July is National Ice Cream Month in the United States, a sweet tradition celebrated annually since 1984, when President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation designating July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day. This year, National Ice Cream Day falls on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Across the country, ice cream lovers and companies mark the occasion with special events, promotions, and—of course—plenty of frozen treats.
Here in Smithville, residents have no shortage of ways to join the celebration, with several local spots serving up everything from classic scoops to small-batch creations.
Sweet Tea Cafe: Local Flavors, Farm-Fresh Taste
A new favorite in town, the recently relocated Sweet Tea Cafe now features hand-dipped ice cream from Shop Springs Creamery, a family-owned business in Lebanon, Tennessee. Shop Springs Creamery is known for its true farm-to-table experience, producing fresh milk, ice cream, cheese, and butter from cows raised on their own land.
Sweet Tea Cafe owners Mary and Dennis Sherman offer eight delicious flavors at the cafe. While traditional favorites like mint chip and salted caramel are always on the menu, customers can also look forward to unique options such as Monster Cookie and a rotating selection of seasonal specialties. Ice cream is served by the scoop, either in cups or waffle cones.
Webb’s Pharmacy: A Nostalgic Soda Fountain Experience
Webb’s Pharmacy, Gifts & Soda Fountain is a Smithville institution, established in 1881 and recognized as one of the oldest pharmacies in Tennessee. The business, now located at 608 S Congress Blvd, is famous for its nostalgic soda fountain and lunch counter, which were revived when Webb’s moved to its larger, more visible location.
At Webb’s, visitors can enjoy a classic small-town experience with a menu that includes:
- Handspun milkshakes, floats, sodas, sundaes, and cones
- Old-fashioned desserts like banana splits
Worth the Drive: Paleteria Neveria La Real Michoacana
If you’re up for a short trip, head over to McMinnville and discover Paleteria Neveria La Real Michoacana, a Mexican ice cream shop renowned for its traditional paletas (popsicles), ice creams, and a wide variety of frozen treats. With an incredibly large selection, it’s a destination for anyone seeking new flavors and frozen delights.
Celebrate All Month Long
Whether you prefer classic favorites or adventurous new flavors, Smithville’s local ice cream shops are ready to help you celebrate National Ice Cream Month in delicious style. So grab a cone, savor a sundae, and enjoy the taste of summer right here in our community.
Happy National Ice Cream Month, Smithville!
What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Or, share an ice cream experience for a chance to win a free banana split from Webb’s Soda Fountain!
The raffle winner will be announced at the end of July.
My favorite flavor would have to be chocolate chip. My favorite ice cream memory is having ice cream and French fries with my mom in a boxcar-turned-ice-cream-shop every Sunday before Sunday night church. I’m sure that combination was great for my arteries. 🙂 I’m thankful for the indulgent treat and the time. So many wonderful memories have been made over ice cream!!!
Was that Woody’s behind Grady High School in Atlanta? I had
a lot of great ice cream there and the cheesesteaks were incredible!
Cappuccino chocolate chip! Salted caramel pecan!
My favorite ice cream is coffee almond fudge and my wife’s is chocolate!
Tom, I bet you would love the ice cream store in McMinnville they have so many mixed ice cream flavors- I’ve never seen a shop with so many interesting flavors!
Yum! We all scream for ice cream!
Scream – What’s your favorite flavor? – I’m pretty boring and love a good vanilla bean
My favorite ice cream mint chocolate Chip. My favorite memory is My sister Lisa and I went to back to Italy with my grandfather for the first time. We had gelato sitting in a small cafe on the the tiber river in Rome, by ourselves. My grandfather had crashed about 6:30 and we went exploring, not sure he even knew we had gone.
Italian gelato is a whole different level. Sounds risky a 13 year old you and Lisa alone in Rome!
Yum, yum! My favorite flavor is black cherry!!
Nancy, President Trump’s favorite ice cream is cherry too!
My favorite flavor is ever rotating. My most recent is basil ice cream. It sounds crazy, but it’s delicious!
Kelsey I want a sample of your basil ice cream!
Vanilla, of course, so that I can have hot fudge on it !
Pat, vanilla is my favorite too, but give me some caramel sauce.
My favorite ice cream treat is a Boston cooler. It is made like a milk shake only ginger ale is used instead of milk.
Susan, how unique, I haven’t heard of that. I’ve got to try one!
Love your article on ice cream! My favorite of course is homemade! I like that you included a little history too.. Of course I love anything you write about!
Jayma, thanks for the positive comments and for reading my blog. We need to get together soon!