Velvet Ice Cream will mark a golden milestone this spring as the company hosts the 50th Annual Utica Ice Cream Festival at its iconic Ye Olde Mill, 11324 Mt. Vernon Road in Utica.
Organized by Velvet Ice Cream, the Memorial Day Weekend event—scheduled for May 23 through May 25—will celebrate five decades of community tradition with parades, live entertainment, family activities, and, of course, endless scoops of Velvet’s signature ice cream.
Festival hours run Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving families ample opportunity to enjoy the festivities. At the heart of the celebration is Velvet Ice Cream itself, serving scoop after scoop of the hometown favorite that has defined the festival since its beginning. The weekend begins with the Kickoff Parade through downtown Utica on Saturday, May 23, where Velvet will hand out ice cream to parade-goers, setting the tone for three days of indulgence and fun.
Entertainment will be nonstop, featuring live performances from The Wayfarer’s, Hannah Hampton, Barefoot McCoy, and 6 Miles to Nellie, alongside a live DJ and roaming acts such as Supa Fun Band, Magic Men & Jen, and Magic Nate. Families can also enjoy COSI stage demonstrations and the Performance Dogs of Ohio. Around every corner, activities await: Highland cows, bounce houses, Nerf battles, face painting, balloon art, bubble fun, YMCA’s “Y on the Fly,” and daily ice cream eating contests.
Sunday brings one of the festival’s most anticipated highlights—the Rod Run Car Show. Hundreds of classic cars from multiple eras will line the grounds, offering a dazzling display of chrome, horsepower, and nostalgia. Visitors can also browse homemade arts and crafts vendors and sample a wide variety of food, from BBQ and tornado potatoes to grilled cheese and lemon shake‑ups. For this milestone year, the festival moves entirely to the Velvet side of the grounds, creating a more unified experience. Parking remains $10 per vehicle, with shuttle service available.
This is not just another festival—it is 50 years of laughter, music, ice cream mustaches, and cherished Utica memories. Attendees can look forward to a bigger and sweeter Utica Ice Cream Festival in 2026.
