It's Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's

Back in 1978, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened an ice cream shop in a converted gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Their only experience? A $5 correspondence course in ice cream making. On their first anniversary, the two were so elated that the little shop was still in business, they...

By Laine Doss

April 12, 2016

Audio By Carbonatix

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
          "component": "18617832",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Back in 1978, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened an ice cream shop in a converted gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Their only experience?

A $5 correspondence course in ice cream making. On their first anniversary, the two were so elated that the little shop was still in business, they decided to give away ice cream cones.

Each year, Ben & Jerry's honors this sweet tradition with its annual Free Cone Day, billed as a celebration of peace, love, and ice cream.

Today, April 12, all 742 Ben & Jerry's scoop shops, located in 26 countries, will throw open their doors to give away a free ice cream cone to anyone who would like one.

The offer is good on a single-scoop cone of your choice — just waltz into the nearest scoop shop near you between noon and 8 p.m. and ask for a free cone — and don't forget to say "Thank you."

Follow Laine Doss on Twitter @LaineDoss and Facebook.

Laine Doss is the food and spirits editor for Miami New Times, covering the restaurant and bar scene in South Florida. She has been featured on Cooking Channel’s Eat Street and Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race. Doss won an Alternative Weekly award for her feature on what it’s like to wait tables. In a previous life, she appeared off-Broadway and shook many a cocktail as a bartender at venues in South Florida and New York City. When she’s not writing, you can find Doss running some marathon then celebrating at the nearest watering hole.

A message from Food & Drink Editor Nicole Lopez-Alvar: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Miami's evolving dining scene and the latest culinary innovations our community offers.

Support Today