Mark your calendars, ice cream enthusiasts! National Ice Cream Day is returning on Sunday, July 20, 2025, promising a day filled with frozen treats across America. This beloved observance, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, has become an annual celebration of America’s favorite dessert. Originally intended as a one-time event, the holiday quickly evolved into a yearly tradition thanks to the dairy industry recognizing Americans’ insatiable appetite for the cold, creamy treat.
Scoop Stats: America’s Love Affair With Ice Cream
It’s no surprise that this celebration caught on, considering Americans consume approximately 23 gallons of ice cream annually. Interestingly, while the United States leads the world in total ice cream consumption, New Zealand actually takes the crown for per capita consumption with an impressive 28.4 liters per person yearly, compared to America’s 20.8 liters. Canada follows in sixth place globally with 10.6 liters per person. This nationwide celebration reflects not just our love for ice cream but the important role it plays in American culture and summer traditions.
Presidential Proclamation: How National Ice Cream Day Was Born
The establishment of National Ice Cream Day stems from President Reagan’s proclamation in 1984, which not only designated the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day but also declared the entire month of July as National Ice Cream Month. In his proclamation, Reagan called for all Americans to observe these events with “appropriate ceremonies and activities,” a presidential endorsement that many ice cream lovers take quite seriously. This proclamation recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food enjoyed by over 90 percent of Americans.
Ice cream’s rich history stretches back centuries before Reagan’s proclamation. Records of early ice cream-like desserts date to around 697 AD in China, where mixtures of dairy with salt and ice were frozen to create refreshing treats. Some historians believe Romans enjoyed an early version, collecting mountain snow and flavoring it with honey and fruit juices.
The modern era of ice cream began in 1660 when Francesco Procopio Dei Coltelli perfected an ice cream machine and introduced gelato to the general public through his café. In America, Thomas Jefferson is credited with the country’s oldest recorded ice cream recipe, an Old Fashioned Vanilla version now preserved as an artifact in the Library of Congress.
Ice cream has inspired some impressive achievements over the years. On July 24, 1984, during the first National Ice Cream Month, Canada set a world record with the largest ice cream sundae ever created, featuring 63 different flavors and weighing a staggering 25 tonnes.
While vanilla reigns as America’s favorite flavor today and serves as the base for countless variations, chocolate ice cream was actually invented first. Regional preferences add to ice cream’s diversity, with chocolate taking the top spot in Canada, while cookie dough, cookies n’ cream, and mint chocolate chip round out the most popular flavors across North America.
Ways to Celebrate: Making the Most of July 20
When July 20, 2025, arrives, countless ways to celebrate National Ice Cream Day will be available. Many ice cream shops and national chains typically offer special promotions, discounts, and even free scoops to commemorate the occasion. Local ice cream trucks and parlors often create limited-edition flavors specifically for the celebration. Consider hosting an ice cream social in your neighborhood, organizing an ice cream tasting party with unusual flavors, or going on a local “ice cream crawl” to sample offerings from different establishments throughout the day.
DIY Delight: Try Homemade Ice Cream With a Twist
For the culinary adventurous, National Ice Cream Day presents the perfect opportunity to try making homemade ice cream. Whether using a modern electric ice cream maker or attempting the traditional salt-and-ice method in a coffee can, creating your own frozen concoctions allows for customized flavors and ingredients.
Experiment with unexpected additions like lavender, bacon, or spicy peppers. You might be surprised to learn that, beyond being delicious, ice cream offers several health benefits. The dessert triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, creating natural mood-boosting effects, while the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in ice cream provide quick energy. Since it’s milk-based, ice cream contains essential nutrients like vitamins A and D, and certain varieties made with fruits or dark chocolate deliver beneficial antioxidants.
