One of the sweetest events in the city is back. Reading Terminal Market’s Ice Cream Festival is set for July 12, and the annual occasion (in partnership with Bassett’s Ice Cream) shuts down Filbert Street every year to offer tasty ways to cool down.
Known as one of the largest ice cream occasions in the country, the event will be in full swing on that Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m., and will feature ice cream eating contests, sweet treat specials, live entertainment and more.
In addition to Bassett’s, RTM’s Ice Cream Festival will host 11 local artisans of the dessert alongside Market vendors. Philadelphia ice cream favorites include Franklin Fountain, Mango Hut, Milk Jawn, Scoop DeVille, Tubby Robot, Weckerly’s, Cloud Cups, Dreams Ice Cream, Hangry Bear and Siddiq’s Water Ice.
Spots from Reading Terminal Market will also be joining in on the fun and adding their own twist on the sweet treat: Beck’s Cajun Cafe will offer Bananas Foster French toast with vanilla ice cream; Fox and Son Fair Foods will add peach cobbler funnel cake with ice cream to their menu; The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company will don cookie ice cream shooters and a variety of cookie ice cream sandwiches; Hunger Burger will create a “Very Cherry Shake”; Sparrow’s Gourmet Snacks will serve gluten-free mini-ice cream sandwiches; and Sweet T’s Bakery will stock up on pie à la mode.
The day will also be packed with themed games, themed crafts and recipe demonstrations. The latter spans sugar cookie cone decorating with The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company, a baked Alaska “how to” with Flying Monkey Bakery, and funnel cake frying with Fox and Son Fair Foods.
As a release notes, a DJ will entertain attendees throughout the day outside on Filbert Street. Entrance to the event is free; all treats are available for purchase. Note, dogs will not be permitted inside the festival area.
For more information on Reading Terminal Market’s Ice Cream Festival, visit readingterminalmarket.org
