You know Spring is on its way when Minnesota Seasonal Ice Cream Shops start to open for the year!
Do you eat ice cream all year round or is it more of a seasonal food? One of our daughters seems to think ice cream just might be one of the food groups.
Unfortunately, some of our favorite ice cream spots aren’t open year-round. It’s a bit of a bummer, but it does make us excited when they do finally open for the season.
Although we are highlighting just a few (plus an an additional list with a few more below), there are many more hidden gems around the state. If you share your favorites with us we can add them to the list.
Afton:
Selma’s – Opened March 24
If you’ve never heard of Selma’s, put it on your list for a day trip. Offering over 30 different flavors, there’s sure to be something for you to enjoy!
Selma’s is Minnesota’s oldest ice cream shop, dishing out ice cream since the early 1900s when the shop was established in a building used for ammunition storage during the Civil War. Much has changed over the years, but the tradition of Selma’s remains the same.
Bloomington
Scoops Ice Cream & More —Opened March 17th
Scoops is located on the west side of Bloomington not too far from 169 and with mini golf across the street you could make it an extra fun time. Plus they carry a few Sebastian Joe’s Flavors which means it’s a little closer for me and others in the South metro to get those.
Champlin
Cullens Ice Cream, –Opened April 1st
2023 is the 10-year anniversary of this ice cream shop and all the more reason to add it to your list if you haven’t tried it yet. Not only do they have ice cream, but there’s a great selection of candy and snacks too.
Elysian
Scoops –Check their Facebook page or website for opening date
This small town ice cream place is not just about ice cream. Not only do they offer kayak, paddle board and bike rental, in the past they’ve had live music each Saturday evening.
Nelson’s Ice Cream – Opened April 1
Nelson’s might be the most well known on our list, located in Stillwater and we like to make a day of it when we visit Teddy Bear Park. They probably have the largest portion sizes ever! They may be bigger than your head – – or very close to it! The portion sizes make for an interesting treat on a hot summer day so be prepared.
St Paul
Conny’s Creamy Cone — Opened March 11th
Conny’s Creamy Cone is another one that has been a staple to their neighborhood. It’s not a big place but they sure make up for it with some fun flavors. Follow their FB page to see their daily or weekly dip specials.
White Bear Lake
Cup and Cone – Opened March 15
If you live in or near White Bear Lake you probably already know about this local favorite! Cup and Cone has been around over 50 years.
They have a have a special daily flavor that you can find on their calendar and they are offering 5% discount if you pay with cash. Plus for those that search for it, they have Dole Whip.
More Minnesota Seasonal Ice Cream Shops:
These are listed alphabetically by city.
Green Lagoon (Chisago City) — Now Open.
Peppermint Twist (Delano) – Now Open.
PortLand Malt Shoppe (Duluth) – Opens April 22
Adele’s Frozen Custard (Excelsior) – Opened in March
Licks Unlimited (Excelsior) –Check their FB or website for 2023 opening.
Dairy Freeze (Fairmont) – Opens April 15
Chill Ice Cream Studio (Farmington) – Check their FB page for opened date.
Dairyland (Fergus Falls) – Opened in March
Oak Station Coffee & Cone (Freeport) – Check their FB for opening date.
Flamingos Ice Cream & Treats (Fridley) – Opens in May
Schoolhouse Scoop (Hastings) — Opened in March
Another Time Ice Cream Parlor (Lanesboro) – Opens April 15
Mom & Pop’s (Mankato) – Opened in March
Nita Mae’s Scoop (Marine on St. Croix) – Opens April 8th
Moorhead Dairy Queen (Moorhead) – Opened March 1st
Moorhead Freez (Moorhead) – Opens April 15
Silo Ice Cream (Motley) – May 23rd
Muskie Waters Co. (Nevis) – Check their FB for opening and hours
The Chocolate Ox (Nisswa) – Opening mid-April
Blast (Northfield) — Opened in March.
Blast Softserve (Owatonna) – Opened in March
The S’Cream (Owatonna) – Opens April 8
The MinneSoda Fountain (Park Rapids) – Check their FB page for 2023 opening
Cone Brothers (Richfield) – Now Open.
Mr. Twisty (St. Cloud, Sartell) – Now Open.
Pier 77 (Tower) – Opens Memorial Day
The Social Ice Cream Parlor (Victoria) – Check their website for the April opening date
Ginny’s Drive In (West Concord) — Check their FB for 2023 opening
Penguin Zesto (Winona) – April 2nd
If you love ice cream, frequently wander, and enjoy having adventures, put these on your list for a treat. I wish they were open all year round but that just means we have something to look forward to.
- About the Author
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Kristi is married with twin daughters. She grew up on a small dairy farm, but now lives in the south metro area. She enjoys finding free or thrifty things to do whether they are outings close to home or last minute adventures to far-away places.
Kristi can also be found enjoying estate sales, attempting to garden, volunteering in the wetlands or a favorite thrift store, or maybe just enjoying a good play in one of the many theatre venues in the area.
Monica Kinny says
Green Lagoon in Chisago City