IDFA to Host 42nd Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party on June 10

IDFA to Host 42nd Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party on June 10

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2026-Scoops, smiles, and bipartisan camaraderie will return to Capitol Hill this summer as the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) hosts its 42nd Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party on June 10.

One of Washington's longest-running summer traditions, the Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party draws thousands of attendees each year, including members of Congress and leaders from across the executive branch. The event celebrates America's favorite frozen dessert while offering a rare, lighthearted opportunity for lawmakers, staff, and policy leaders to connect outside the halls of government.

Guests will enjoy a broad assortment of classic and creative ice cream favorites, from rich traditional flavors to sandwiches and floats. Over the past four decades, the event has become known for its unique ability to bring together people from every corner of Capitol Hill, turning policy debates into friendly conversations over a cone or cup.

"IDFA is proud to host an event that says thank you to the many public servants who work every day on behalf of the country," said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA. "Ice cream has a way of cutting through divisions and creating moments of shared enjoyment. That spirit is what makes this event special year after year."

The 42^nd Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party will take place Wednesday, June 10, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Union Square Park on Capitol Hill. The park is located west of the U.S. Capitol in the area surrounding the Capitol Reflecting Pool and the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.

IDFA Ice Cream Stats:

• U.S. ice cream makers contribute $11.6 billion to the U.S. economy and support 27,600 dairy industry jobs, according to IDFA's Dairy Delivers economic impact report.
• According to a 2026 IDFA survey done in partnership with Morning Consult, 97% of Americans love or like ice cream.
• In that same survey, Americans shared their top five ice cream flavors: chocolate (38%), vanilla (25%), cookies and cream (23%), caramel / salted caramel (22%), chocolate chip (22%), and cookie dough (21%).
• In a survey of U.S. Capitol Hill staffers, when asked what flavors best describes the U.S. Congress, 45.9% of respondents picked "Rocky Road: Anything but Smooth." Other popular responses were "Banana Split: Split Down the Middle" and "Cookies n' Cream: Greater than the Sum of its Parts."
• The average American eats roughly 18 pounds of ice cream each year, or about 4 gallons.
• Sweet and savory bakery-inspired flavors and inclusions delighted judges at the 2025 IDFA Innovative Ice Cream Contests.
• Fortune Business Insights estimates the global ice cream market will reach $151.96 billion in 2034, up from $82.70 billion in 2025-a 82% jump in less than a decade due to the world's craving for ice cream.
• The majority of U.S. ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturers have been in business for more than 50 years, and many are still family-owned businesses.
• National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, July 20. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities."
• Thomas Jefferson is credited as the first American to write down an ice cream recipe.

More information about ice cream is available on IDFA's website: https://www.idfa.org/news-views/media-kits/ice-cream.

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Contact: [email protected]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3 million jobs that generate $198 billion in direct wages and $779 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA's diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.