An afternoon devoted to ice cream and the like (Scoop San Diego)
Festival, North Park

We All Scream for You-Know-What

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

The lineup for this year’s Scoop San Diego Ice Cream Festival in North Park looks better than ever, given that our city’s crop of ice cream makers keeps growing. Now in its fourth year, the number of ice cream and gelato vendors has topped 20—and a VIP lounge in the new nearby Mini Park has been added as an additional perk.

The festival takes place from noon to 4PM on North Park Way, between 30th Street and Granada Avenue. A general admission ticket for $35 scores you 10 one-ounce samples of the cool stuff from local businesses such as Gelati & Peccati, Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream, Mr. Trustee Creamery from the Trust Restaurant Group, Stella Jean’s, and more.

Believe us when we tell you that 10 samples are enough to quell your ice cream cravings for at least a few days. And the caloric intake is for a good cause, since proceeds from the event benefit local non-profit organizations that support underserved communities. This year’s beneficiary is the Alpha Project, which provides services in the areas of affordable housing, substance abuse treatment, emergency shelter, job training, and more.