Ice cream stores across the Bay Area are gearing up for creative promotions and specialty flavors to celebrate National Ice Cream Day this Sunday, July 20.
The holiday has been celebrated annually on the third Sunday of each July since President Ronald Reagan declared it as such in 1984 while saying that ice cream is “a nutritious and wholesome food.”
Before diving into the deals — and we’ll update this list throughout the week as we hear of new offerings — take a look at these trends in ice cream flavors provided by Instacart:
According to the online grocery delivery service, vanilla remains America’s favorite, representing 27% of all ice cream sold last summer. The top 10 flavors are as follows:
Vanilla
Chocolate
Cookies & cream
Strawberry
Mint chip
Cookie dough
Coffee
Butter pecan
Neapolitan
Peanut butter chocolate
Instacart also released data showing that pistachio, green tea and pineapple coconut are the flavors that have grown the most in year-over-year popularity.
To get your hands on some chilly deals this Sunday, try one of these local spots:
Salt & Straw
The artisanal ice cream shop is rolling out new creations and promotions all week. Look for the launch of the Strawberry Shortcake Waffle Cone, the introduction of new toppings like Marionberry Coulis and Chocolate Granola and a Double Points day on Saturday. On Sunday, customers will receive a digital scratch-off prize card.
Locations: San Jose, Los Gatos, San Ramon, Palo Alto, Burlingame, San Francisco; saltandstraw.com.
Handel’s Ice Cream
Celebrating their 80th anniversary on National Ice Cream Day, Handel’s is offering a free small ice cream to everyone 80 or older.
Locations: Walnut Creek, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; handelsicecream.com.
Burger King
Get a free soft serve ice cream at Burger King with a Royal Perks loyalty program membership on the app or website.
Locations: Burger King has locations all throughout the Bay Area; bk.com.
Marble Slab Creamery
Sign up to be a loyalty member any time during National Ice Cream Month and get a free cookie cake slice or small ice cream and $5 off a $20 purchase online.
Locations: Oakland, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, till 11 p.m. on weekends; marbleslab.com.
Baskin-Robbins
No deals this month, but B-R used National Ice Cream Month as a launching pad for their new limited-time flavor Sydney’s Signature Scoop, a collaboration with actress Sydney Sweeney that features her favorite dessert: rainbow sherbet in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with rainbow sprinkles and gummy bears on top.
Locations: From Concord to Redwood City, there are Baskin-Robbins shops scattered throughout the Bay Area. Check www.baskinrobbins.com for details and locations.
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Cold Stone Creamery
Coldstone has released a special National Ice Cream Month flavor: birthday cake Oreo cookie ice cream wrapped in a waffle taco and coated with chocolate and rainbow sprinkles.
Locations: Cold Stone has shops throughout the Bay Area; www.coldstonecreamery.com.
Dairy Queen
Sign up for a Dairy Queens rewards account and receive a free Dilly Bar, made with vanilla soft serve dipped in chocolate coating, with any purchase of $1 or more from July 14 to July 20.
Locations: There’s no shortage of Dairy Queen locations in Northern California; dairyqueen.com.
Dippin’ Dots
At Dippin’ Dots on Sunday, they’re giving away free mini cups (any flavor) during a two-hour window (see store for details). As a bonus, the first 100 customers in line will get a souvenir take-home cup.
Locations: Find them in the malls: Great Mall in Milpitas, Sun Valley Mall, Livermore Outlets. Check www.dippindots.com for details.
