Ice Cream Party Ideas: Sundae Bar, Activities & Decor

Get 15+ tested ice cream party ideas from a professional celebrant including sundae bar setup, activities kids LOVED, DIY decorations, and budget tips. Perfect for birthdays or summer celebrations!

Jump to:

• Quick Look:
• Why We Love This Party
• Ice Cream Sundae Bar Setup
• Ice Cream Party Activities & Games
• Ice Cream Party Decorations
• Party Favors & Loot Bags
• Party Food (Beyond Ice Cream)
• Ice Cream Themed Desserts
• Dietary Accommodations
• Pro Tips
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Ice Cream Inspiration

Ice cream parties are one of my favorite themes to host because they're naturally joyful, work for all ages and genders, kids love them, the decorations are colorful and fun, and honestly, when you hand a child sprinkles and let them build their own sundae, you've already won.

This guide walks you through the practical details like how much ice cream to buy, which activities actually hold kids' attention, and smart setup tips, so you can focus on enjoying the celebration instead of second-guessing yourself, and making amazing memories with your friends and family.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar Setup

No ice cream party is complete without a show-stopping sundae bar. The ice cream sundae bar is the star of your party. Here's how to set one up that looks amazing and functions smoothly.

Ice Cream Flavors: How Much and Which Kinds

How Much Ice Cream Per Person: Plan for 2-3 scoops per guest (about 1 cup total).

For 15 guests: Buy 4-5 pints or 2 half-gallons or 2-3 Liters

Flavor Strategy:

• Classic trio: Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry (safest bet for kids)
• Fun additions: Cookie dough, cotton candy, cookies and cream
• Budget tip: Look for small containers so you can offer variety without waste

Keeping It Cold: Use a galvanized tub or large bowl filled with ice cubes to keep smaller containers cold. For half-gallons, keep them in the freezer and bring out one at a time.

Ice Cream Toppings: The Complete List

We've tested these at multiple parties and they're always hits:

Candy Toppings:

• Mini M&Ms
• Gummy Bears/Worms
• Chocolate Chips
• Crushed Oreos
• Mini Peanut Butter Cups
• Crushed Candy Bars (Kit Kat, Reese's, Skor)
• Mini Marshmallows
• Rainbow Sprinkles
• Chocolate sprinkles

Nuts & Crunchy Add-ins:

• Chopped Peanuts
• Coconut
• Toffee Bits
• Crushed Waffle Cones
• Graham Cracker Crumbs

Fresh Toppings:

• Sliced Bananas (add last minute to prevent browning)
• Strawberries
• Maraschino Cherries

Sauces:

• Hot Fudge
• Caramel Sauce
• Strawberry Sauce
• Whipped Cream (keep refrigerated until serving)

Budget-Friendly Topping Tips:

• Shop bulk bins for small quantities of expensive items like nuts and candy
• Use mason jars or small bowls to display (makes even budget toppings look fancy)
• Put toppings on a lazy Susan for easy spinning
• Dollar store finds work beautifully when displayed in nice containers

For another creative ice cream presentation, try an Ice Cream Sundae Charcuterie Board. It's perfect for smaller gatherings!

Sundae Bar Display Setup

The Layout That Works:

1. Ice cream first (in tubs of ice or on a designated table section)
2. Bowls and cones next
3. Toppings in the middle (organized on a lazy Susan or tiered stand)
4. Sauces and whipped cream at the end
5. Spoons, napkins, and cherries last

Container Ideas:

• Ice cream cone-shaped dishes for toppings (adds to theme)
• Small ramekins for individual portions
• Mason jars with scoops
• Cute bowls from dollar stores

Pro Tip: Set up your sundae bar LAST. Have everything ready to go, but don't bring out the ice cream until you're 10 minutes from sundae time. This prevents melting and keeps the excitement high.

Ice Cream Party Activities & Games

The best ice cream party ideas include hands-on activities that keep kids entertained. These activities have been tested at real parties. I'm sharing what ACTUALLY worked, not just what looks cute.

1. Invent Your Own Ice Cream Flavor

Ages: 6+ (with supervision)
Time: 30-40 minutes
What Worked: Kids LOVED naming their flavors and took them home as favors

Step 1: Design the Label

Give each child a small container with a blank sticker label. Have them name their new ice cream flavor and decorate the label with markers and washi tape. We've had kids create flavors called "Rainbow Explosion," "Cookie Monster's Dream," and "Unicorn Surprise." The creativity is adorable.

