Plenty of sweet treats at Reading Terminal Market Ice Cream Festival

For the first time since COVID, Reading Terminal Market will once again be holding its fan-favorite Ice Cream Festival this Saturday, July 22.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Philadelphians can head to the 1100 block of Filbert Street as it transforms into the “coolest place in the city”, aka chock full of ice cream eating contests, sweet treat specials, family-friendly activities, music, and more. In addition to the activations, Bassetts Ice Cream has invited eight local ice cream artisans to join in the fun alongside Reading Terminal Market merchants.

Some local favorites at the event include Milk Jawn, Weckerly’s, Tubby Robot, Fiore Fine Foods, Zsa’s Ice Cream, Cloud Cups, Dreams Ice Cream and Helados Chupi Chupi in addition to the offerings from Bassetts Ice Cream.

Those local sweet brands will be hosting a slew of activities throughout the day including ice cream sandwich stacking, themed trivia, an ice cream shuffleboard, plus taste tests, and flavor guessing.

“The Ice Cream Festival on Filbert is back and we are ready to welcome families, locals, and visitors for a day of fun,” said Annie Allman, CEO and General Manager, Reading Terminal Market in a statement. “This event has become a summer staple in Philadelphia and we’re looking forward to an expanded footprint on Filbert Street and creative ice cream options from local businesses and Market merchants.”

The Ice Cream Festival will also feature other treats from Reading Terminal Market vendors: El Merkury at the Market will be serving up ice cream and churros, The Pennsylvania General Store will offer ice cream sandwiches and floats, The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company will boast cookie ice cream sandwiches and Molly Malloy’s will be serving up lemon prosecco sorbet, affogato, plus cookies and cream pop tarts.

Other vendor stops include Beck’s Cajun Cafe (bread pudding with ice cream), Tambayan (ube ice cream), Kismet Bialys (ice cream topped bialys), Millers Twist (ice cream), Down Home Diner (ice cream biscuits), The Head Nut (ice cream sundaes), Pearl’s Oyster Bar (waffles with ice cream) and Market Bakery (ice cream muffins.)

“This is our first ice cream festival since COVID and we’re bringing in some old favorites along with new Philly ice cream comrades,” said Alex Strange, Executive Vice President, Bassetts Ice Cream Company, and 6th generation of the Bassetts family leadership in a statement. “My favorite part of this event is bringing together small business owners from around the region for everyone to enjoy. We will be getting creative with the types of treats available so there is truly something for everyone.”

As a release states, free demonstrations and activities will take place throughout the day for everyone to join in on including food demos in City Kitchen, and messy games like ice cream juggling. Filbert Street will be closed to cars and filled with a DJ, games, arts and crafts (like jimmie necklaces and temporary tattoos), kids entertainment from Silly Joe, and more.

And additionally, Reading Terminal Market’s Ice Cream Festival will also offer a sneak peek into the holiday season with a preview of GingerBread Lane, which will be hosting beach house gingerbread building and Summer Santa, who will be paying attendees a visit.

Entrance to the event is free; some activities and all treats are available for purchase. Sponsors of the Ice Cream Festival on Filbert include the Philadelphia Zoo, Hoffman Exterminating, and Gannett Fleming Engineers. For more information, visit readingterminalmarket.org