National Ice Cream Day - 3rd Sunday in July

When is National Ice Cream Day in 2025? 

Mark your calendars and leave enough room for dessert because on July 20th 2025, it’s National Ice Cream Day. It’s a delicious holiday that happens every year on the 3rd Sunday of July. Yet, who really needs an excuse to eat more ice cream? 

Get involved by visiting your local ice cream shops, cafes, and restaurants and try the special promotions that are on offer. It’s a great time to sample new flavors, host an ice cream party, or even create your own ice cream at home—it doesn’t matter how you’d like to celebrate, just don’t forget to enjoy ice cream on this day.   

National Ice Cream Day is a long tradition in America that was made official by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. The president wanted to pay tribute to one of America’s most beloved desserts and the fact that this treat is enjoyed by more than 90% of Americans.  

 

Why are there two national ice cream days? 

Is one day really enough to celebrate this magnificent dessert? In America, the entire month of July has been crowned Ice Cream Month. July is full of sunny days and hot temperatures, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy ice cream again and again.  

There is National Ice Cream Day and National Ice Cream Month, both of which take place in July. Thanks to the popularity of this sweet treat, another special day has been added to the line-up, called National Vanilla Ice Cream Day on July 23rd. With Americans being among the world's biggest ice cream lovers—we’re sure there will be no one complaining about an extra reason to celebrate.  

 

History of ice cream celebration

Today, ice cream is such a popular frozen dessert: we can serve it for a summer BBQ or whenever we crave its creamy sweetness. However, we weren’t always this lucky.  

Before 1718, the recipe for ice cream was kept top secret and only enjoyed by royals and aristocrats. During the years when refrigeration hadn’t been invented yet, it was a delicacy that was very rare to find and would take chefs countless hours to whip up.  

Ice cream history is full of surprising facts and interesting characters. The first party to officially feature this dessert on the menu took place in the 17th century and was hosted by England’s King Charles II. While the first president to serve ice cream at the White House was Thomas Jefferson in 1802.  

He wasn’t the only founding father to have a sweet spot for this frozen dessert. George Washington was said to be such a fan of ice cream that one summer, he racked up a bill for $200. In today’s money, that would be roughly $7000 spent in a few months on ice cream.  

 

Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with Venchi 

Treat yourself this National Ice Cream Day the Italian way with Venchi’s artisanal gelato flavors. Whipped up fresh every day by our talented gelato makers, it’s made from only the finest natural ingredients and free from artificial colors or preservatives—so you can savor gelato’s delicious taste without any guilt. 

Celebrate the day by stepping outside of your comfort zone and getting a little adventurous. Venchi’s limited edition gelatos taste like summer in the Mediterranean and offer up a unique tasting experience that you’ll love to tell your friends about. Try our Extra Virgin Olive Oil gelato, Parmigiano Reggiano, or Caramel & Rosemary for unexpected flavor combinations that you won’t be able to forget.