The Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival Returns to Rockwood Park & Museum on June 24
The Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival Returns to Rockwood Park & Museum on June 24
Wilmington, DE – New Castle County presents Delaware’s quintessential summer festival featuring nearly all the best parts of summer in one place. Visit the festival on June 24 from 1 – 9 p.m. at Rockwood Park and Museum for the best local ice cream, fantastic food trucks, festival train and carnival games, kids’ DJ, family entertainment stage, 40+ Maker Marketplace shops, local music stage, beer and wine tent presented by the Rockwood Park Preservation Society, and more. All topped off with a fantastic fireworks display at dusk!
“This event is a must for your summer fun checklist,” said County Executive Matt Meyer. “From music, to local artists and artisans, and of course more than a dozen Delaware ice cream favorites, the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream festival has something for everyone.”
The Old-Fashioned Festival is really five festivals in one: local food festival, local music festival, craft festival, family fun festival, and community festival. Exciting fireworks top it all off, as well as kicking off July 4th celebrations. Festival tickets are only $5 with kids 12 and under FREE with adult admission. The festival is paperless using Ticket Spicket to sell digital tickets. These tickets can be purchased in advance or at the gate using a smartphone. No cash will be accepted at the gate. Tickets can be purchased now at tinyurl.com/ICFtix2023.
As always, all parking is off-site at the Rockwood Office Park with regular shuttles. An additional remote parking lot will open at 4 p.m. at Mount Pleasant High School to make room for fireworks spectators.
15,000 people enjoyed the festival in 2022. This year we expect to welcome more than 15,000 festivalgoers.
The Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival is made possible by New Castle County as well as our generous donor partners DART First State, Capano Management who are presenting the fireworks, WSFS Bank, as well as Rockwood Park Preservation Society and CBRE.
Proceeds from the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival help to support the mission of Rockwood Museum and Park.
We are also looking for volunteers, with a big benefit being free admission to the festival. Visit https://www.newcastlede.gov/517/Volunteer-Opportunities for more information on volunteering for New Castle County special events.
2023 Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival
- Rockwood Park & Museum
- June 24, 2023
- 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Fireworks at dusk
- Remote parking with shuttle from Rockwood Office Park andMount Pleasant High School (opening at 4 p.m.)
Ice Cream and Sweet Treat Vendors
- Cup R Cone
- Dino’s Water Ice
- Fuscos Water Ice
- Haagen Daz
- Kona Ice (SNC or DC)
- LaBamba Ice Cream and Snacks
- Marvelicous Water Ice
- Nellie’s Waffles and Ice Cream
- Paleteria Y Neveria Tocumbo
- The Ice Cream Shoppe
- Udairy Creamery
- Madi LLC Carnival Treats
- Crossan Kettle Corn
- Wafflin Joe
- Woodside Farms
Food and Beverage
- Blossoms Sassa Bienne
- Burgers by Wildwich
- Delaware Provisions
- Fletchers Kitchen
- Funtime Entertainment
- GG and Big R
- Madi LLC
- Mojo Loco
- Top 5 BBQ
- Zaikka Indian Grill
- Wine and Beer Garden
Local Music Lineup
- 1:30-2:20 p.m. Ty Mathis
- 2:40-3:30 p.m. Nic Snow
- 3:50-4:40 p.m. Aziza Nailah
- 5:00-5:50 p.m. Fuzaholics
- 6:10-7:00 p.m. Howl Train
- 7:30-9:00 p.m. What the Funk
Family Entertainment Stage
- 4:00- 4:30pm Ran’d Shine Magic Show
- 4:30-5:15pm Ran’d Shine Roving Magic
- 6:00-6:30pm Jungle Johns Reptile Show
- 7:00-7:30pm Jungle Johns Balloon Show
Kid Zones
- Super Star DJ, Music, and Interactive Games
