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Long Island Ice Cream Tours is marking 15 years of creamy crawls with two special events set for this summer.
And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a full-day ice cream crawl across Long Island.
Founded in 2011, Long Island Ice Cream Tours celebrates only locally owned shops that churn their ice cream or gelato fresh on-site. The events are similar to bar crawls, but no one’s getting hammered, though maybe a sugar high.
This year’s first tour, LIICT East, lands on National Ice Cream Day, which is Sunday, July 20.
It kicks off at 10 a.m. at Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe in Riverhead and then travels west, hitting hot spots like McNulty’s in Miller Place, Mia’s (home of the “Walken freezers”) in Centereach, Coyle’s in Bay Shore, Old Fashioned Ice Cream Shoppe in West Babylon and Mann’s Homemade in Amityville.
Then on Saturday, Aug. 9, LIICT West starts in northern Suffolk and then heads into Nassau.
The tour begins in Northport at LICS Ice Cream and includes stops like Alkemy (where your treat is made to order) in Huntington, Gelateria dei Colteli and Hildebrandt’s, both in Williston Park, Henry’s Confectionery in Glen Cove, Smusht in Port Washington (for epic sandwiches), and Sweet Treats by the Wharf, also in Port Washington.
Each tour runs about six to seven hours.
Participants provide their own transportation and must register in advance — kids and adults alike. Registration includes a tour shirt, which unlocks special discounts, and many shops whip up exclusive flavors just for the day.
“Since 2020, we’ve welcomed nearly 100 people per tour,” said the group’s co-founder, Jeff Noreman, of Port Jefferson. “People come back year after year. It’s a fun way to connect and support amazing Long Island businesses.”
Visit LIICT.org to register. Stretchy pants are encouraged.
— photos from prior tours come courtesy of Long Island Ice Cream Tours
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