Carvel Free Cone Day 2017 Is Almost Here!

Free ice cream: Three words that are music to any human's ears. What's more, one of America's favorite ice creams shops is making all your dreams come true this week: Carvel Free Cone Day 2017 is on April 27 — that's tomorrow! — so make sure you save room for dessert.

Every year, Carvel holds its Free Cone Day to help kick off ice cream season. (I would actually argue that every season is ice cream season, but that's beside the point.) Customers can visit participating shops and get a free junior soft ice cream cone between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. You can choose from vanilla, chocolate, and Cookie Butter — their new and limited-time flavor inspired by Lotus Biscoff.

Here's the really cool part: This is free ice cream you can feel good about, because for the sixth year, Carvel is partnering with the American Red Cross in honor of Giving Day, held annually by the organization. Carvel will be offering a $1 coupon book that contains more than $20 in savings at the ice cream shop; and all proceeds will be part of their donation to the Red Cross. As of right now, the Red Cross reports a whopping $478,704 raised to provide food, shelter, and more for people who need it now.

Free (and delicious) ice cream and giving back to an awesome cause? That's all I need to know.

Carvel has a long and heartwarming history. Tom Carvel began selling the frozen treat out of his truck in 1929; indeed, according to the shop's website, he was the one who made soft serve ice cream famous. The success of his ice cream truck led to his first shop — what would become just one of a worldwide network of Carvel locations.

Today, Carvel is a big fish, but they've held on to what makes them unique: really, really tasty ice cream. That plus their charitable efforts with the Red Cross makes Free Cone Day something we can definitely get behind.

Bon appetit!