{"id":253717,"date":"2026-04-06T05:33:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/253717\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T05:33:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:33:25","slug":"socals-only-ice-cream-festival-returns-to-san-diego-and-it-benefits-a-sweet-cause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/253717\/","title":{"rendered":"SoCal\u2019s only ice cream festival returns to San Diego, and it benefits a sweet cause"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5\/KUSI) \u2014 Southern California\u2019s only ice cream festival is coming back to San Diego\u2019s North Park neighborhood, and it benefits a sweet cause.<\/p>\n

Tickets for Scoop San Diego<\/a> go on sale Wednesday, and the festival takes place on Sunday, June 28.<\/p>\n

The event gathers the best local ice cream, paleta and gelato shops along 30th Street and North Park Way for a sugary tasting experience.<\/p>\n

But even sweeter than that is that all proceeds from the festival go toward benefitting local nonprofits.<\/p>\n

Free things to do in San Diego in April <\/a><\/p>\n

Every year, the festival selects a different beneficiary, but starting this year, Feeding San Diego will be Scoop\u2019s ongoing long-term partner.<\/p>\n

The nonprofit provides food assistance and free meals to people experiencing food insecurity in the county and will be at Scoop San Diego, raising awareness about what it does.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis event has become a can\u2019t-miss foodie festival, and we are honored to be aligned with it as it brings joy to so many people,\u201d Director of Communications and Content for Feeding San Diego Carissa Casares said.<\/p>\n

Since the festival started in 2019, more than $230,000 has been raised for local nonprofits that assist underserved communities in San Diego.<\/p>\n

From the beginning, Founder and Chief Ice Cream Officer Daniel Szpak said the idea was rooted in bringing the community together and doing good.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just retired after a 26-year nursing career at UC San Diego, but my passion for ice cream and community runs alongside my work in healthcare,\u201d said Szpak.<\/p>\n

While working as an RN, Szpak co-founded Hammond\u2019s Ice Cream in North Park, which was one of the first ice cream shops in the neighborhood and quickly became a local favorite.<\/p>\n

\u201cHammond\u2019s was really where I first saw the power of ice cream as a community builder and a force for good,\u201d said Szpak. \u201cWe were the first ice cream shop in North Park, and I loved being a part of people\u2019s everyday lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

In order to make the first Scoop San Diego happen, Szpak reached out personally to local ice cream, paleta and gelato shops to ask if they\u2019d be willing to donate samples for a fundraising event.<\/p>\n

To his surprise, every single one said yes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat first year felt very authentic and community-powered. It wasn\u2019t polished, but it was full of heart, and the response showed us we had created something really special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Since then, the festival has grown into a major fundraising event with over 35 vendors and thousands of attendees. It has also expanded to Palm Springs.<\/p>\n

Some of the vendors at last year\u2019s festival included Snoice, Tocumbo Ice Cream, Holy Paleta and Little Fox Cups and Cones, which is hosting a fundraising event<\/a> on Wednesday to kick off the partnership between Scoop and Feeding San Diego.<\/p>\n

Szpak emphasized that the event has thrived in San Diego because of the diversity and generosity of local ice cream shops and the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of the shop owners and ice cream chefs bring their cultural backgrounds and personal stories into their flavors, which makes everything feel unique and authentic,\u201d said Szpak. \u201cThat combination of passionate makers and an engaged community is really what makes the festival possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

All of the vendors at Scoop\u00a0San Diego donate their products and provide volunteers for the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cFood insecurity is such a real issue in our communities, and I wanted\u00a0Scoop\u00a0to be a way to directly support organizations doing that work,\u201d said Szpak. \u201cIce cream brings joy, but pairing that joy with real impact is what makes\u00a0Scoop\u00a0so special to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A person on stilts walks through the crowd at last year\u2019s Scoop San Diego (Scoop San Diego).<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

One of the ice cream vendors at last year\u2019s event (Scoop San Diego).<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Attendees receive sample ice cream cones (Scoop San Diego).<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

One of the samples at Scoop San Diego 2025 (Scoop San Diego).<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Even the pups got a sweet treat at last year\u2019s event (Scoop San Diego).<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

A large cone (Scoop San Diego).<\/p>\n

\"Holy<\/p>\n

Holy Paleta at Scoop San Diego 2025 (Scoop San Diego).<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. <\/a><\/p>\n