National Ice Cream Day Freebies & Deals

It goes without saying that ice cream is one of the greatest parts of summer, but, there, we said it anyway. Soon, devout ice cream lovers across the country will have the perfect excuse to load up to their hearts' content.

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National Ice Cream Day, which happens every year on the third Sunday in July, is just around the corner. And some confectionary angels are celebrating by giving away melty treats for free.

If you're a true connoisseur, mark your calendar for July 15 and get to planning. By the day's end, when you're stuffed and queasy, clutching the cup that once held your fourth free rocky road, just think of the next 364 days as a way to relive the sweet, sweet memory. Below, you'll find the contenders vying for our hearts with the best National Ice Cream Day specials.

Cumberland Farms

Set your alarm, because at 8 a.m., you can text the word "SCOOPS" to 64827 for $1 off any pint of Ultimate Scoops. Regularly priced at $5, the Doughlicious Cookie Dough or Peanut Butter Persuasion is yours for just $4 at any of the brand's 600 retail locations.

Photo: Cumberland Farms

Dairy Queen

To celebrate National Ice Cream Day, DQ is treating those who download its new mobile app to a free small Blizzard. After registering, head to the shop for your choice of any flavor, including the Blizzard of the Month: Oreo Firework.

Photo: Dairy Queen

Whole Foods

Thanks to the grocery chain, pints that normally break-the-bank-but-taste-so-good-you'd-go-broke-for-them are on sale. Specialty ice creams, gelatos and sorbets like Talenti, Cumberland Farms, Ben & Jerry's and Jeni's are available for as little as $2.70.

Carvel

The creator of the most delicious birthday cakes is offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on soft-serve in a cone or a cup.  

OddFellows Coffee & Cream

This one's a race for the cones. Come 1 p.m., NYC ice cream institution OddFellows will be selling its first 50 cones for $1 each. The creamery's latest outpost (55 E. Houston St.) features 12 flavors of ice cream and sorbet, coffee soft-serve, coffee sundaes, and kombucha and cold brew on tap. You don't have to get the chorizo caramel swirl, but you won't be mad if you do.

Polosud

With a selection of 21 flavors, Polosud in Manhattan's Little Italy neighborhood will be offering a free second cone with the purchase of a first one.

Photo: Polosud

Camp Arlo

Thanks to Arlo Hotels' collaboration with Tipsy Scoop, the first 50 customers can cool off with free boozy scoops from the cart parked in the Soho hotel's courtyard. The space will be packed with tents, chairs and lounges, where you can enjoy flavors like strawberry rhubarb bourbon, spiked hazelnut and raspberry limoncello sorbet. Guests who arrive later can enjoy scoops for $5 each and cocktails incorporating the infused ice cream, including the Young Grasshopper made with spiked mint chip.

Photo: Camp Arlo

Nickel & Diner

The NYC restaurant and cocktail bar will be offering free mini ice cream cones during brunch (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Your choice of flavors include banana caramel, honey ginger, lychee and the new vegan shishito pepper and avocado flavor.

Photo: Nickel & Diner

Neuhaus

If sugar-loading were a thing, this is where we'd do it. At NYC Belgian chocolatier Neuhaus, you can get your hands on a complimentary two-piece chocolate box with your purchase of any ice cream.

Photo: Neuhaus