air, resulting in a denser, richer treat.
How does Iran’s ‘Bastani Sonnati’ differ from traditional ice cream?
Bastani Sonnati, a Persian ice cream, uses saffron, rosewater, and pistachios for flavoring. It’s often combined with vermicelli-like frozen noodles. The unique preparation creates a stretchy texture that sets it apart from Western-style ice cream.
What’s the strangest ice cream-related world record?
The world’s largest ice cream cake weighed over 10,000 pounds and was made in Toronto in 2011. It required 20 chefs and over 100 hours to create. This enormous dessert featured layers of sponge cake and 6,000 pounds of ice cream.
Why was ice cream once considered a luxury item?
Ice cream required rare ingredients like ice and sugar, making it an expensive treat in the 17th and 18th centuries. Only the wealthy, like European royalty, could afford it. Advances in refrigeration and mass production in the 19th century made it widely accessible.
What’s the story behind ice cream trucks?
Ice cream trucks originated in the 1920s when Harry Burt, an ice cream pioneer, added bells to his trucks to attract customers. These trucks introduced a new way to deliver frozen treats directly to neighborhoods. Today, the nostalgic jingle of an ice cream truck still signals happiness on summer days.