National Ice Cream Day Is Sunday: Where To Score Freebies And Deals In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — As far back as the Persian Empire and Tang Dynasty, frozen treats have offered cool relief on hot days. So it’s little wonder that the Quaker colonists brought recipes for frozen ice treats and ice cream with them, and opened the first ice cream shops in New York and other cities.

Fast-forward two and a half centuries, and ice cream is widely regarded as America’s favorite summertime treat. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and established National Ice Cream Day as the third Sunday of July. This year, that’s on July 20.

Several ice cream shops and companies are offering freebies and deals on Sunday, and some have month-long offers. Here’s a look at some of them (as always, call ahead to make sure your local store is participating):

Baskin-Robbins: The chain’s weeklong celebration of National Ice Cream Day starts Sunday and continues through July 26. Rewards members get $5 off orders of $20 or more placed through third-party delivery.

Burger King: Rewards members can get a free Soft Serve ice cream with the purchase of $1 or more on Sunday.

Coffee Drunk x Seaside Creamery: Coffee Drunk is collaborating with Seaside Creamery to give out a free scoop of Seaside Creamery's Instigator ice cream with the purchase of any drink.

Cold Stone Creamery: Now through July 31, the chain is offering a flavor twist on a fan-favorite treat: Birthday Cake Oreo Cookie Ice Cream Taco, now featuring the all-new Birthday Cake Oreo Cookie Ice Cream. On Sunday, the store will choose five winners of Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream ($450) for a year (entry details @ColdStone on Instagram).

Dairy Queen: Through Sunday, rewards members get a free Dilly Bar on orders of $1 or more.

Dunkin’: Rewards members get three times the points on Frozen Beverages on Sunday, as well as $3 medium Refreshers.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream: Handel’s is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its founding by offering a free small ice cream to people 80 and older on National Ice Cream Day.

Long Beach Creamery: The Long Beach Ice Cream shop is "nuts" about National Ice Cream Day. It will be launching at least two new nutty flavors on Sunday. More deals may be announced soon.

The Kroft: The Kroft at LBX is selling soft serve for $1 as part of National Ice Cream Day.

Van Leeuwen: In celebration of the 10th anniversary of its popular Honeycomb flavor and National Ice Cream Day, Van Leeuwen Scoop Shops nationwide are offering $3 scoops of Honeycomb from noon to 2 p.m. local time. Customers also get a chance at a 3-gallon tub of Honeycomb ice cream and merchandise