One of America’s Biggest Ice Cream Festivals is Coming to The Reading Terminal Market This Month
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream because one of America’s biggest ice cream festivals is back at Reading Terminal Market. On Saturday, July 22nd from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m, The Ice Cream Festival on Filbert will turn the 1100 block of Filbert Street into the coolest place this summer.
Bassetts Ice Cream has invited eight local ice cream artisans to join in the fun alongside Reading Terminal Market merchants. The event will feature ice cream eating contests, sweet treat specials, family-friendly activities, music, and more.
Philadelphia ice cream favorites including Milk Jawn, Weckerly’s, Tubby Robot, Fiore Fine Foods, and more will be outside on Filbert St. selling their sweet treats and hosting activities throughout the day like:
- Ice cream sandwich stacking
- Themed trivia
- Ice cream shuffle board
- Taste tests and flavor guessing
“The Ice Cream Festival on Filbert is back and we are ready to welcome families, locals, and visitors for a day of fun,” said Annie Allman, CEO and General Manager, Reading Terminal Market. “This event has become a summer staple in Philadelphia and we’re looking forward to an expanded footprint on Filbert St. and creative ice cream options from local businesses and Market merchants.”
In addition to classic ice cream treats, guests will enjoy ice cream specials from various Market merchants including :
- Churros with ice cream
- Affogato
- Ice cream topped bialys
- Ube ice cream
- Lemon prosecco sorbet
- Ice cream muffins, and much more.
Free demonstrations and activities will take place throughout the day including ice cream eating contests, food demos in City Kitchen, and messy games like ice cream juggling. Filbert Street will be closed to cars and filled with a DJ, games, arts and crafts like jimmie necklaces and temporary tattoos, kids entertainment from Silly Joe, and more. As a special sneak peek for holiday fun to come at Reading Terminal Market this year, GingerBread Lane will be hosting beach house gingerbread building and Summer Santa will be paying attendees a visit.
“This is our first ice cream festival since COVID and we’re bringing in some old favorites along with new Philly ice cream comrades,” said Alex Strange, Executive Vice President, Bassetts Ice Cream Company, and 6th generation of the Bassetts family leadership. “My favorite part of this event is bringing together small business owners from around the region for everyone to enjoy. We will be getting creative with the types of treats available so there is truly something for everyone.”
Entrance to the event is free; some activities and all treats are available for purchase. Sponsors of the Ice Cream Festival on Filbert include the Philadelphia Zoo, Hoffman Exterminating, and Gannett Fleming Engineers.
Participating Ice Cream Artisans:
Bassetts Ice Cream – ice cream
Zsa’s Ice Cream – ice cream and sorbet
Weckerly’s Ice Cream – mini ice cream sandwiches and mini pops
Fiore Fine Foods – gelato
Tubby Robot – ice cream and profiteroles
Milk Jawn – ice cream
Cloud Cups – gelato and sorbet flights
Dreams Ice Cream – ice cream
Helados Chupi Chupi – popsicles
Merchant Specials: (List Complete as of July 6)*
El Merkury at the Market – churros and ice cream
The Pennsylvania General Store – ice cream sandwiches and floats
The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company – cookie ice cream sandwiches
Molly Malloy’s – lemon prosecco sorbet, affogato, cookies and cream pop tarts
Beck’s Cajun Café – bread pudding with ice cream
Tambayan – ube ice cream
Kismet Bialys – ice cream topped bialys
Millers Twist – ice cream
Down Home Diner – ice cream biscuits
The Head Nut – ice cream sundaes
Pearl’s Oyster Bar – waffles with ice cream
Market Bakery – ice cream muffins
