Utica Ice Cream Festival
Celebrate the 50th Utica Ice Cream Festival!
Mark your calendars for Memorial Day Weekend 2026
Location Date and Times:
Saturday, May 23 | 11 AM to 7 PM
Sunday, May 24 | 11 AM to 7 PM
Monday, May 25 | 11 AM to 4 PM
Join us as we celebrate 50 sweet years of the Utica Ice Cream Festival, a beloved tradition filled with delicious treats, family fun, and community spirit. What began as a small hometown gathering has grown into a can’t-miss event that brings thousands together each year.
More than just a celebration of ice cream, the festival proudly supports local charitable groups and initiatives, making every scoop even sweeter. Come experience the joy, the tradition, and the memories that have made this festival special for five decades.
Celebrate with us and be part of the next chapter of this unforgettable Utica tradition!
About The Festival
OUR HISTORY
In 1976, the Utica Ice Cream Festival was born from a visionary partnership between the Utica Sertoma Club and Velvet Ice Cream’s third-generation leaders, Joe and Mike Dager. The Sertoma Club was seeking a signature event to support local fundraising efforts, and Velvet stepped in as a proud community partner.
Together, they launched the Utica Sertoma Ice Cream Festival, originally expecting it to be a short-term event. But thanks to an overwhelming response from the community, the festival quickly grew into something much more. What began as a simple idea soon became a beloved annual tradition, bringing together generations of families, neighbors, and visitors to celebrate ice cream, community, and giving back.
Today, the festival stands as a testament to the power of partnership and hometown pride, continuing to delight guests while supporting meaningful causes throughout the Utica area.
The Parade
Join us as we kick off the Utica Ice Cream Festival with our vibrant downtown parade on Saturday, May 23 at 11 AM. Spanning 1.5 miles through the heart of Utica, the parade is a can’t-miss tradition filled with energy, community spirit, and festive fun.
Be sure to arrive early to grab the best viewing spot along the route. Keep an eye out for the Velvet Ice Cream truck as it makes its way through town. We’ll be handing out delicious ice cream treats to paradegoers, adding a little extra sweetness to start the celebration.
Don’t miss this unforgettable start to one of Utica’s favorite traditions.
Events Calendar
Click each image below for a larger view.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Rod Run Car Show is all day Sunday, May 24 on the festival grounds. Over 300 classic cars will be onsite. Interested in registering your vehicle? Email info@velveticecream.com for more info.
The Utica Ice Cream Festival takes place Memorial Day Weekend—Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Daily hours run from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday/Sunday and 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday. The festival is held at Ye Olde Mill, home of Velvet Ice Cream, located at 11324 Mount Vernon Road, Utica, OH 43080.
Yes! We strongly encourage all animals to be on a leash and for all owners to clean up after your animal. Respect others on the festival grounds.
Festival parking is available in adjacent lots to Ye Olde Mill. Signs and volunteers will help guide you upon arrival. Admission is $10 per carload, making it a great value for families and groups.
The entertainment schedule and festival map are posted on the website and in the program you will receive when you arrive on the grounds. There will also be QR codes around the grounds for you to access the website.
There’s no shortage of fun for kids at the Utica Ice Cream Festival! Families can enjoy a full lineup of activities including magic shows, live animal encounters, bounce houses, a nerf arena, and interactive stage games like egg toss, sack races, and balloon toss.
Kids will also love face painting, balloon animals, caricature artists, bubble fun, and our famous ice cream eating contest, along with exciting performances from the Performance Dogs of Ohio.
With so much to see and do, there’s something for every child to enjoy all weekend long!”
Yes! There are several great spots throughout the festival to sit back, relax, and enjoy your food. Behind our arts and crafts vendors, you’ll find plenty of green space where visitors can spread out and unwind.
You’ll also find ample seating in the Midway near the food vendors, along with additional seating on Ye Olde Mill’s back patio. Bleachers are available near the main stage, offering a comfortable place to sit while enjoying live entertainment.
Outside food and drinks are not allowed within the festival grounds.
With over 15 food vendors and 65+ craft/art vendors, there’s a diverse selection to explore.
Several vendors offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options; just inquire at each booth.
Absolutely! Live entertainment is a big part of the Utica Ice Cream Festival, with performances happening throughout the weekend on the main stage and across the festival grounds.
Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live music featuring a mix of local favorites and regional talent, along with crowd-pleasing performances like the Cedar Valley Cloggers, Magic Nate, and the always entertaining Performance Dogs of Ohio. You’ll also catch roaming acts like the Supa Fun Band and Music Men & Jen bringing surprise performances right to the crowd.
Our main stage DJ keeps the energy high between acts, making sure there’s always something fun happening. Whether you’re relaxing in the bleachers or strolling through the festival, there’s great entertainment around every corner.
An ATM is available inside the Ye Olde Mill ice cream parlor, with credit cards also accepted.
Portajohns are conveniently located throughout the festival, some with accessible facilities and baby changing stations.
Rain or shine, the festival goes on. Stay updated on any weather-related changes via Velvet’s Facebook page.
Due to the vast selection of food choices at the festival plus our staff being extremely busy with ice cream, we will only be offering our ice cream menu to visitors in our parlor.
Thank You to Our Amazing Sponsors
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our incredible sponsors for supporting this year’s Utica Ice Cream Festival. Your generosity and partnership help make this beloved tradition possible, bringing families together for a weekend full of fun, music, and of course—ice cream! We truly couldn’t do it without you!
Tier 1: Festival Presenting Sponsors
Tier 2: Parade Presenting Sponsor
Tier 3: Magic Nate/Arts & Crafts Presenting Sponsor
Tier 4: Around the Grounds Sponsor
Tier 5: Ice Cream Eating Contest Sponsor
