What better way to spend a hot summer day in Austin than celebrating sweet frozen treats? Here were some of our favorite parts of the 2017 Austin Ice Cream Festival.
The variety of frozen treats
At an ice cream festival, you might expect to just find ice cream, but there was something for everyone at the fest! There was creamy classic ice cream, vegan ice cream made with coconut milk, gelato, snow cones and popsicles. Whether you wanted a traditional bowl of ice cream or a flavorful and refreshing ice treat, this festival had it!
The Wall of Living Art
Watching local artists work together over the course of several hours to create something beautiful can really make you appreciate their creativity and talent. Their colorful works added even more brightness to the day!
The eating contests
Kids, adults, and even dogs got to compete in different contests, and being in the audience was almost as fun as being a participant. People of all ages were invited to compete in the Hands-Free Ice Cream Sandwich Eating Contest and the Hands-Free Popsicle Eating Contest, while kids and adults competed separately in Pint-Eating Contests. For those adults with an iron stomach, there was even a Half-Gallon Eating Contest! The cutest competition may have been between the canine festival-goers though, who downed ice cream made for dogs at whatever pace they chose.
Photo ops
For those who weren’t onstage competing or performing, there were several props that would make a cute festival Instagram. Goodpop had a giant creamsicle statue at the festival, covered in different emojis. There was also a throne made of spoons that would make anyone feel like ice cream royalty.
Yard games to help you chill
There was no shortage of activities at the festival, including a rock climbing wall, a trampoline and a dunk tank. But the yard games, including Giant Jenga, Giant Connect Four and cornhole, were a simple (and free) way to relax in the shade – and maybe enjoy a meal from one of the food trucks.
Plenty of shade
Speaking of relaxing in the shade, the festival had plenty of it – good news on a cloudless August day. Between the pavilions, the umbrellas over picnic tables and the numerous trees on the property, shade was never too far away for guests. It’s a good thing, too, because shade is a must-have if you don’t want your ice cream to melt too quickly!
Please visit www.austinicecreamfestival.com for more information about the festival. Tag your ice cream photos using #scoopsforall!
About Jackie
Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, Jackie has called Austin home since choosing to attend the University of Texas, where she graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism. She loves spending time with her dog, writing about pop culture in all its forms and spending time with friends – eating, drinking and doing trivia. You can follow Jackie on Twitter and Instagram.
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Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, Jackie has called Austin home since choosing to attend the University of Texas, where she graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism. She loves spending time with her dogs, writing about pop culture in all its forms and spending time with friends – eating, drinking and doing trivia.