National Ice Cream Day falls on the third Sunday in July each year, right in the middle of a month-long U.S. observance National Ice Cream Month that traces back to a 1984 proclamation from President Ronald Reagan. In it, he praised ice cream as a popular and nutritious treat enjoyed by over 90% of Americans and called for festivities to mark the occasion.
Today, that call has evolved into a marketing moment, with shops, grocery chains, and national brands rolling out discounts and freebies, while the hashtag #NationalIceCreamDay has racked up more than 506,000 posts on Instagram, making it one of the platform’s most active food-related tags.
There is also a smaller winter celebration of ice cream on December 13, tied to the 1903 ice cream cone patent and is recognized by many businesses and food-focused websites as an unofficial second opportunity to celebrate ice cream.
| Year | Summer date | Winter date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | July 19, Sunday | December 13, Sunday |
| 2027 | July 18, Sunday | December 13, Monday |
| 2028 | July 16, Sunday | December 13, Wednesday |
| 2029 | July 15, Sunday | December 13, Thursday |
| 2030 | July 21, Sunday | December 13, Friday |
Ways to Celebrate National Ice Cream Day
People mark National Ice Cream Day in different ways depending on their preferences, dietary needs, or budget. Here are a few ideas:
- Visit a nearby ice cream shop and see if they offer special flavors or seasonal toppings for either observance.
- Try a frozen dessert that suits your diet, such as dairy-free ice cream, sorbet, or plant-based soft serve.
- Make a simple homemade version, with or without an ice cream maker. No-churn recipes are easy to customize with fruit, chocolate, or spices.
- Pair ice cream with warm desserts—such as baked fruit, pies or brownies—especially if you’re celebrating the winter date.
- Share your celebration online using #NationalIceCreamDay if you enjoy participating in social media traditions.
National Sundae Day
Scoops, syrup, whipped cream, a cherry — the ice cream sundae at its finest.
Month · July 📅National Ice Cream Month
Declared by Ronald Reagan in 1984 — July is the month of frozen indulgence.
National Ice Cream Day
A second observance on December 13 — because once a year is never enough.
National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
Skip vanilla today — the weirder the flavor, the better the story.