- Delaware Museum of Nature and Science
- Party Business Face Painting and Sand Art
- Carnival Games
- Garden Train
- Moon Bounces
Fun with History and More
- Air Mobility Command Museum
- Rockwood Museum
- Hale-Byrnes House
- Twilight Escapes
- Opera Delaware
- Mechanical Bull
- Fireworks
Maker Marketplace with 40+ Local Artisans and more
- Bracelets by Design
- Braids and Sparkles
- Built by the Lab
- Catalog Collectibles
- Children Empowered by Love, Inc
- Cindy’s Crafts
- Crafted by Rosa
- CraftsbyLovely
- Creative Cutting Maven
- Crochet Vision
- DearAnna Designs
- Designs by Daria
- Emma’s fine designs
- Exotics In ADHD
- Fairs.org
- Fusions Taster’s Choice
- Gifmoor LLC
- Gigi and Cat
- J. Geller Designs
- Jill Daisy Crochet
- Jojoimo/Gingerbrownie
- Juniors Favorite Dog Treats
- Lindy’s Resin Crafts
- Lynn Marie Whitt Jewelry
- Mary Walsh Author
- Megan’s Creations
- Needful Reminders
- Pabonz Printz
- Pierponts Creations
- Randalia Honey
- RSL Services
- SanDee Designs
- Smarty Pants Boutique
- Southern Willow Studios LLC
- T Creative Conceptions
- The Lonely Art
- The Otaku Nook, LLC
- Two Strings Design
- Wagman Designs
- Walls with Intrigue
- whimsy+row302
Festival FAQ
TICKETS: Event tickets must be purchased online from Ticket Spicket at tinyurl.com/ICFtix2023. This can be done in advance or at the gate on your smartphone. No cash will be accepted at the gate.
PARKING: All parking, including handicap parking, will be at the Rockwood Office Park, 501 Carr Road, Wilmington, for the duration of the event with quick shuttle bus rides to the festival. Busses equipped with lifts will be available for visitors with wheelchairs and large strollers. Parking at Mount Pleasant High School, 5201 Washington Street Extension, Wilmington will open at 4 p.m.
Visitors are discouraged from parking in neighborhoods and along Washington Street Extension. Those who park in these locations are subject to towing at the owner’s expense.
ACCESSIBILITY: The Ice Cream Festival is accessible and will have handicap shuttles running from the Rockwood Office Park, but please know the ground where the event is held on has grass that is bumpy and uneven and on a gentle slope. The music meadow is in full sun all day.
DOGS AND PETS: Please leave your dog and all other pets at home. This is for the comfort and safety of fellow festival guests as well as your pets. Dogs can be very frightened of fireworks and can run away and get hurt. Please leave your pets at home.
COMFORT: Rockwood has hilly, uneven ground and the music meadow is in full sun all day. Please bring your blankets and chairs for your comfort, and wear sunscreen, a hat, and other sun protection. Be sure your shoes are appropriate for uneven ground.
ALCOHOL: You must be 21 to purchase and consume alcohol. Festival guests who violate this expectation will be dealt with by the New Castle County Police.
SMOKING/TOBACCO: Every New Castle County Park is non-smoking. Consumption of tobacco of any kind is prohibited at this event.
BEHAVIOR: All festival guests are expected to treat fellow guests and staff with the utmost respect. Guests who are not able to remain respectful will be removed from the event by the New Castle County Police.
WEAPONS: Weapons of any kind are prohibited in New Castle County Parks. Please leave them at home.
SAFETY: Festival guests are expected to be alert and pay attention to all announcements relating to weather and safety.
INCLEMENT AND SEVERE WEATHER: In the case of bad or severe weather on the day of the event, updates will be posted on the Happenings Facebook Page, the Ice Cream Festival Facebook Event Page, through Instagram, and Twitter, as well as on our event hotline. Please call (302) 395-5659 for updates. For severe weather during the event, please listen to all announcements and follow instructions quickly.
