To mark the 75th anniversary of its iconic Flying Saucer, the company is offering the classic ice cream sandwich for just 75 cents on Friday, March 20, available in-shoppe only at participating locations nationwide, according to an announcement.
The promotion coincides with the first day of spring and the unofficial kickoff to ice cream season, giving fans a nostalgic reason to stop in and celebrate.
While th one-day, 75-cent deal is available at participating locations, the themed “crash landing” displays and giveaways are limited to three featured shops.
Carvel is also bringing the anniversary to life in a more visual way, with oversized Flying Saucer inflatables “crash landing” at three locations: Coney Island in Brooklyn, Massapequa on Long Island, and West Palm Beach, Fla.
[Correction: An earlier version of this report indicated the deal itself was only limited to three locations. GLI regrets the error].
The Massapequa shop at 998 Hicksville Road in particular reflects the brand’s deep local ties. Opened in 1954, it has long been a community staple and serves as a nod to Carvel’s Long Island presence.
The Flying Saucer itself dates back to 1951, when founder Tom Carvel introduced what would become the original round ice cream sandwich — soft serve nestled between two chocolate wafers — inspired by the UFO craze of the era.
“For 75 years, the Flying Saucer has brought generations of fans together over something joyful and delicious,” said Marissa Sharpless, Carvel’s vice president of marketing. “This crash landing is our way of celebrating that legacy and the joy of play that has always been at the heart of Carvel.”
At the three featured locations, including Massapequa, the celebration includes additional giveaways, with the first 50 guests receiving commemorative T-shirts and others able to grab themed stickers while supplies last, according to the announcement.
Carvel was founded in New York in 1934 after Tom Carvel’s ice cream truck got a flat tire in Westchester County, forcing him to pull over and sell his melting inventory to passing drivers — a moment that helped inspire his soft-serve concept.
Top: The Massapequa carvel shop will, like the shop above, feature an inflatable flying saucer crash-landing on the roof. (courtesy)
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