We all scream for ice cream! July is National Ice Cream Month (declared in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan), and the third Sunday of July (July 19, 2026) will be National Ice Cream Day. We sure hope you plan on celebrating! To be clear, there won't be any parades or special events going on in The Woodlands for this "holiday," but you can totally indulge on your own. Here are our 7 picks:
1. Your humble abode. Make ice cream in a bag at home. For 1 serving, you'll need the following ingredients: 1 cup half-and-half, 2 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 3 cups ice, and 1/3 cup kosher salt or ice cream salt. Here's what to do:
(a) In a small resealable bag, combine half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla extract. Push out excess air and seal.
(b) In a large resealable bag, combine ice and salt.
(c) Place the small bag inside the large bag and shake vigorously for 7 to 10 minutes, until the ice cream has hardened. Your kiddos might want to wear oven mitts to protect their hands from the cold!
(d) Remove the ice cream from the bag and enjoy with your favorite toppings.
2. Marble Slab Creamery – Marble Slab makes ice cream fresh, in-store, in small batches. When you order, they will hand-mix your favorite Mix-Ins and serve it in your preferred container—a cup, regular cone, or specialty waffle cone. Marble Slab has 3 Woodlands locations to serve you: 6700 Woodlands Parkway (Sterling Ridge Village Center), 4747 Research Forest Dr. (Cochran's Crossing Village Center), and 1201 Lake Woodlands (The Woodlands Mall).
Rewards members can celebrate National Ice Cream Day with a FREE small ice cream on July 19!
3. Buca di Beppo – Tackling a Colossal Brownie Sundae from Buca di Beppo is the ultimate way to celebrate National Ice Cream Month! This decadent, shareable dessert includes 12 chunks of freshly baked brownies layered with 6 scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, topped with caramel and chocolate sauces, buried in mounds of whipped cream, and topped with a cherry! Your whole family can share this dessert, which will cost about $20. Buca di Beppo is located in Shenandoah's Portofino Shopping Center.
4. Niky's Mini Donuts & Ice Cream – Niky's is a cute, nostalgic shop that serves fresh-to-order mini donuts, ice cream treats, fun drinks, and candy. On National Ice Cream Day, go support them at their Tomball location. (Note: They were formerly located in Spring.) We haven't heard of any special offers yet, but they gave away free mini ice cream cones in 2025, so stay tuned!
5. Creamistry – Located at The Woodlands Mall near The Lawn, Creamistry is a convenient stop for custom scoops, Nitroshakes, and ice cream cakes. They offer coconut and oat vegan bases, and their liquid-nitrogen flash-freezing process results in ice cream that is ultra-creamy and rich.
6. Baskin-Robbins – For more than 80 years, Baskin-Robbins has been known for its hand-dipped ice cream and ice cream cakes. When you download the Baskin-Robbins app, you can get a free regular-sized scoop of ice cream with your first in-store purchase. On July 19, National Ice Cream Day, Rewards members can enjoy $5 off an order of $20 or more in-store, online, or through the app. Not a Rewards member? Download the app and start saving!
7. Dairy Queen – For a quick, classic drive-thru treat, Dairy Queen is one of the best! Its two locations in The Woodlands serve Blizzards, dipped cones, sundaes, banana splits, and other novelties. Throw in a cheeseburger for good measure! If you're a DQ Rewards member, you'll score a FREE classic Dilly® Bar with a purchase of $1 or more from July 13–19.
