National Ice Cream Day is July 19. It's our biggest day of the year, and this year we're not closing at all. The doors at North City open at midnight and stay open for 24 hours straight — a full day of specials, collabs, a mystery flavor, and at least one thing involving a sand bucket.
If you've ever wondered what a scoop tastes like at 3 a.m., this is your year to find out.
The hour-by-hour
- Midnight: Free scoop for the first 25 people in line.
- 1–2 a.m.: Donut Sundaes — a Peterson's Donut Corner donut with a scoop, fudge, strawberry, and whipped cream.
- 2–5 a.m.: Bring a friend — buy one, get one.
- 5–8 a.m.: 50% off everything. The early bird gets the discount.
- 8 a.m.–12 p.m.: Waffle Sammies — a scoop pressed between two liège waffles.
- 12–2 p.m.: Pay What You Want, with proceeds going to Disabled American Veterans (dav.org).
- 2–4 p.m.: French Pockets — a scoop grilled inside a brioche bun, made with our friends at Christoph Rull Pâtisserie.
- 4–6 p.m.: Free waffle cones.
- 6–9 p.m.: Croissant Cones, also with Christoph Rull Pâtisserie — and this one runs at Torrey Highlands too.
- 9 p.m.–midnight: First taste of something new — Wynston's Ice Cream Sandwiches, $3 while we test them out. Tell us what you think.
- 11 p.m.–midnight: We're filling buckets. A sand bucket full of ice cream, $8.
The Nobody Knows flavor
All day, at both shops, there's one flavor in the case with no name card and no description. We're calling it Nobody Knows, because right now, nobody does.
Taste it, then head to wynstons.com/pages/nobody-knows and guess what's in it. Every component you get right earns you an entry in a drawing — and the winner gets free ice cream for a year. That's one scoop a day, every day, for a full year. We'll draw the winner on July 21.
First responders and military
Free scoops all day. Show your ID at the counter, get a scoop. That's the whole deal, and it's the least we can do.
Why we're doing this
National Ice Cream Day is the one day a year the whole country is on our side, and we didn't want to waste a minute of it — so we're keeping the lights on for all 1,440 of them. The midday Pay What You Want window goes to Disabled American Veterans, so come hungry between noon and 2.
A few logistics
Specials run while supplies last — the donuts, waffles, and croissants are baked in real quantities by real bakers, so early in each window is your best bet. Torrey Highlands keeps its regular schedule that day, but joins the fun for Croissant Cones from 6 to 9 p.m. — and the Nobody Knows flavor is in the case there all day too.
Set an alarm. Or don't go to sleep. We'll be here either way.