FEEL GOOD FRIDAY: National Ice Cream Day brings sweet treats and summer safety reminder

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – As summer temperatures continue to climb across Kentucky, many families are cooling off with one of the season’s favorite treats: ice cream.

For local ice cream shops like Meltdown, National Ice Cream Day is one of the busiest and most anticipated days of the year.

“Summer is ice cream season,” said Susan Warrell, owner of Meltdown in Bowling Green. “We love the warm weather because people want to come out and enjoy a sweet treat.”

Warrell said National Ice Cream Day has become a tradition for many customers and is one of the shop’s biggest celebrations each year.

“It’s our holiday,” she said. “We open early, give free ice cream to the first 50 people through the door, and have a lot of fun celebrating with the community.”

This year’s celebration will also include special prize giveaways. Two lucky customers will receive grand prizes hidden beneath their ice cream cups. where one winner will receive a free pint of ice cream each month for a year, and another will win a free single scoop every week for a year.

While ice cream can help people cool off, health experts say it’s still important to stay hydrated during periods of extreme heat.

“Water is always your best choice,” said WNKY meteorologist Scott Burchett. “Sugar-free sports drinks can also help replace electrolytes lost through sweating, which may help prevent muscle aches and other symptoms of heat-related illness.”

Burchett encourages people spending time outdoors to drink plenty of fluids, take breaks in the shade or air conditioning, and recognize the warning signs of heat exhaustion.

National Ice Cream Day is observed annually on the third Sunday in July, giving communities another reason to enjoy a summertime tradition while staying safe in the heat.