Family Food Festival
National Ice Cream Fest
The National Ice Cream Fest was a one-day family festival that HiBall Events produced on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Spirit Park in National Harbor, Maryland.
June 17, 2023
About National Ice Cream Fest
About a dozen ice cream makers took part, including Dolci Gelati, Nicecream, Tyson’s Creamery and Lickity Split, and guests voted for the Nation’s Favorite Ice Cream by dropping their wristbands into bins. Live music, DJs, food, adult beverages, kids’ games, face painting and bounce houses filled the day, and charity partner ForestPlanet planted a tree for every ticket sold. Tesla brought its cars to show, one of the very few consumer events the brand has attended.
It showed a different side of HiBall: a daytime, family-friendly food festival, built with the same production, vendor and ticketing muscle as our nightlife events.
What we pulled off
- A daytime, family-friendly food festival, from the vendor lineup to the kids’ activities
- Audience participation built in: guests voted for the Nation’s Favorite Ice Cream with their wristbands
- Tesla on site, one of the very few consumer events the brand has attended
- A cause tie-in: ForestPlanet planted a tree for every ticket sold
- Date
- Saturday, June 17, 2023, 1 to 9 p.m.
- Where
- Spirit Park, National Harbor, Maryland
- Ice cream makers
- About a dozen, including Dolci Gelati, Nicecream, Tyson’s Creamery and Lickity Split
- Also on the program
- Live music, DJs, food, adult beverages, kids’ games, face painting, bounce houses
- Brand on site
- Tesla, showing its cars
- Charity partner
- ForestPlanet, one tree planted per ticket
- Produced by
- HiBall Events
In the press
- WTOP · June 16, 2023 “Fancy an afternoon full of ice cream at the National Harbor?”
- FOX 5 DC · June 2023 “National Harbor hosts Ice Cream Festival”
Family Food Festival
National Ice Cream Fest: questions and answers
What was the National Ice Cream Fest?
A one-day family ice cream festival that HiBall Events produced on June 17, 2023, at Spirit Park in National Harbor, Maryland, with about a dozen ice cream makers, live music, DJs and kids’ activities.
How was the Nation’s Favorite Ice Cream chosen?
Guests voted by dropping their wristbands into bins for their favorite of the ice cream makers at the festival.
Was Tesla at the National Ice Cream Fest?
Yes. Tesla showed its cars at the National Ice Cream Fest, one of the very few consumer events the brand has attended.
Did the National Ice Cream Fest support a charity?
Yes. Charity partner ForestPlanet planted a tree for every ticket sold.
More from HiBall
Other events we’ve produced
Planning a festival, gala or big public event?
The team behind National Ice Cream Fest can build yours, from venue and permits to talent, ticketing and the marketing that fills it.
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