Photo screenshotted from https://bostonmoms.com/event/the-jimmy-fund-scooper-bowl/2026-06-03/.
As summer began in Boston, thousands of ice cream lovers gathered for one of the city’s most anticipated annual events: the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl. Held from June 2-4 in Boston’s Seaport District, the festival brought together families, friends, and visitors for three days of unlimited ice cream while supporting an important cause.
Known as Boston’s largest ice cream festival, the Scooper Bowl featured more than 40 flavors from popular local and national brands. Attendees enjoyed favorites from companies such as Ben & Jerry’s, Haagen-Dazs, Hood, Friendly’s and Salt & Straw. While sampling frozen treats, visitors participated in games, listened to live entertainment, and enjoyed family friendly activities throughout the event.
While many people attend the Scooper Bowl for the unlimited ice cream, the event has a much deeper history. The festival began in 1983 on Boston Common as part of the New England Dairy Festival. What started as a small gathering of four ice cream vendors serving about 1,000 visitors quickly grew into one of Boston’s most beloved summer traditions. One of the participating companies donated its proceeds to the Jimmy Fund, creating a partnership that continues today.
The Jimmy Fund, founded in 1948, supports cancer research and patient care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Since its creation, the organization has raised hundreds of millions of dollars to help fund groundbreaking treatments and support patients and their families. The Scooper Bowl became one of its signature fundraising events and remains one of the most successful annual community fundraisers in New England.
Over the years, the festival expanded from a one-day event into a three-day celebration. Attendance grew from 1000 visitors in its first year to tens of thousands annually. The event has been hosted at several locations throughout history, including Boston Common, City Hall Plaza, Patriot Place, and most recently the Seaport District.
Over four decades, the festival has raised millions of dollars for the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber. What began as a simple ice cream festival has become one of the nation’s largest all-you-can-eat ice cream events and a symbol of Boston’s commitment to community service and charity.
Today, the Scooper Bowl serves as both a summer kickoff and a reminder that even a simple scoop of ice cream can contribute to lifesaving research. Since its beginning, it has raised $8.3 million, with 2026 setting a new record for raising around $565,500 after 43 years. Families, students, local businesses, and visitors came together to support a cause that has helped countless cancer patients each year.
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