Ice cream social facts for kids

An ice cream social held at a community college in the U.S.

An ice cream social (also known as an ice cream party) is a fun event where the main goal is to serve delicious ice cream to all the guests. These parties are often held in neighborhoods or as a way to welcome new people. They are especially popular during the warm summer months.

The History of Ice Cream Parties

Ice cream socials have been a popular way to gather for a long time. They started way back in the 1700s in places like the United States and Canada.

Early Ice Cream Gatherings

The very first ice cream party recorded in America happened in 1744. A person named Thomas Bladen, who was the governor of the state of Maryland, served ice cream at a dinner party. Later, in 1802, the White House (where the U.S. President lives) had its first ice cream social. This party was hosted by the 3rd U.S. president, Thomas Jefferson.

Ice Cream Becomes Popular

As ice cream became easier for everyone to get in the 1800s, more groups started hosting these parties. Schools and churches, for example, began to hold their own ice cream socials. Starting in the 1860s, many church events were set up like the "ice cream gardens" that were popular at the time. These were places where people could enjoy ice cream outdoors.

Today, ice cream socials are still held by government groups and wealthy families. But because ice cream is now so popular and easy to find, these fun events have spread to all kinds of people and many different organizations.

The World's Largest Ice Cream Party

People have even tried to set records with ice cream socials! The world's largest ice cream social happened on January 30, 2019, in Italy. A company called ALGIDA OOH - Unilever Italia organized it, and an amazing 962 people attended!