Materials for labels:

• Small containers (4-6 oz)
• Blank sticker labels
• Markers
• Washi tape
• Stickers (optional)

Step 2: Mix the Flavor

Start with a base of homemade or store-bought vanilla ice cream (soft serve consistency works best). Making homemade ice cream? This Strawberry Rhubarb Ice Cream is a unique flavor kids love. Let each child choose 2-3 mix-ins from your topping selection:

Sweet add-ins:

• Nutella
• Peanut butter
• Chocolate sauce
• Caramel sauce
• Strawberry sauce
• Jam

Mix-in options:

• Crushed cookies
• Candy pieces
• Sprinkles
• Fresh fruit
• Mini marshmallows

Pro Tip: Time your ice cream so it's soft but not melted. Too hard and kids can't mix it. Too soft and it becomes soup.

Step 3: Freeze It

Pop the labeled containers into the freezer for the rest of the party. At the end, add them to each child's "Make Your Own Sundae" take-home kit. Parents LOVE this activity.

What Parents Said: "My daughter still talks about the ice cream flavor she invented at your party!"

2. Blind Ice Cream Taste Test

Ages: 5+
Time: 15-20 minutes
What Worked: Kids loved this activity, and it was a great "taste test" of different flavors for the make your own ice cream sundae bar later.

How to Play:

1. Pair kids up
2. One partner wears a blindfold
3. The other partner feeds them small tastes of 3 different ice cream flavors
4. The blindfolded partner guesses the flavors
5. Switch roles and repeat with 3 different flavors

Best Flavors for Testing:

• Round 1: Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry (easier)
• Round 2: Mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, cookies and cream (harder)

Materials:

• Small plastic cups, with numbers 1-6 written on with a marker
• Spoons
• 6 different ice cream flavors
• Blindfolds (or ask kids to close eyes)
• Paper for writing guesses

Pro Tip: Pre-scoop the samples into small numbered cups and keep them in the freezer. This makes the game move quickly and prevents ice cream from melting while kids take turns.

3. Pom Pom Ice Cream Cone Craft

Ages: 4+
Time: 20-30 minutes
What Worked: Kids could customize with their favorite colors

Materials:

• Wood veneer cones (cut off pointed tip) or brown construction paper cones
• Yarn in various colors
• Pom pom maker or cardboard circles
• Red yarn for cherry
• Sequins for sprinkles
• Hot glue gun (adult use only)

How to Make:

1. Make a large pom pom for the ice cream scoop (or use pre-made pom poms for younger kids).
2. Make a small red pom pom for the cherry.
3. Glue the large pom pom into the cone.
4. Glue the red pom pom on top.
5. Add sequins as "sprinkles".

Time-Saving Tip: For parties with younger kids, pre-make the pom poms and just have them glue and decorate.

Ice Cream Keychain or Necklace Craft

Ages: 7+
Time: 30 minutes + 5 minutes baking
What Worked: Kids loved taking home jewelry they made

Materials:

• Polymer clay (brown/beige for cones, various colors for scoops)
• Eye pins
• Jump rings
• Keychain rings or necklace cords
• Wire cutters
• Plastic knife with serrated edge
• Baking tray and parchment paper
• Small organza bags for finished pieces

How to Make:

1. Shape a small cone from brown polymer clay
2. Add 1-3 small balls of colored clay as ice cream scoops
3. Use serrated edge of plastic knife to create texture on each scoop
4. Add a tiny red ball on top as a cherry
5. Insert an eye pin into the cone (adult supervision needed)
6. Bake at 275°F for 5 minutes
7. Cool completely
8. Attach jump ring and keychain or necklace cord

Organization Tip: Line a baking tray with parchment paper and write each child's name beside their creation with a Sharpie. This prevents mix-ups.

5. Pretend Ice Cream Shop

Ages: 3-10
Time: 20-45 minutes (kids often play longer)
What Worked: Kids love to play, and this imaginative center was the perfect activity at the end of the party. The kids loved it and didn't want to leave.

