Free Cone Day: How to get a free scoop of ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s

The best holiday of the year has once again arrived: today, April 16, 2024, is Free Cone Day. And you know what that means… Free ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s! In a cone!

So yes, technically it should be called Free Ice Cream Day, because Free Cone Day seems to imply that they’re handing you a free wafer cone you have to fill yourself. But in fact, you can get ice cream in the cone, which is a nice bonus and much more delicious.

This year marks 45 years of Ben & Jerry’s giving out free cones (and ice cream) at their scoop shops. So most likely at some point in the past four and a half decades you’ve partaken of this dairy-themed holiday. But in case not, don't worry, we have you covered.

What do you have to do to take advantage of this deal? Pretty simple. Head to your local Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop between 12 pm and 8 pm local time. Ask for a free cone. Walk out. Eat your cone (and ice cream) at some point during that range before it melts. That’s pretty much it!

Mind you, most places will give out a free small cone – you’re not going to walk out with a Vermonster or anything (that’s 20 scoops of ice cream with all the toppings in a bucket, no joke, I had it for my birthday one time). You also won’t find the Free Cone Day deal at most other chains. Häagen-Dazs, for example, no longer celebrates Free Cone Day.

But if you’ve got a local Ben & Jerry’s, my friend, it is time for some frozen free goodness coming your way. Unless of course you only want the cone.

You can check out Ben & Jerry’s site to find your local location. And be sure to also check with them to make sure they’re participating in Free Cone Day before you head there without your wallet – some locations will not celebrate or only offer a limited supply.