Happy National Ice Cream Day! Favorite Ice Cream Places Around Columbia (+ Freebies!)

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You may not realize this but July is National Ice Cream Month. A whole month to celebrate the cold drippy goodness that is ice cream! 

In an effort to bring you, our valued readers, a list of some of the best ice cream spots in our fair city, I made the HUGE sacrifice of testing out some places around town. It was rough, let me tell you. So rough. But my waistline and I muddled through just for you. 

So here it is.

Oh, and be sure to check the bottom of this post for places you can get free or great deals for National Ice Cream Day on July 21!

Sweet Cream Company

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First, let me just say that this place is so stinking cute! I love the setup. It’s a small quaint little shop on Main Street just a few steps away from the Nickelodeon. When I stepped into this shop and saw the ice cream flavors, I knew I was in for a real treat.

Sweet Cream Co. offers unique flavors like Earl Gray, Lemon Poppyseed, Cherry Coke, and Whiskey Pecan. They also have a variety of delicious sorbet flavors including honey lemon ginger and strawberry basil (with local strawberries from Cottle Farms!).

I sampled both Earl Gray and Lemon Poppyseed. Besides having the most amazingly rich flavors, it was also the creamiest, smoothest ice cream I have ever had! So, next time you’re on Main Street, be sure to stop at Sweet Cream Co. for an ice cream experience like none other!

**Note** Sweet Cream Co. sells pints of ice cream as well! You can take your favorite flavors home with you. 

The Baked Bear

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Located in Five Points, this magical ice cream store allows you to make a dream-worthy ice cream sandwich.

You can choose from a variety of cookie flavors or brownies (or you can even do one of each!) and then you choose your ice cream flavor. They also have toppings, if you want to add a little something extra. Then, it’s all put together in one large yummy sandwich. They’ll even warm the cookies up if you want.

Anyone else drooling right now? If you don’t want an ice cream sandwich, don’t worry, they’ve also got cones and brownie bowls. You can’t go wrong at The Baked Bear!

Sweet Pea’s Ice Cream and Cafe

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Sweet Pea’s is a cute little place tucked away in downtown Blythewood serving up some yummy goodness. They proudly serve Hershey’s ice cream and offer a variety of super fun flavors your kids will love!

My son especially enjoyed the Crazy Cookie Dough flavor (colorful cookie dough ice cream!). Here you’ll also find fun ice cream inventions like ice cream nachos and the Awful Waffle (ice cream) Taco. Mmmmmmm!

As a bonus, Sweet Pea’s sells pints of Columbia-born Epworth ice cream (all proceeds from pints go to support the Epworth Children’s Home). Not only do they serve up delicious ice cream, but Sweet Pea’s also offers a variety of café foods like sandwiches, wraps, hot dogs, and soft pretzels. 

Manny’s Shaved Ice

My youngest with his ice cream and my oldest with his shaved ice and Mexican Wagon Wheels. Something for everyone!

I saved this one for last because while they do offer ice cream, their specialty is actually shaved ice. But, shaved ice is also a delicious summertime treat, so I decided to include Manny’s on my list. Trust me. You’re gonna thank me.

Located in a small plaza on Augusta Road in West Columbia, Manny’s Shaved Ice offers 60 different shaved ice flavors. Flavors vary from Classic/Natural (cherry, bubble gum, strawberry, etc.) to Mixed (Mango Strawberry, Berry Lime, Pina Berry, etc.) to Creamy (Vanilla ‘n cream, Coconut, Chocolate, etc.) to Spicy (Mango Diablo, Chamoyada Tamarind, Pina Diablo, etc.). I tried the Guava Mango flavor. It was amazing! It even had small chunks of mango in it.

Manny’s also offers Frapps and Milkshakes (more ice cream!), plus a variety of traditional Hispanic snacks and treats (Flavored corn, Corn bowls, and Mexican Wagon Wheels). A crazy bonus to this place is that it’s super cheap! Shaved ice prices start at just $2 and go up to just $4. Manny’s is a place you MUST check out! 

Now that I’ve given you the low down on some outstanding ice cream joints around Columbia, let’s get to the deals for National Ice Cream Day (July 21).

National Ice Cream Day Free Deals (July 21)

Baskin-Robbins

Baskin-Robbins is celebrating National Ice Cream Day for an entire week! Starting July 21, you can enjoy $5 off any order of $20 when you order online using the code SEIZETHEYAY. The offer ends on July 27. 

Burger King

Throughout the month of July members of the Royal Perks loyalty program can get a soft serve cone or cup for 150 Crowns instead of the regular 250 crowns.

Cold Stone Creamery

My Cold Stone Club members can enjoy $5 off a purchase of $10 or more on Sunday. The deal is valid in stores and online. 

To redeem the offer, customers must text FLOAT24 to LOVEIT and the reward will be loaded into their account. Only registered members can use the reward so make sure to sign up before purchasing your ice cream treat.

Dairy Queen

Customers can get a free Dilly Bar with a $1 purchase on the Dairy Queen app. The offer is an app-exclusive deal and is only available on Sunday, July 21. 

Door Dash

From July 18-24, subscribers to Door Dash’s DashPass plan get unlimited $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders; starts at $9.99 monthly or $96 annually – get $6 off when you buy two of any Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Talenti, Popsicle, Good Humor, Klondike, Yaso, and Breyers products.

Insomnia Cookies

From Friday, July 19, to Sunday, July 21, members of the Insomnia Rewards loyalty program can get a free cup of ice cream (two scoops) with any purchase. Insomnia Rewards members also get 2X rewards points all week.

Kind Snacks

Kind Snacks is giving away a year’s supply of Kind Frozen Treat Bars. To enter, go to the Kind Snacks Instagram page and share the contest post before Sunday, July 21. Then follow @kindsnacks, tag three friends and comment “🍦.” To get a bonus entry share the post to your story.

Marble Slab Creamery

On July 21, customers can get a free small cup of ice cream when they purchase a small or large cup of ice cream in-store. In addition to the free ice cream, Marble Slab Creamery will offer $5 off its legendary Ice Cream Cakes throughout the month. The offer is valid online only with the code CAKE24. 

Menchie’s

For National Ice Cream Month, Menchie’s is offering a Smile Challenge game with a chance to win a $250 gift card. Complete all of the challenges by July 31, and receive $5 in Menchie’s Money. The game is only available in the shop’s app. Be sure to scan your app every time you visit.

My/Mochi Ice Cream 

My/Mochi Ice cream is running a sweet giveaway timed to National Ice Cream Day with prizes including free My/Mochi for a year (52 boxes) and prize packages with an inflatable pool or cooler. Just follow My/Mochi on Instagram, like the giveaway post, and comment with what is making you feel joyful this July, then tag your friends. 

Happy National Ice Cream Day! Where is your favorite place around town to grab this cold treat?

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