Free Cone Day: From Humble Beginnings to a Global Celebration

Ben and Jerry's gas station

1979

The first ever Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day in the history of history! It was our way of thanking everyone for all the love and support they showed us that first year of business in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont.


free cone day ice cream cones

1984

Saratoga Springs, New York enters the annals of history when it becomes the first town outside of Vermont to host a Free Cone Day.


Free cone day line of people

1988

We start getting organized when all Vermont Scoop Shops celebrate on June 4th while every out-of-state shop celebrates on the 5th.


scooper carrying a ub of ice cream

1993

Unification across the nation! Every Scoop Shop in the United States hands out free cones on the same day (May 21 for those keeping track at home).


car keys on countertop

1998

Someone in London gets so excited by their free cone that they leave their keys behind. Are they yours? We still have them if you want them back.


scooper holding out ice cream

2000

We bring the world together in peace, love and ice cream with our first truly global Free Cone Day. Scoop Shops all over the world celebrate together on April 18.


taking picture of ice cream cone with cell phone

2010

Global Free Cone Day gets a little more local thanks to our iPhone app. Fans around the world can see pictures and tweets from other countries in real time.


2 hands high fiving

2012

Scandal breaks out in Perth, Australia as two people are caught trying to cut the line. The situation is diffused when they apologize and high-five everyone on their walk to the back.


3 hands passing ice cream cones

2015

We give away over 1,000,000 scoops of Ben & Jerry’s around the world. That’s a lot of scooping!


hand holding 2 ice cream cones

2023

This is sure to be our best Free Cone Day yet. There’ll be ice cream and smiles, and hopefully you’ll be there, too!