I can remember growing up and going to ice cream socials at our church. It was always such a fun time! There would be several of the old crank ice cream makers going. You could hear that constant pouring of the salt and then the crank…crank…crank! Good times! It’s nice to know we can still have some type of ice cream socials, even though they might not be the old fashioned kind.
An ice cream theme works well for almost any type of event—baby showers, birthday parties of course, women’s ministry fellowships and retreats, and church-wide events. Ice cream socials make great community outreach type of events. If you want to connect with your neighbors, try getting together with them for an ice-cream get-together.
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Ice Cream Event Concept
—Originally posted January 22, 2011 as an “Ice Cream Social” event
—Updated June 2020
The event themes on the website can be used for showers, parties, women’s ministry retreats and activities, or church functions. Each theme will have one or several possible spiritual applications. I give you lots of info and ideas—You pick just a few to enhance your event. More ideas can be used for showers and parties, but less is always more for ministry events.
Theme Title Ideas
- A Little Scoop (baby shower)
- Beat the Heat
- Get Social!
- Get the Scoop!
- I Scream – You Scream
- Ice Cream Social
- Keep Your Cool!
- Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social
- Scoops of Blessings
- Scoops of Excitement
- Sherbet and Sharing (Serve sherbet and have testimonies)
- Sprinkles of Fun
- Sweet Summer
- Summer Chill Out
- Summer Freeze! (Stop and release your stress with friends and ice cream)
- Taste and See (that the Lord is good)
- Treat Yourself to God’s Word!
- What’s the Scoop?
- With Blessings on Top
Spiritual & General Applications
- Focus on the sweetness of God’s Word.
- Focus on the sweetness of Christ.
- Focus on blessings. (scoops! – Luke 6:38)
- Focus on encouragement.What triggers your meltdowns and what makes you scream more than ice cream?
- Focus on anger and keeping your cool.
- Ice Cream social for a fun get-together for a church fellowship.
- Ice Cream social for a fun get to know your neighbor community event.
Theme Verse Suggestions
“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103 (KJV)
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:8 (KJV)
Devotional Starters and Workshop Ideas
- Download the Ice Cream Devotional Starters (pdf)
- More Devotional Writing Starters
- Find my author page on Amazon.
Various Get Together Ideas
Ice Cream Tasting
- Buy small containers.
- Have plastic spoons for tasting.
- Have your ladies rate the flavors.
Banana Split Night
- Ice cream
- Flavored syrups
- Various toppings (nuts, sprinkles, cherries)
- Bananas
- Whipped cream
Milk Shake Night
- Blenders
- Ice cream
- Milk
- Candy bars if making flurries
- Cherries
Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social
- Various types of ice cream
- If homemade – ice cream machines or have specified people to make ahead.
- Flavored syrups
- Have the ladies bring in different toppings. (sprinkles, crushed cookies, candies, etc.)
Ice Cream Bar (Buffet)
- Various types of ice cream
- If homemade – ice cream machines or have specified people to make ahead.
- Lots of toppings of all kinds
- Bowls (real or waffle cone bowls)
- Various cone types
- Flavored syrups
- Have the ladies bring in different toppings. (sprinkles, crushed cookies, candies, etc.)
Smoothie Bar
- Have blenders on hand.
- Have ingredients for smoothies such as milk, yogurt, fruit, etc.
- Provide glasses and straws.
Croquet & Sorbet (summer outing)
- Hold outdoors
- Enjoy a game of croquet.
- Serve sorbet after your game.
Simple Decorating
- Tray of ice-cream related items
- Empty ice cream tubs/containers
- Various empty ice cream cones (sugar, waffle, etc.)
- Ice cream scoop
- Jar of topping
- small bowel of sprinkles
- small flower arrangement in an ice cream container
- Pink and white striped towel for a tray liner
Icebreakers
Old Fashioned Games
Carnival type games or try having a cake walk
Music
- They Call me Old Fashioned (Civilla D. Martin)
- Give me that Old-Time Religion
Favor Ideas
- Cones filled with candy (tie up with cellophane)
- Cones filled with hot chocolate mix (tie up with cellophane)
- Baked cupcakes in ice cream cones
- Hot chocolate mix inside of an ice cream cone (tie up with cellophane)
- Ice cream scoop
- Plastic ice cream dish filled with candy (Check dollar stores)
- Mini jars of homemade ice cream topping
Door Prizes
- Gift basket of ice cream bowls (or sundae cups) or box of ice cream cones, jars of ice cream toppings, bag of small candies or other fun toppings.
- Gift card for grocery store (to buy ice cream of course)
- Gift card to an ice cream shop such as Cold Stone
- Ice cream scoop
Just for Fun
Talent Show
Ice Cream Socials are great functions to have talent shows or skits.
Having an Ice Cream Buffet?
- Assign toppings for each lady to bring to your event.
- See the Food and Serving section (scroll down) for topping ideas.
Making Homemade Ice Cream?
- Have those who have them, bring in their machines.
- Make sure you have all the ingredients and things needed to make your ice cream.
Is your function church-wide?
- Be sure to have a few games or activities for the kids.
- Simple games are best.
- For younger kids you could make a large ice cream or sundae on a poster and have them “pin the cherry” on the top.
Invitation Wording Ideas
- Here’s the Scoop!
- Here’s the Scoop…a little Sprinkle is coming our way! (baby shower)
- Someone new will be melting our hearts (baby shower)
- We are all screaming for the new arrival! (baby shower)
- We are all screaming for the birthday boy/girl! (birthday party)
- Join us for a sweet time
- We are scooping up some fun
Food and Serving Ideas
- Ice cream (purchased or homemade)
- Ice cream cake
- Ice cream sandwiches (use homemade cookies and make your own)
- Gelato
- Sherbet
- Frozen Yogurt
- Banana Splits
- Sundaes
- Milkshakes
- Floats
- Ice cream sandwiches
- Smoothies
Buffet Toppings
- Sprinkles
- Gummy bears
- Small candies such as M&Ms and Skittles
- Crushed candies
- Crushed cookies
- Cherries
- Syrups
- Sauces
- Whipped topping
- Fruit such as peaches, bananas, pineapple
- Note: Avoid nuts altogether because they can sprinkle onto other foods and too many people are allergic, especially to peanuts.
Ice cream Holders (other than dishes)
- Waffle cone bowls
- Sugar or cake cones
- Waffles (homemade or purchased)
Photo Source
- Want the photo used for the page title of this theme? Find the original at Unsplash here.
Thanks for stopping in. Please leave any extra ideas for this ice cream theme in the comments. Have you been to any ice cream socials? What was it like? Leave a comment. Love hearing from you all!
Creative blessings,
Julia
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