Keep cool, be cool! July is National Ice Cream Month, and July 20 (Sunday) is National Ice Cream Day. Hey, a U.S. president even made it official! Pottstown Foodie offers celebratory suggestions in Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties.
Guess the President’s Favorite Flavor?
POTTSTOWN PA – President Ronald Reagan was an unabashed ice cream lover. Popular ice cream manufacturer Ben & Jerry’s claims his favorite flavor was vanilla.
Reagan considered ice cream to be more than just a sweet treat. Its high dairy content, he proclaimed, deemed it worthy of recognition as a “nutritious and wholesome food.”
That said, Reagan in 1984 officially declared July as “National Ice Cream Month,” and the third Sunday of July as “National Ice Cream Day.” This year, it falls on July 20.
Go Hit The Trail
Possibly the best way for Pennsylvanians to mark the occasion is to hit the trail: “Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail,” that is. 2025 represents the eighth consecutive year in which the state tourism website acknowledges a collection of places that are considered the Commonwealth’s finest creameries.
Travels With The Post published earlier stories about the trail, most recently during June, and earlier in summer 2023. Five “Scooped” members are within short drives (mileage estimates provided by Google Maps) of Pottstown and its surroundings. They include:
- Chester Springs at Milky Way Farm, 521 E. Uwchlan Ave., Chester Springs (14 miles away, Chester County);
- Bailys Dairy of Pocopson Meadow Farm, 1821 Lenape-Unionville Rd., West Chester (23 miles away, Chester County);
- Merrymead Farm, 2222 S. Valley Forge Rd., Lansdale (24 miles away, Montgomery County);
- Way-Har Farms, 7701 Bernville Rd., Bernville (31 miles away, Berks County); and
- Hangry Bear Creamery, 660 E. Cypress St. Ste. 101, Kennett Square (38 miles away, Chester County).
Of course, there’s likely a favorite local ice cream parlor far closer to you. Why wait for July 20? Go visit it this weekend!
There are other retail celebrations in the works. Below are ones made known to us (so far). Others will be added as they become known.
A Free Dilly Bar with a $1 Purchase
The TriCounty region is awash with Dairy Queen locations, in Pottstown, Gilbertsville, Royersford, Trappe, Phoenixville, Pennsburg, Harleysville, and Reading. Most, but possibly not all, on National Ice Cream Day will provide a free Dairy Queen Dilly Bar with an in-app purchase of $1 or more.
It’s “a one-time use deal that is valid on one transaction,” the company reports. “This deal will only apply to One Dilly Bar per transaction. Each customer must have their own DQ Rewards account to receive the offer,” its website advises. Orders must be placed “from the DQ App between July 14-20,” it adds.
Win Free Ice Cream for a Year
At Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, which operates at locations in Limerick and Audubon, a national contest has already begun that offers free ice cream for a year as its top prize.
The contest runs through July 31. No purchase is necessary, but some restrictions apply. Simply go online and enter.
Bruster’s also says it’s introducing two new flavors to observe the occasion:
- “Brookie,” featuring a mash-up of brownie bites and chocolate chip cookie pieces layered with swirls of chocolate cookie and graham; and
- New “Peanut Butter Cookie with Nutter Butter,” featuring vanilla ice cream with ripples of peanut butter and made with Nutter Butter cookie pieces.
If You’re Walking The Mall …
National Ice Cream Day will be observed at the King of Prussia Mall, 16 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia, by one of its tenants, Dippin’ Dots.
Think of its product as a cupful of small ice cream dots (hence the name), offered in more than 20 flavors. Only on July 20, use the company’s app to order online and get 25% off the cost when entering promo code NICD25.
A Special Offer for Octogenarians
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, which operates a location in Royersford, will mark National Ice Cream Day day by also observing the 80th anniversary of its founding. Anyone age 80 and older “can enjoy a free small scoop of their favorite flavor at any Handel’s location,” the company says.
It may take those who qualify a minute or two to make a choice. Handel’s menu includes up to 140 flavors, according to QSR Magazine.
Top photo by Mieke Campbell on Unsplash, used by Travels With The Post under license
“Pottstown Foodie” is a public Facebook page operated by The Post Publications and its Travels With The Post edition.
At Pottstown FARM on Saturday, Fill A Bag and Give Hope