Setup:

• Play kitchen or designated serving area
• Menu board (kids can help create)
• Tables and chairs for "customers"
• Order pads and pencils

Pretend Ice Cream Ingredients:

• Tissue paper balls or cotton balls as ice cream scoops
• Paper cones or real cones
• Pom poms as sprinkles and cherries
• Empty sauce bottles
• Small bowls and spoons
• Napkins

Props:

• Toy cash register
• Play money
• Dress-up clothes (aprons, chef hats)
• Serving trays

Want to see another version of pretend ice cream shop play? Check out this Ice Cream Birthday Party with cotton ball ice cream for younger kids.

What I Didn't Expect: Kids played this for the entire last half hour of the party, even with full bellies of real ice cream. The dramatic play element lets them process the whole party experience.

Additional Ice Cream Party Games

Ice Cream Cone Relay Race (outdoor): Pass a fake ice cream cone (pom pom on paper cone) between teammates without dropping it.

Ice Cream Bowling: Use empty ice cream containers as bowling pins, roll a ball to knock them down.

Pin the Cherry on the Sundae: Classic party game with an ice cream twist.

Ice Cream Trivia: Create age-appropriate questions about ice cream facts.

Ice Cream Party Decorations

These ice cream party decorations create the perfect Instagram-worthy backdrop for your celebration. They are budget-friendly and have serious visual impact. For more general birthday party decoration ideas that work across themes, check out our complete guide.

DIY Ice Cream Cone Backdrop

This backdrop creates the perfect photo opportunity and makes your sundae bar look professional.

Materials:

• Brown kraft paper (or large brown paper bag opened flat)
• Honeycomb tissue balls in pastel colors (pink, mint, yellow, white)
• One small red honeycomb ball for cherry
• Tape or command strips

How to Make:

1. Cut kraft paper into a large ice cream cone shape (wider at top, tapered at bottom)
2. Use a pencil to draw crisscross lines for waffle cone texture
3. Tape to wall behind sundae bar
4. Open honeycomb balls halfway (not fully round)
5. Attach balls above cone as "scoops" of ice cream
6. Add red ball on top as cherry

Time to Make: 20-30 minutes
Budget: Under $15

Alternative: Use balloons instead of honeycomb balls for an even easier version.

DIY Ice Cream Cone Bunting

This is my favorite decoration because it's so cute and unexpected.

Materials:

• Scissors
• Honeycomb ball garland (dollar store)
• Small wood veneer cones (disposable food containers)
• Hot glue gun

How to Make:

1. Cut pointed tips off wood veneer cones to make them look like ice cream cones
2. Hot glue cones onto the bottom of each honeycomb ball
3. Hang garland along mantel, doorway, or from light fixtures

Budget-Friendly Alternative: Cut cone shapes from brown construction paper instead of buying wood veneer cones.

Pro Tip: Make extras and hang individual ice cream cones from ceiling with fishing line for a floating effect.

Quick Decoration Ideas

• Table Runner: Use bright wrapping paper instead of tablecloths. Inexpensive, colorful, and easy cleanup.
• Ice Cream Centerpiece: Fill ceramic ice cream cone containers with faux flower balls (carnations work perfectly). Simple and adorable.
• Letter Board Messages: Display ice cream quotes like "You can't buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream and it's kind of the same thing."
• Color Palette: Stick with pastel pink, mint green, yellow, and white with pops of red for cherries.
• Balloon Garland: Create a pastel balloon garland with ice cream cone-shaped mylar balloons mixed in.

Party Favors & Loot Bags

"Make Your Own Sundae" Favor Kit

This is hands-down the most popular party favor I've ever given. Here's what makes it special: each kit includes the ice cream flavor the child invented at the party. Want to create a sundae kit as a gift instead of a party favor? See my complete Ice Cream Sundae Kit guide for gift-giving occasions.

What Goes in Each Kit:

From Bulk Bins (Budget-Saver):

• Sprinkles in small cellophane bags with custom labels
• Candy pieces in portioned bags or mini jars with ribbon
• This is where repackaging expertise shines

From Regular Store:

• Small bottles of chocolate and caramel sauce
• Assorted ice cream cones and waffle bowls 4-6 total in a cellophane bag

The Homemade Ice Cream: Their custom flavor they created during the party

Time to Assemble: 45 minutes for 15 kits
Make-Ahead: Assemble 1-2 days before party. (Add the ice cream from the freezer that they make at the party as each guest is leaving.)

