2018 AUSTIN ICE CREAM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NEW DATE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 23
12th Annual Ice Cream Festival is back with a brand new, exciting, two-part, ice cream-loving experience featuring a daytime event and After Dark party; tickets go on sale May 16
Thousands of Austinites come together through the power of ice cream at Fiesta Gardens for one of the summer’s most beloved festivals to sample 1.5 tons of frozen treats
(AUSTIN, TEXAS – April 11, 2018; source: Juice Consulting) – The 12th Annual Austin Ice Cream Festival has been announced for Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the scenic Fiesta Gardens along Lady Bird Lake. This year, the Austin Ice Cream Festival will feature two uniquely Austin events – a daytime, family-focused festival with mounds of ice cream and frozen treats from local favorites and national brands, contests, fun activities, live entertainment, local food trucks and more! As the sun sets, Fiesta Gardens will transform into After Dark at Austin’s Ice Cream Festival, a trendy party with headlining live music, frozen treat vendors, boozy frozen drinks and Austin’s favorite food trucks. The music lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

Photo credit: Andrew Holmes
General admission for the daytime festival runs 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. General Admission passes for the daytime event are $15 and include passbooks to provide samples from up to 20 favorite frozen treat brands. Early entry ZIP tickets are $25 and provide all GA benefits PLUS one hour early event admission and access to the air-conditioned ZIP Lounge with dedicated seating and comfort stations. Additional frozen treats and savory options will be available for purchase. The daytime event will feature ice cream eating contests, fun summer activities for all ages. Children 6 and under receive free admission.
Starting at 6 p.m. at Fiesta Gardens, After Dark at Austin’s Ice Cream Festivalwill feature headlining musicians, more frozen treats, boozy cocktails, contests, activities and Austin’s famous food trucks. After Dark General Admission passes are $35 and include a headlining music lineup at the pavilion, samples from up to 20 frozen treat partners and access to frozen treat cocktails and food trucks. After Dark ZIP passes are $50 and include all GA benefits PLUS 30 minute early event entry, access to a private ZIP bar and access to the air-conditioned ZIP Lounge with dedicated seating.
The Austin Ice Cream Festival will crown the 2018 Best Frozen Treat of Austin among local frozen treat companies participating in the event. Participating companies will submit a flavor into the contest to be voted on by the general public (Fan Favorite) and be judged by a panel of celebrity judges at the Austin Ice Cream Festival. Winners of the “Fan Favorite” and “Celebrity Judged Category” will be named the “Best of ATX” and receive a commemorative Austin Ice Cream Festival spoon trophy.
Festival goers will be able to put their taste buds to the test with a series of ice cream eating contests. There will be multiple divisions for full half-gallon, pints, half-pints for the kids and more. Information on these contests can be found in the coming weeks online at www.austinicecreamfestival.com.

- More than 1.5 tons of frozen treat samples were distributed at the 2017 Austin Ice Cream Festival
- Snow Monster won BOTH the 2017 Fan Favorite AND Celebrity Judged “Best of ATX Frozen Treat” contests
- In 2010, Joey Chestnut, the World’s Eating Champion won the ice cream eating contest by eating 1.25 gallons of ice cream in 5 minutes!
- 2017: Featured in: “Best Festivals in Texas” by Travelmag.com and “20 Ways to Have the Best Summer Ever” by Jetsetter Magazine
- 2016: Featured as a “Top Festival in the Country” by The Today Show
- 2013: Named one of the “Top 10 Summer Festivals” by Fodor’s Travel Guide
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*For media RSVPs or advance press inquiries about the Austin Ice Cream Festival, please contact the team at Juice Consulting: