Celebrate National Ice Cream Day With These Deals

Ice cream lovers, rejoice! July 19 is National Ice Cream Day, and various chains around the country are offering discounts and buy-one, get-one deals on their delicious scoops. Want to know where you can get free ice cream or an upgraded cone? Lucky for you, I've rounded up some of the best offers below.

But before we get to the good stuff, here's a little background on this food holiday: National Ice Cream Day was actually created in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, who reportedly established the holiday as a way to celebrate the “nutritious and wholesome food, enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States." Hey, sounds good to me! Good call, President Reagan. And while having a whole entire day set aside to eating ice cream is just about the best thing I can think of, it's not just limited to today — July has been designated National Ice Cream Month, so feel free to pick up a cone or indulge in a sundae whenever the craving strikes. This is the time to celebrate!

If you want to get in on the delicious fun today, though, check out 10 of the greatest National Ice Cream Day deals and steals, at participating chains from Baskin-Robbins to Carvel. After all, what better way to make the most out of a beautiful summer day than with a delicious ice cream cone? Enjoy!

1. Baskin-Robbins

The world's largest ice cream chain is offering a free waffle cone with a double or triple scoop purchase for National Ice Cream Day. The party will continue later this month, when the company offers a 31 percent discount on July 31 for its 31st birthday.

2. Cold Stone Creamery

The chain is offering a buy-one, get-one free Creation deal for members of its free rewards club, "My Cold Stone Club."

3. Dippin' Dots

To ring in this sweet holiday, Dippin' Dots franchise locations will be giving out free samples of its newest flavor, Redberry Sherbet, which is made with Sour Patch Kids.

4. Carvel

Carvel is getting in on the ice cream lovin' fun by offering a BOGO deal today: buy one cup or cone of soft-serve ice cream, get another one free.

5. Friendly's

In celebration of both its 80th birthday and National Ice Cream Day, participating Friendly’s branches will give you a free scoop of ice cream in a cup or a cone, when you buy one for $1.99. Perfect for you and a friend!

6. Breyers

Breyers is hosting a Sundae Funday event in honor of the occasion at various Six Flags theme parks. The first 200 guests to visit a Six Below shop at participating locations between noon and 5 p.m. will get a free upgrade to a sundae with any purchase of a double-scoop ice cream.

7. Lyft

Bet you didn't expect to see a car service on this list, but it turns out Lyft is getting in the spirit of things too. If you use the service to travel to a participating indie ice cream shop, you can get a free scoop by showing the cashier your receipt. Check out the list of participating ice cream shops here.

8. Your Pie

This chain is celebrating National Ice Cream Day by giving out a different kind of dessert: free gelato! You can find locations in states including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Tennessee.

9. Dairy Queen

This one varies, depending on where you live. Since most Dairy Queens are independently owned, some are offering deals today while others aren't. Call your local branch to find out.

10. PetSmart

Doesn't your pet deserve some love on National Ice Cream day too? PetSmart is here to take care of that, with the company's PetsHotel locations giving out free samples of dog-friendly ice cream from noon to 4 p.m. while supplies last.

Images: Thomas Hawk/Flickr; Giphy (4)