South Surrey cools down for Summer\u2019s Koolfest<\/p>\n
Published 1:00 pm Tuesday, July 7, 2026<\/p>\n
Summer fun is about to get a whole lot cooler in South Surrey.<\/p>\n
Koolfest returned on July 1 for its second annual month-long event.<\/p>\n
Vendors from across the Lower Mainland have come together to concoct a series of cold drinks and treats for all to enjoy.<\/p>\n
For a limited time, Koolfest attendees can expect products like chocolate milks, iced coffees, milkshakes, floats, fruit slushies, iced teas, bubble teas and affogato-style dishes.<\/p>\n
The Koolfest is a play on the fan favourite Hot Chocolate festival<\/a> that runs at the beginning of the year during winter.<\/p>\n \u201cSummer is too hot to not be Kool,\u201d notes the Koolfest website.<\/p>\n The festival is running till Aug. 4 and is said to be following a celebratory theme this year called Proud to be Canadian. Vendors must create cold drinks and treats that riff on the cultural icons Canadians hold most dear.<\/p>\n \u201cGet out your straw and never be sorry! Be N-ice! Be Chill! Be Canadian!\u201d shares the Koolfest website.<\/p>\n Forty-eight flavours of beverages and treats were created by participating vendors, and four of those flavours can be found locally in South Surrey.<\/p>\n Mink Chocolate and Cafe, located at 110-15775 Croydon Dr., and Everbean Cafe, at 106-15331 16 Ave., have taken on the 2026 Koolfest challenge and created two products each that brrrrr-ing the chill.<\/p>\n Added to Mink\u2019s menu are these Canadian heritage-themed beverages:<\/p>\n \u2022 The Great Cold One<\/p>\n This iced beverage was named after Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Enjoy an iced mocha combined with smooth espresso, deep dark chocolate and chilled milk in a handcrafted milk chocolate crack cup for a finish described as \u201cnothing short of legendary.\u201d This drink is gluten-free friendly and will be offered throughout Koolfest.<\/p>\n \u2022 Lord Stanley\u2019s Matcha<\/p>\n This iced matcha drink is crafted with Denman Island Matcha and a silk white chocolate ganache. Described as \u201csmooth, creamy and perfectly chilled\u2026 (delivering) a rich sweetness with a clean earthy finish,\u201d this drink is paired with a little chocolate that is a matcha-ganache-meets-vanilla-bean-gelato from Uno Gelato. Also gluten-free friendly, it was created to honour not only Lord Stanley but also Japanese Canadians who fought alongside Canada in the First World War.<\/p>\n Everbean\u2019s two creations for Koolfest are:<\/p>\n \u2022 Affogato, eh? Give me a break!<\/p>\n KitKat is continuing to make headlines with this Koolfest creation. Everbean has developed a beverage involving a double espresso pulled straight on a KitKat ice cream bar sprinkled with house-made maple oat streusel for a crunchy contrast. This treat-inspired beverage can be drank or eaten, depending on preference, and is also available in decaf upon request. The drink was inspired by the \u2018KitKat Chunky Rolo,\u2019 which combined the KitKat and Rolo Caramels in one bar. It\u2019s only offered on weekdays, and only till July 31.<\/p>\n \u2022 O\u2019 Canada, I love you a latte!<\/p>\n This dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free friendly creation is a beverage that highlights a prominent Canadian ingredient: maple syrup. Everbean is offering an iced oat latte sweetened with pure maple syrup and topped with vegan cinnamon cold foam. This drink will also only be available on weekdays until July 31.<\/p>\n Similar to Koolfest\u2019s wintery brother \u2013 the Hot Chocolate festival \u2013 a virtual map<\/a> can be found on the Koolfest website, where curious individuals can see what other places are offering Koolfest creations and continue their crawl.<\/p>\n Koolfest has also launched an Instagram photo contest for attendees to participate in while enjoying their chilly treats and beverages. Koolfest is offering a $500 grand prize, as well as having small pop-up contests that can be found through impromptu posts on the Koolfest Instagram page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Winners will be announced Aug. 5 on social media.<\/p>\n Learn more or follow along at koolfest.ca<\/a><\/p>\n