Free ice cream? In this economy? Ben & Jerry’s is making it happen. This summer, the beloved brand known for its delicious flavors and commitment to social activism is hitting the road with its Great Summer Bar Drop — a tour packed with free ice cream bars, exclusive merch, games, and giveaways. And fans from all over the country are able to get in on the sweet surprises.
The Great Summer Bar Drop will make stops in big cities across the country: Boston from June 20 to 22, Miami from July 10 to 12, Los Angeles from July 24 to 26, Seattle from Aug. 7 to 9, and New York City from Aug. 21 to 23. At each tour stop, there will be a “Roaming Ice Cream Bar-ty,” where visitors can score free bars, play games, and grab limited-edition merch while supplies last. But the real challenge comes with the “Hunt for the Golden Stick-et”: In every city, Ben & Jerry’s will hide five oversized golden sticks. Find one, and you’ll win a full year of free ice cream bars. That’s right — 365 days of ice cream. (I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go full Indiana Jones mode in order to get this prize.) Best of all, the events aren’t ticketed, meaning you can just show up and join the fun. Free ice cream with zero catch? That’s my kind of summer activity.
This is the first nationwide tour centered around B&J’s new lineup of ice cream bars, which launched in January and come in five flavors: Cookie Dough, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Strawberry Cheesecake, PB Pretzel, and Caramel Blondie. While the brand is best known for its pints, the bars bring fan-favorite flavors into a portable, chocolate-coated form that is truly perfect for summer.
And for ice cream lovers who don’t live near one of the tour stops, don’t panic. On June 21, the official first day of summer, Gopuff will partner with Ben & Jerry’s to give away free ice cream bars to 50,000 fans nationwide. After that, B&J’s is launching a nationwide online giveaway in August, giving fans across the country a chance to win a year’s worth of ice cream bars from home. So, keep your eyes peeled for more information on both giveaways in the weeks to come.
Whether you’re ready to hunt down a Golden Stick-et, buy some merch, or simply use the event as an excuse to eat some delicious ice cream, this might be the sweetest event of the summer.