This post contains affiliate links. We may earn money from the products mentioned in this post, but this is at no cost to you
Use these awesome ice cream party ideas to create a party that everyone is going to love. These great ideas include decorations, tips to setting up an ice cream sundae bar, fun favors and more.
Everyone is going to have a good time with an ice cream theme party.
Related articles:
For summer parties, an ice cream themed party is sure to be a big hit. This is certainly an awesome way to celebrate summer or a party.
Perfect for birthday parties, a baby shower or even a bridal shower. The best thing about ice cream parties are that they are fun and are perfect for all ages.
With lots of fantastic ice cream, gorgeous decorations and fun games, this is the kind of party theme where everyone will have a great time.
Use these ice cream party ideas to create some amazing fun at your next party.
Set Up an Ice Cream Bar
An ice cream party really needs to have an ice cream bar set up somewhere.
To set up the bar, ensure that there are at least a few flavors of ice cream to choose from.
It is a good idea to include vanilla ice cream as one of the choices as a nice “safe” option.
You might also like to include some unique ice cream flavors for your party guests to try.
You may wish to make you own homemade ice cream otherwise store bought ice cream is just as good.
Need some inspiration for ice cream flavors? These are some popular flavors you might like to include in your ice cream bar.
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Mint Choc Chip
- Cookies n Cream
- Strawberry
- Salted Caramel
- Banana
- Peanut Butter
- Bubble Gum
- Neapolitan
- Butterscotch
Then don’t forget the toppings!
Lots and lots of your favorite toppings which could include:
- Sprinkles
- Sauces such as chocolate, strawberry, caramel
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Smarties
- Crushed honeycomb
- Chopped fresh fruit or berries
- Coconut
- Wafers and cookies
Guests might like to make their own sundae or alternatively make an ice cream cone.
Ensure that you leave out sufficient ice cream bowls, waffle cones and an ice cream scoop for each flavor of ice cream offered.
It is also a great idea to include some baked goods such as brownies and cookies. These can either be eaten with the ice cream or separate.
If the weather is hot at the time of your party, it would be a good idea to keep the ice cream in the freezer until it is required.
The ice cream bar can still however be set up with all the extras that you need including a list of the ice cream flavors available, the toppings, the baked goods and of course all the bowls and utensils you will need.
Then simply provide the scoop of ice cream (or two) when it is needed to prevent the ice cream melting into a complete mess.
Tips For Creating The Best Ice Cream Bars
- Pre-scoop the ice cream and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. This is useful to save some time.
- Provide a list of the ice cream available and have guests so guests can “order” their ice cream.
- If having buckets of ice cream on display, ensure that they are kept in buckets of ice to keep the ice cream cool.
- Place the ice cream box’s into cooler box’s. Try your hand at decorating the cooler into an ice cream truck for some added fun.
Other Ice Cream Party Food Ideas
It’s always fun to create food that will match the themed birthday party. Some ideas include:
- Ice cream cone cupcakes.
- Cookies baked and decorated that look like ice creams or popsicles.
- Serving up a banana split.
- Ice cream pie.
- Ice cream sandwiches.
- And of course ice cream cakes.
Team these themed food items with other party food and guests will be spoilt for choice.
Ice Cream Party Decorations
If party decorations are styled to the theme of the party, it really helps with creating the vibe of the party.
There are lots of easy ways that you can style a themed party, and it doesn’t need to cost a lot of money either!
A great way to start the party decoration is to think about the color scheme you will be using.
These will be the colors that you use right through the party decor and once decided will help pull everything together.
Would you like bright colors or perhaps pastel colors.
Balloon Garland:
Balloon garlands are a great way to create a dramatic piece of decoration with little cost.
You can create it as an entrance way, a backdrop to the ice cream bar or use as a photo backdrop.
It is also easy to obtain ice cream party balloon garland kits, which means you don’t even have to think about how to style it.
Simply set up the balloons according to the kit instruction.
Party Backdrop:
There are numerous ways you can add a party backdrop.
You can either theme it to your party such as including ice cream styled backdrop designs OR you could simply use your color choices in a backdrop.
There is an incredibly easy party backdrop which you can use for every single party you hold, and it’s easily themed by simply choosing the colors appropriate to your party.
