The weather in spring and summer is just too beautiful to confine parties indoors. Why not take the fun to the beach? A beach party with your loved ones is an exciting idea, but it does require some planning. That’s where we come in. We’ve put together a quick guide for planning and packing an unforgettable ice cream cone party on the beach! So grab your beach ball and sunscreen, because we’ve got you covered.

How Much Ice Cream Do You Need?

When it comes to ice cream for your party, Big Bucks is the obvious choice. But before you make your purchase, there are a few things to consider. First, decide on the cone style and the flavors of ice cream you want. Then, determine how much ice cream you’ll need.

How many people will you be inviting? How many scoops do you want to put on each cone? And how many cones will you provide per person? Once you have these answers, simply add them up to know the exact amount of ice cream to buy.

Remember, one scoop of ice cream is about half a measuring cup. To help you make a decision, here’s a handy guide:

• One Pint = Four scoops of ice cream
• One Quart = Eight scoops of ice cream
• One Gallon = 32 scoops of ice cream

With the ice cream choice made, it’s time to think about toppings. After all, it’s a party!

Packing Delicious Toppings

Packing toppings for your beach adventure is easier than you might think. Start by getting some two-ounce plastic to-go containers with lids. Now, what are your favorite toppings? If you’re looking for ideas, we’ve got you covered. How about trying:

• Sprinkles
• Fresh fruit – Cherries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.
• Assorted nuts – Chopped almonds, pecans, peanuts, etc.
• Trail mix
• Crushed cookies
• Mini chocolate chips or other small baking bits
• Mini candies
• Marshmallows

When you pack these toppings in individually-sized containers, serving them and cleaning up afterward becomes a breeze.

But what about chocolate syrup or other liquid toppings? For those, simply pack them in clear squeeze bottles and label them with stickers.

And if you can’t imagine an ice cream cone party without whipped cream, no worries! Just get the canned version. It’s easy to serve and dispose of afterward.

Effortless Clean-Up

Speaking of clean-up, every party generates some trash. But don’t worry, we have a plan to minimize your efforts.

First, bring a trash bag with a drawstring. You can secure it to your umbrella or a fence using the string and then seal it up when you’re finished, so nothing blows away. The drawstring also makes it easy to carry the trash away from the beach to the nearest trash receptacle.

Next, try not to overpack. Encourage your guests to help you finish off all the party supplies before you leave. Once the boxes of cones are empty, toss them in the trash bag. Since you’re using cones, there’s no need for utensils, which saves on packing space and trash.

Pack your individually-sized topping cups in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Once the toppings are gone and the cups are in the trash bag, use the Ziploc bag to prevent any drips from your ice cream scoop on your beach bags or towels.

And here’s a pro tip: If you use a soft-sided, reusable shopping bag to pack everything, you can simply fold it up and stick it in your beach bag when the party is over.

What to Pack

To make your ice cream cone beach party as simple as possible, we’ve created a handy packing list for you. Make sure to pack:

• Enough ice cream for your guests
• An ice cream scoop
• Plenty of Big Bucks Ice Cream Cones (cake cups, waffle cones, or sugar cones)
• Prepacked toppings in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag (which you can reuse for the ice cream scoop later)
• Squeeze bottles filled with chocolate sauce or other delicious sauces
• Canned whipped cream
• Wet wipes for easy clean-up
• A trash bag with a drawstring
• Optional: Water bottles

Now you might be wondering how to keep your ice cream frozen while you enjoy the beach.

Keeping Ice Cream Frozen with Dry Ice

When you want to keep your ice cream frozen solid while traveling to the beach and enjoying the sun, look no further than dry ice. It’s the perfect solution. Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide and is colder than regular ice. With a cooler packed with dry ice, your ice cream will stay in perfect shape for your party.

But before we go any further, remember to always wear gloves when handling dry ice directly. The extreme cold can cause burn-like injuries on bare skin. So make sure to protect your hands with thick leather gloves or similar gear. And never taste, lick, or swallow dry ice.

Choose a cooler approved for dry ice or a sturdy Styrofoam one. You can usually find dry ice at local grocery stores, but it’s best to check in advance to ensure availability. Purchase the dry ice when you’re ready to leave for the beach, so it lasts as long as needed.

Once you have the dry ice, wrap it in newspaper and tape it together to prevent air from reaching it and causing it to sublimate too quickly. Place your ice cream tubs closest to the dry ice in the cooler. If you want to chill water bottles or other drinks, place them on top of the ice cream. They will freeze rapidly since they are closest to the dry ice.

Before hitting the road with your cooler full of dry ice and ice cream, make sure to roll down at least one window slightly. As the dry ice warms up, it releases carbon dioxide gas which can make you ill if you’re in an unventilated area.

Also, keep in mind that as the dry ice warms up, the gas takes up more space than the solid form. If your cooler is airtight, it could build up dangerous levels of pressure. If you’re using a Styrofoam cooler, it will allow enough gas to escape. However, if you’re using an airtight cooler, remember to vent the drain slightly to allow the gas to escape.

Empty space inside your cooler can cause the dry ice to sublimate quickly, so fill any gaps with newspaper. The newspaper will provide enough insulation to prevent the dry ice from disappearing prematurely.

Bring Big Bucks Ice Cream to the Beach

Planning a fun gathering for your friends and family doesn’t have to be a burden. When you choose Big Bucks Ice Cream, everyone wins. So, pack your bags, grab your cooler, and head to the beach for an unforgettable ice cream cone party.