Repackaging Tips:

• Buy sprinkles and candy from bulk bins and portion into small bags or spice jars
• Use clear cellophane bags tied with colorful ribbon
• Make your own labels with printable sticker paper
• Use mini mason jars with fabric-topped lids for a premium look
• The secret: presentation makes budget items look expensive

Additional Budget-Friendly Favor Ideas

• Ice Cream Cone Bubbles: Place in a basket by the door for kids to grab on the way out (dollar store find).
• DIY Ice Cream Cone Crafts: Package the party crafts and add to favor bags.
• Ice Cream Themed Coloring Books: Dollar store often carries these.

Party Food (Beyond Ice Cream)

Drinks

Keep drinks simple so ice cream stays the star:

• Lemonade in a dispenser or individual bottles
• Bottled water
• Juices or sodas
• Colorful paper straws (pastel colors match the theme)

Pro Tip: Set up a separate drink station away from the sundae bar to prevent congestion.

Main Meal Ideas

If hosting over a meal time, keep food simple:

• Pizza (always a kid favorite)
• Hot dogs or sliders
• Veggie and dip platter
• Fruit platter
• Popcorn

Remember: Kids will fill up on ice cream, so don't over-prepare main courses.

Ice Cream Themed Desserts

Even though ice cream IS the dessert, these themed treats add extra fun.

Ice Cream Cone Rice Krispie Treats

What Makes Them Special: They look like ice cream cones but aren't cold or messy.

How to Make:

1. Make rice krispie treats according to package directions
2. Roll into small balls while warm
3. Dip in melted pink candy melts
4. Immediately add sprinkles and a red M&M "cherry"
5. Press gently into mini ice cream cones
6. Let chocolate set

Make-Ahead: These hold up great for 2-3 days in an airtight container.

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Instead of Birthday Cake: Bake cupcakes directly in ice cream cones for an adorable presentation.

How to Make:

1. Stand flat-bottomed ice cream cones in muffin tin
2. Fill cones ⅔ full with cake batter
3. Bake according to cake recipe (watch carefully, they bake faster than regular cupcakes)
4. Let cool completely
5. Pipe frosting on top to look like soft-serve ice cream
6. Add sprinkles and a candy cherry

Pro Tip: Use cake mix for convenience and save your energy for decorating. These are not a good make ahead, as the cone can become soft overnight, so bake them the morning of the party for the best taste.

Store-Bought Options

No shame in buying treats:

• Ice cream themed cookies from bakery
• Ice cream cone cake pops
• Frosted sugar cookies shaped like ice cream cones
• Ice cream themed cake from the bakery

Dietary Accommodations

Dairy-Free Options

Offer 1-2 non-dairy ice cream flavors:

• Coconut milk-based ice cream
• Oat milk ice cream
• Sorbet

Important: Use separate scoops for dairy-free options and label them clearly.

Nut Allergies

If a guest has nut allergies:

• Place nut toppings at the far end of the bar
• Use separate scoops
• Label everything clearly
• Consider making it a nut-free party if the allergy is severe

Gluten-Free

Most ice cream is naturally gluten-free, but:

• Offer gluten-free cones
• Label toppings that contain gluten (cookie pieces, certain candies)
• Have GF alternatives clearly marked

Pro Tips

After hosting many children's parties over 15 years, here's what I've learned:

1. Over-plan activities: Better to skip one than run out of things to do.
2. The sundae bar saves everything: Even if other activities flop, kids love building their own sundaes.
3. Take photos and video BEFORE and DURING: Photograph your decorations and table setups before guests arrive. Remember to take photos at the actual party. You can set reminders on your phone, or ask friends to take photos and videos during the party as well and airdrop them to you before they leave.
4. Use phone timers: Set alarms for activity transitions so you stay on schedule.
5. Pre-scoop option: For younger kids (under 6), pre-scoop ice cream into cups to speed up the sundae bar.
6. Expect messes: Have wet wipes and paper towels everywhere.
7. Memory over perfection: Kids remember having FUN, not whether decorations matched Pinterest perfectly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Bringing ice cream out too early: It melts. Set up everything else first, then bring ice cream out 5-10 minutes before serving.
• Too many topping choices: 8-12 toppings is plenty. More than that overwhelms kids and creates waste.
• Not enough spoons: Buy double what you think you need. They disappear.
• No structure or timeline: Kids do better with a planned sequence of activities.
• Forgetting about adults: If parents are staying, have coffee and seating available for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Ice Cream Inspiration

If you use any of our Ice Cream Party Ideas or any other ideas from the blog, please let us know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting Life is a Party today!