The advantage of using this kind of backdrop is that it is cheap, easy to set up and allows you to incorporate other themed styling in other parts of the decoration.
Table Decoration:
Once you have the party backdrop sorted, it’s time to focus on what the party table will look like.
You may wish to have the party table as purely the ice cream bar, or you may wish to have that as a separate area and then have other party food and the birthday cake on another table.
Styling a table with polka dots or stripes is very popular for ice cream parties. You might also like to sprinkle confetti as a great way to act as ice cream sprinkles!
Choose a couple of pieces that can really set the scene, like a giant ice cream cone or an ice cream truck.
Party Games
A kids party isn’t complete without party games.
There are many party games that can easily be themed to suit the ice cream party.
For example playing duck duck goose, say the flavors of ice cream instead of “duck, duck”. Choose ONE flavor of ice cream to take the place of “goose”.
Another option is to play pin the tail on the donkey, but instead play pin the cherry on the ice cream.
Change the egg and spoon race to an ice cream cone race by substituting the egg for a ball. For younger children the spoon could also be changed to an ice cream cone.
Check out lots of fun party games for kids and be creative with how they can be changed to the theme of an ice cream party.
Other awesome party games include:
Water Play Games: Whilst these games arn’t specific to ice cream, they can come in very handy if holding the party on a hot day.
There are lots of water gun games and water balloon games that can easily be incorporated into an ice cream party. The kids will have so much fun with them.
Pinata: Pinata’s are always a popular choice and this an easily be themed by using an ice cream pinata.
Party Hats
It always looks incredibly adorable when you snap that group photo of all the kids at a party. And it looks even more adorable when they are all wearing a party hat.
Organise for all the kids to wear an ice cream cone party hat and snap that photo to go into the memory book.
Ice Cream Party Favors
Kids parties generally go home with a party bag.
There are lots of themed ice cream fun party favors that you can include in the bags such as:
The kids will love all these fun little gifts.
If you have made your own ice cream at the party, why not print off the recipe onto white card stock and include it in the bag. Everyone will love being able to make the ice cream themselves when they get home.
Favor bags can either match the color of your party, or use actual ice cream decorated bags.
Real Ice Cream Parties Examples
A great way to visualize how to put your party together is to look at others. The following parties are all real parties that have been held and enjoyed.
Use these fun ice cream party ideas to help set the scene at your next party.
Carnival Ice Cream Party:
Source: Buckets of Grace
The carnival atmosphere of this party, really makes you feel like you are at the fair!
The little ice cream t-shirts and hats are also uber cute. This party definitely gives you lots of ideas that you can use.
Wedding Ice Cream Party:
Source: Jenny Cookies
This party held for a wedding and it is absolutely adorable. I’m pretty sure the guests would have been happy with it.
The selection of desserts is outstanding and every single one of them looks like an ice cream. This is a very cleverly set up dessert table.
Relaxed Ice Cream Party:
Source: The inspired Room
This party was created for ice cream day. If you didn’t know there was such a day, now you do! And it gives you that excuse to indulge once every 12 months!
The bar style set up is so casual and relaxed.
Girly And Sweet Ice Cream Party:
Source: My Sweet and Saucy
The cake alone is worthy of a peek at this party. How can you resist a cake with a huge ice cream cone perched on the top of it!
This is an ice cream party at its prettiest. It is so girly and full of fun.
Pastel Ice Cream Parlor:
Source: Simone Made It.
This is the kind of party that as kids you would just want to dive head first into. It is everything fun you love about ice cream and I just adore all the ice cream cones hanging down as decoration.
How can you not get excited about this party?
There is no doubt that an ice cream party is a LOT of fun and can be held at any time of the year. If it’s held in the cooler months at least you don’t even have to worry about your ice cream melting!
With the gorgeous colors and decorations, this is a party that everyone is going to be drooling over.
Need some ideas for a different theme? Check out more party ideas for a ton of inspiration with different themes, games and more.
Let’s keep in touch. Did you love these ice cream party ideas? Sign up to the weekly newsletter to be kept up to date with other easy party ideas, decorations and recipes. You will also have access to the library of free printables. See you there!
Leave a Reply