A Sweet New Tradition: Scoop Palm Springs Brings Ice Cream and Community Spirit to Downtown

Palm Springs is about to get even sweeter. On Sunday, November 2, 2025, the inaugural Scoop Palm Springs Ice Cream Festival, presented by Hollandia Dairy, will transform Downtown Park and Museum Way into a playground of frozen delights and hometown pride all for a good cause.

The Scoop on the Festival

This first-of-its-kind event brings together 20 local and regional ice cream, gelato, and paleta makers for an afternoon of sampling, music, and family fun. Beloved Coachella Valley names like Brandini Toffee, Gelato Granucci, Kreem, and Ice Cream & Shop(pe) will be serving up their signature flavors alongside other Southern California artisans.

For $35, guests receive ten two-ounce samples between noon and 4 p.m., plus the chance to vote in the People’s Choice Awards. Beyond the tastings, the festival promises a carnival-like mix of stilt walkers, photo booths, live screen-printing, kids’ play zones, and art activations from the Palm Springs Art Museum and local creatives.

Among the interactive highlights:

• Sunsets & Brain Waves will offer live screen-printing of limited-edition tees.

• Signs of Our Lives will engrave custom glass ice cream bowls.

• Tiny Toddler Soft Play is setting up a “Sprinkle Zone” bounce house for little ones.

• Two photo booths: one traditional, one mirrored to ensure no sticky moment goes undocumented.

Scooping for a Cause

While the event celebrates summer flavors in November, it’s rooted in community care. Scoop Palm Springs will donate 100% of its net proceeds to the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert’s Community Food Bank, which provides free nutritious food to more than 350 families every week. Festival-goers are also encouraged to bring non-perishable items for a food drive taking place onsite.

“The goal is to use ice cream as a catalyst for social change,” says Founder and Chief Ice Cream Officer Daniel Szpak, who launched the original Scoop festival in San Diego before expanding to the desert. “Palm Springs felt like the perfect place to celebrate joy while supporting families in need.”

More Than Just Dessert

Scoop Palm Springs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that blends community impact with pure fun. It’s a model that fits perfectly into the spirit of the Coachella Valley a place where creative events often double as opportunities to give back.

Barrett Newkirk, Chief Communications Officer for The Center, says the partnership is about more than food. “Our mission is to help LGBTQ+ people along their way, connecting them to resources, community, and belonging,” he explains. “This festival is a beautiful extension of that.”

The Details

📅 Sunday, November 2, 2025
🕛 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 Downtown Park & Museum Way, Palm Springs
🎟️ Tickets: $35 for 10 samples
💻 More info: scoopsandiego.org/scoop-palm-springs