overhead view of colorful ice cream cones

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month

Published July 1, 2026

Fun & Games

When you think of summertime, what comes to mind? Sunny days by the pool, wearing shorts and tank tops, and ending the day with an ice cream cone—all of these feel synonymous with life this season. But what if we told you that there was even more of a reason to buy yourself and your family an ice cream cup or a cone in July?

You may not have known, but every year in July since 1984, our country has celebrated National Ice Cream Month. We even have a National Ice Cream Day on the third Sunday of July—this year, it’s on July 19th. If you’re wondering how the US became so obsessed with this delicious dessert (or if you’re wondering how best you and your kids can celebrate this month), read on!

A Brief History of Ice Cream in America

While no one knows exactly who invented ice cream, its origins go back all the way to the second century B.C. However, because it was made with ingredients that were difficult to get and store before refrigeration, ice cream was considered a rare, expensive treat for the wealthy even through the 1800s in the United States.

But in 1843, with her invention of the hand-cranked ice cream maker, Nancy M. Johnson helped break down some of the barriers that kept the dessert from the masses. By making it easier to churn ice cream, Nancy Johnson’s hand-cranked maker brought ice cream into everyday households, and as refrigeration became more common throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, ice cream became more widely available for all Americans.

In fact, ice cream became so popular in the United States that by the time we joined World War II in 1941, it was closely associated with the country’s pride and morale. The Navy even commissioned a special ice cream barge that produced and stored thousands of gallons that they then delivered to smaller naval ships fighting in the Pacific. After the war ended, the ice cream industry continued to grow across the country as prepackaged ice cream became more widely sold. Then, in the 1950s, brothers James and William Conway started the Mister Softee ice cream truck company, which wasn’t the first ice cream vehicle in the US, but became the standard for the “ice cream truck” that remains so iconic today.

With this history of Americans’ love of ice cream, it may not seem so surprising that in the spring of 1984, a joint resolution passed in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives that proclaimed July 1984 as “National Ice Cream Month” and July 15th as “National Ice Cream Day.” President Ronald Reagan signed the act into law on July 9, 1984, and even though the resolution only mentioned celebrating in 1984, the country has continued to celebrate National Ice Cream Month and Day every year since.

Make Your Own Ice Cream

When he signed “National Ice Cream Month” and “National Ice Cream Day” into law, President Reagan called on Americans to “observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities,” so we have a couple of ice cream recipes that you can try out with your kids at home!

If you’re looking for good, old-fashioned ice cream made with dairy, then check out this recipe for 5-Minute Homemade Ice Cream. You’ll make up your ice cream, put it in a resealable plastic bag, then put that bag into a larger resealable plastic bag that has ice and salt inside already and shake everything up. The movement and chemistry of the salt and ice will freeze your ice cream mixture, giving you the perfect afternoon treat and the perfect afternoon science experiment to do with your kid.

If you’re looking for a dairy-free ice cream option, try out this recipe for Dairy-Free Ice Cream made with coconut milk. While it will take a little longer to make, you’ll only need four ingredients and can make the recipe with or without an ice cream maker. Try it out—and don’t forget to add your favorite toppings!

Visit Local Ice Cream Shops

Another way to observe National Ice Cream Month with “appropriate ceremonies and activities” is to visit one of the many locally-owned ice cream shops in Indianapolis. Below is a list of all the stores we could find, but be sure to check your map to make sure we didn’t miss one close to you.

Whether you simply stop into one of these stores on National Ice Cream Day (Sunday, July 19th), or whether you make punch cards with your kids and see how many stores you can visit before the month is over, there’s no wrong way to celebrate!

Now that you know the lay of the ice cream land here in Indianapolis, however you and your family partake in National Ice Cream Month, just make sure you do it with America’s favorite sweet treat!

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