What started as a simple idea between two local ice cream makers has quickly become one of Memphis’ sweetest summer traditions.
The Memphis Ice Cream Festival returns Sunday, June 7th on the Overton Park Greensward, bringing together local frozen treat makers, food trucks, music, family activities, and unlimited ice cream tastings. This year’s event also serves as part of Overton Park’s 125th birthday celebration, making the festival bigger than ever.
Festival co-founders Mary Claire White of Sugar Ghost and Kiamesha Wilson of Kaye’s Pints & Scoops first connected through “Scoop School” in St. Louis while building their respective ice cream businesses. When both realized they had been independently thinking about creating an ice cream festival for Memphis, the partnership was a natural fit.
“We created a Facebook event page, and it sort of went viral,” White says of last year’s inaugural festival. Originally planned as a small gathering beside Sugar Ghost on Broad Avenue, the event quickly sold out at 1,000 tickets. “It felt like a really beautiful proof of concept, knowing that so many people wanted to come out and celebrate ice cream with us.”
The overwhelming response led organizers to seek a larger venue, which opened the door to a collaboration with Overton Park Conservancy.
“One of the biggest things was, it grew so quickly and we needed more space,” Wilson says. “In a conversation, we realized they were having their 125th birthday, so we could celebrate together.”
Visitors can sample creations from eight local ice cream vendors, including Sugar Ghost, Kaye’s Pints & Scoops, Stella’s Ice Cream, Sweet Noshings, Zio Matto Gelato, and others. Wilson says festivalgoers can expect everything from mango sorbet and strawberry shortcake flavors to vegan options and other creative surprises.
But the event is about more than dessert.
“We want them to have fun, like good community fun,” Wilson says. “You’ve never seen anyone frowning with an ice cream cone.”
White is equally excited about the move to the Greensward. “This year’s festival is going to be bigger and better than ever,” she says. With shady trees, open green space, waterslides, face painting, and plenty of scoops, the festival offers a perfect recipe for a Memphis summer afternoon.
MEMPHIS ICE CREAM FESTIVAL, OVERTON PARK GREENSWARD, OLD FOREST LN., SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2-5 P.M.
