National Ice Cream Month
Cool down from the summer heat by indulging in the sweet, creamy treat we all scream for. Pair it with pie or brownies, top it on a cone, or just have a bowl.
Drive July ice cream sales and foot traffic by positioning indulgence as the perfect summer escape, with limited-time flavors and bundled dessert promotions.
- Summer flavor drops: tease new limited-edition ice cream flavors exclusive to July
- Family ice cream socials: promote in-store events, contests, or DIY sundae bars
- Pairing guides: content showing ice cream with pie, brownies, and other desserts
- Nostalgia play: celebrate ice cream's 2,000+ year history from Ancient Greece to modern day
Notable campaigns8
- Dairy Queen (2025): Offered free Dilly Bar with any $1+ online/in-app purchase for rewards members July 14-20
- Cold Stone Creamery (2025): Week-long National Ice Cream Month deals featuring new Birthday Cake OREO Cookie Ice Cream Taco, plus Instagram contest to win free ice cream for a year
- Magnum (2025): Launched 'Nothing Cracks Like Magnum' global campaign with Cannes experience featuring Charli xcx and 250+ influencers, generating thousands of social posts with 50 countries organic reach
- Häagen-Dazs (2025): Ran 'Devoured' OOH campaign timed with National Ice Cream Day—minimalist creative showing empty ice cream stick and melted chocolate, paired with digital shorts and influencer partnerships
- Marble Slab Creamery (2025): Offered loyalty members free small ice cream valid for 7 days on National Ice Cream Day (July 20)
- Dippin' Dots (2025): Free mini cup giveaway during 2-hour window on July 20, first 100 customers received collectible cup, plus 25% off online with code NICD2025
- Friendly's (2025): Celebrated 90th anniversary with National Ice Cream Day deals (July 18-20): free cone/dish for loyalty members, 90 cents for non-members
- DOVE Ice Cream (2025): Launched #MiniWinMonday campaign promoting self-care messaging, partnered with relatable social influencers for product sampling and Instagram giveaways
Campaign ideas5
- Launch a limited-edition July flavor with behind-the-scenes content showing the creation process, then promote it across Instagram Reels/TikTok shorts
- Create a 'Build Your Own Sundae' experiential pop-up in high-traffic locations with branded cups, toppings bar, and user-generated content wall
- Run a 7-day sweepstakes (July 14-20) offering 'Free Ice Cream for a Year' - incentivize social shares with Instagram tags and brand hashtags for entries
- Host an 'Ice Cream Social' event for local communities, nonprofits, or corporate team-building—offer branded bowls and family bundles
- Partner with complementary food brands (bakery, candy, syrup makers) for a cross-promotion 'Build the Perfect Dessert' campaign with bundled deals
Social angles5
- 'What's your National Ice Cream Month tradition?' 🍦 Share your scoops, sundaes & summer memories in the replies. #IceCreamMonth #SummerScoops #IceCreamMemories
- 🎉 July = National Ice Cream Month! We're celebrating with a flavor a day. Day X: [Flavor]. Double tap if you'd scoop this! #NationalIceCreamMonth #FlavorOfTheDay #IceCreamAddict
- Poll Tuesday: Cone vs. Cup vs. Bowl? 🍦 Help us settle the ultimate ice cream debate. What's YOUR move? #SundaeShowdown #IceCreamBattle #VoteNow
- Behind the Scoop: See how we make magic in 3 minutes 🎥✨ (Spoiler: It's creamier than you think) #BehindTheScenes #IceCreamMadeWithLove #ScoopLife
- National Ice Cream Day is July 20! We're doing [specific deal]. Mark your calendars! 📅🍦 #NationalIceCreamDay #DealAlert #FreeIceCream
Ad copy starters5
“July is for scoops. 🍦 Free ice cream [DATE/TIME]. Visit us and thrill your senses. #NationalIceCreamMonth”
“Skip the line. Order now. Beat the heat. [App/online link]—pre-order your July favorite for pickup or delivery.”
“This July, we're giving back. Buy a pint, we donate [amount] to [cause]. Scoop with purpose. 🍦💚”
“Your favorite flavor awaits. New this July: [Flavor]. Only available during National Ice Cream Month. Get it before it melts. ❄️”
“In-store deals July 14-20. Loyalty members: Score a free scoop with your first purchase of the week. (App required)”
Tips4
- Timing is key: Start campaigns early July (by July 7th) to build awareness before National Ice Cream Day (July 20). Increase inventory by 30% and cross-train staff 4 weeks ahead.
- Don't just discount—create urgency and emotion. Limited-time flavors, challenges, and user-generated content outperform straight price cuts. Emphasize nostalgia, community, and self-care messaging.
- Lean into video and short-form content: Gen Z drives ice cream engagement through TikTok Shorts and Reels. Magnum's 'Nothing Cracks Like Magnum' and influencer collaborations prove that social-first, culture-led campaigns triple engagement.
- Activate across channels: Combine social teasers with in-store activations (pop-ups, ice cream socials, branded packaging). Seamless digital-to-offline experiences drive foot traffic and repeat purchases.
National Ice Cream Month was established by the American Dairy association in conjunction with President Ronald Reagan and Walter Dee Huddleston, a Senator from Kentucky. On the backs of this incredibly official declaration, the Ice Cream companies began publicizing the day, encouraging people to go out and enjoy this cold delight as often as possible during the month of July. Ice Cream was first said to be created in Ancient Greece, before the idea of a refrigerator ever came to pass. The so-called “Ice Cream” was incredibly rudimentary, being a mixture of snow honey and fruit, but it was still the beginnings of a great tradition.
The first true Ice Cream was said to be introduced by Catherine de’ Medici in the 16th century. So impressed was Charles I of England (one hundred years after this introduction) that he paid to keep the formula secret, making ice cream a royal prerogative, utterly unobtainable by the common man. The first recorded recipes didn’t exist until the 18th century.
Truly Ice Cream was a treat meant for the most notable of humans, and now we can all enjoy it any day of the year! National Ice Cream Month encourages us to be particularly indulgent during the month of July!