The Coolest Holiday Ever: What Is National Ice Cream Day & When Did It Start?

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You scream, I scream, we all scream for… a national holiday dedicated to ice cream! National Ice Cream Day is one of the sweetest days of the year, and it gives everyone the perfect excuse to grab a cone, a cup, or maybe even a full-on sundae (no judgment).

This delightful day falls on the third Sunday in July, which means it’s perfectly timed for summer’s hottest stretch. That also means it is coming up soon, as it lands on July 20th this year!! So, we all need to get ready to celebrate. Let me tell you all about this delicious summer holiday, including the history behind it, restaurants that will be offering Ice Cream day deals, and also some amazing ice cream recipes you need to try.

How Did National Ice Cream Day Begin?

Believe it or not, we can thank President Ronald Reagan for this new favorite holiday. In 1984, Reagan signed a proclamation naming July as National Ice Cream Month, and the third Sunday as National Ice Cream Day. His reasoning? He wanted to celebrate the joy ice cream brings to millions of Americans and recognize the importance of the dairy industry. It is as simple as that!

Fast-forward to today, and National Ice Cream Day is celebrated with frozen treats of all kinds. From classic soft serve to trendy rolled ice cream, plant-based pints, and creative flavors like lavender honey or spicy chocolate, you can enjoy whatever type of ice cream you’d like! As long as you are out there celebrating, it is sure to be a perfect holiday.

Where to Score the Best Ice Cream Day Deals

What’s better than ice cream? Discounted ice cream, of course! Every year, ice cream shops and fast-food chains roll out irresistible deals to help celebrate National Ice Cream Day. Some give away free scoops, others offer BOGO deals, and a few might surprise you with exclusive, one-day-only flavors.

Here’s where to keep your eyes (and taste buds) peeled:

Dairy Queen: To celebrate National Ice Cream Day this year, Dairy Queen is offering DQ Rewards members a free Dilly Bar with any online or in-app purchase of $1 or more July 14 – 20.
Baskin-Robbins: Expect $5 off $20 deals, limited-edition flavors, or discounts when ordering online.
Burger King: The fast-food chain is celebrating National Ice Cream Day by offering Royal Perks members a free Soft Serve ice cream with the purchase of $1 or more on July 20.
Dunkin’: Dunkin’ is offering its Rewards members 3x points on Frozen Beverages for National Ice Cream Day on July 20, in addition to $3 medium Refreshers.
Dippin Dots: This year, Dippin Dots is giving away free mini cups of Dippin’ Dots (during a 2-hour window) on National Ice Cream Day. Plus, the first 100 guests at each participating location will receive a collectible cup. You’ll need to contact your local Dippin’ Dot store to verify times for the giveaway on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Friendly’s: From July 18 – 20, Friendly’s is celebrating National Ice Cream Day, which is also their 90th birthday, by offering Fan Club Rewards members a free cone or dish in-store, online, or for carryout. If you’re not a rewards member, you can join for free and get this deal. Non-members can still celebrate with $0.90 scoops (in-store and carryout only).
Klondike Bar: For National Ice Cream Month, throughout July, Klondike is making digital coupons for its treats live across Fetch, iBotta and Walmart Cash.
Talenti: Target Circle will offer a buy-one-get-one-50-percent-off deal on Talenti gelato and sorbetto the week of National Ice Cream Day, July 14 through July 20.
Petco:The pet store chain is offering pets a chance to get in on the National Ice Cream Day deal action, with free pup cups of ice cream in-store, courtesy of participating brands, in honor on July 20.
Van Leeuwen: Van Leeuwen ice cream is celebrating National Ice Cream Day and the 10th anniversary of its popular Honeycomb flavor by offering $3 scoops of Honeycomb at all shops nationwide from 12 noon to 2 p.m. ET on July 20. Additionally, one ice cream fan will win a 3-gallon tub of Honeycomb ice cream, the Lovesac x Van Leeuwen Honeycomb CitySac, and a newly launched Material ice cream scooper. For those in New York, Van Leeuwen Tribeca will offer the first 100 guests a scratch-off ticket offering the chance to win prizes.
16 Handles: On National Ice Cream Day, customers can get a free soft-serve treat (up to $5) when they download the 16 Handles app and visit a participating location Sunday, July 20.
Local ice cream shops: Many small businesses offer a free kids’ scoop, special flavors, or discounts, so make sure you check their social media pages for announcements.

To stay on top of the deals, make sure you download your favorite ice cream shop’s app ahead of time and sign up for email alerts. You’ll often get the sweetest perks that way.

Easy Ice Cream Dessert Recipes Everyone Will Love

If braving the heat and going to a store for a scoop doesn’t sound like your jam, why not celebrate National Ice Cream Day from the comfort of your kitchen? Ice cream makes a perfect base for dozens of simple, satisfying desserts that require almost no effort but deliver maximum joy.

I have plenty of incredible recipes that all revolve around sweet, perfect ice cream. Check these out and then make one ASAP so the celebration can begin.

Fun Ice Cream Facts That Will Melt Your Mind

Think ice cream is just a summer treat? Think again. This frozen favorite has a rich (and tasty) history filled with surprising trivia. If you want a few fun facts to impress your friends while you enjoy your next cone, here you go!

Ice cream dates back to ancient times. Historians trace the origins of frozen desserts to ancient China, where a mixture of milk and rice was packed in snow to freeze.
Vanilla is America’s favorite flavor. Despite hundreds of wild, creative options, classic vanilla still reigns supreme in almost every national ice cream survey.
The biggest ice cream sundae ever made weighed over 54,917 pounds. Created in California in 1985, it included thousands of gallons of ice cream and endless toppings.
Brain freeze has a scientific name. It’s called sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia—try saying that three times fast while eating a frozen treat.
Americans eat more ice cream than almost anyone else. The average American downs about 23 pounds of ice cream per year.
9% of all dairy produced in the US is used to make ice cream.

An ice cream scoop holding a scoop of banana pudding ice cream on top of a loaf pan.

Make Sure You Celebrate This Perfect Summer Holiday

At the end of the day, National Ice Cream Day is all about spreading happiness, one scoop at a time. So go ahead and hit up your local scoop shop for a free cone or attempt to build the world’s tallest sundae in your kitchen. You just need to celebrate!! Let me know how you plan to honor this incredible holiday, and don’t forget to tag me in your ice cream pictures @kasey_allthingsmamma.