Atlanta Ice Cream Festival Celebrates 15 Sweet Years at Piedmont Park

At a glance

By Daniela Cintron

Published July 17, 2025

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• The Atlanta Ice Cream Festival is celebrating its 15th year.
• The 2025 festival is free and takes place July 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• It’s not just about dessert — there is a Wellness Zone.
• Founder Kevin James created the festival to celebrate joy, community and holistic wellness.
• Black-owned and local businesses are a big part of the experience.

At the heart of Piedmont Park, where the sun beams down on families gathered under shade trees and the sound of live music carries over the breeze, something magical happens every July. It’s not just the mountain of waffle cones or the rainbow swirl of frozen treats — it’s a celebration of life, community and joy. This year, on July 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival marks 15 years of doing just that.

At the center of it all is Kevin James, founder and director, who turned a simple love of ice cream — and a background in culinary arts and hospitality — into one of the city’s most beloved family festivals.

How It Started

“Ice cream is life,” James said with a smile as he waited for his signature order — one scoop of butter pecan and one scoop of peach cobbler — at Pecan Jacks Ice Cream & Candy, a Black-owned ice cream shop in the Westside, just steps from Georgia Tech and minutes from Downtown. Sitting with him in the ice cream shop surrounded by glass containers full of colorful candy, it’s easy to understand the essence of his vision. “Food brings people together. Ice cream brings joy. But I also wanted to add something deeper.”

Founded in 2008 and launched two years later, the festival was born from James’s desire to create a feel-good event that combined sweet indulgence with wellness — a full-body experience that goes beyond just satisfying your sweet tooth. “We have the Wellness Zone with free resources, screenings, yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba, line dancing. It’s about nourishing your mind, body and spirit.”

What began with just 12 vendors has grown into a fun family event featuring more than 120 booths and more than 65 dedicated ice cream vendors. From local scoop shops to regional favorites and health-focused pop-ups, the festival stays rooted in supporting small businesses. “I hand-pick every vendor,” James said. “I want to feel their energy and make sure they understand this isn’t just about profit. It’s about purpose.”

Among this year’s standouts is Pecan Jacks Ice Cream, the shop where our interview took place. Owned by Sherika Ekpo and Anyanime Ekpo, and powered in the kitchen by Yuri Hardy, Pecan Jacks blends bold Southern flavors with creamy craftsmanship. James chatted with Sherika Ekpo about technique, temperatures and sourcing, clearly enjoying the culinary connection. “I know when someone knows their stuff,” he said with a nod of approval.

Nostalgia and Memories

James’s own love for ice cream goes back to childhood summers in the Northeast, where chasing the ice cream truck with a fistful of change was the highlight of the day. “Ice cream was always something positive,” he said. “Nothing bad ever happened around the ice cream truck.” That sense of nostalgia and safety still drives him today, especially as a dad to four daughters. “I’m very intentional about making ice cream part of our memories. It’s our thing.”

While the ice cream may lure in crowds — more than 22,000 are expected this year — James designed the free festival so that every guest walks through the Wellness Zone before reaching the frozen treats. “Your senses relax when you know you’ve arrived at something fun. That’s when people are most open to trying something new, to learning, to being in the moment.”

Expect music and movement all day long, from house music sets to high-energy line dancing, and, yes, plenty of games. This year brings back crowd favorites like the ice cream-eating contest and introduces new fun, such as “Scream for Ice Cream” and limbo competitions, all on the main stage. Everyone can participate, just show up, sign up at the main stage and be ready to compete.

James, who has spent more than 25 years in Atlanta’s hospitality and tourism scene, credits the city for giving him the foundation to build something lasting. From his start at the Westin Peachtree Plaza to teaching event planning at local colleges, he’s always had his finger on the pulse of what makes Atlanta unique. “Atlanta has always been a hub for hospitality. That energy, it’s special,” he said.

And, yes, people do travel from across the country, and even internationally, to spend a few hours in Piedmont Park at the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival. “We’ve had visitors with long layovers take MARTA from the airport just to get a scoop and feel the vibe.”

Riding MARTA? Check out our Guide to MARTA from a local.

So, whether you’re a local or just stopping through, take James’s advice: arrive early between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to beat the crowds (and the parking). Bring your appetite, your dancing shoes and a curious heart.

At the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival, you’re not just getting dessert. You’re getting a scoop of community and a taste of something much sweeter.

Congratulations to the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival for celebrating 15 years of success. Cheers to many more.

Daniela Cintrón is an award-winning journalist, editor, and producer passionate about storytelling at the intersection of food, art, and culture. She is the content manager and bilingual editor for Discover Atlanta and contributes to publications like the Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Magazine and Eater.