FORT WORTH—The Kimbell Art Museum and Blue Bell Ice Cream present “Ice Cream Sunday” on Sunday, July 15, from noon to 3 p.m., in the Museum’s west portico, to celebrate National Ice Cream Day. Visitors will enjoy an afternoon escape from the Texas heat to explore the galleries and savor a free scoop of ice cream.

Docent-guided tours for families and screenings of the children’s films “Getting to Know Michelangelo” (24 min.), “Getting to Know Rembrandt” (24 min.), “The Dot” (6 min.), “Ish” (7 min.), and “The Red Balloon” (34 min.) will take place throughout the event. To commemorate National Ice Cream Day, Blue Bell will debut their newest ice cream flavor, Summer Strawberry Pie, at the Museum. Summer Strawberry Pie is a luscious strawberry ice cream combined with sweetened strawberries, flaky piecrust pieces and a whipped topping swirl.

Admission to the Museum’s permanent collection is always FREE.

National Ice Cream Day

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90% of the nation’s population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”


About Blue Bell

Blue Bell Ice Cream is the third-best-selling ice cream in the U.S., despite the fact that it is only sold in 20 states, because it is so popular in the markets where it is available. Founded as The Brenham Creamery Company in 1907 to make butter from the excess cream produced by the farmers of Washington County, the company began making hand-cranked ice cream in 1911, at the rate of two gallons a day. In 1930, the company name was changed to “Blue Bell” after the manager’s favorite Texas wildflower. Butter was produced until 1958, when company management decided to devote their efforts full-time to making “the best ice cream in the country.” Today Blue Bell produces about 250 different products.

In response to the explosive growth in population and demand for Blue Bell Ice Cream products in the Fort Worth area, Blue Bell Creameries built a 12,000 square-foot facility on Harmon Road just south of Heritage Trace Parkway in north Fort Worth, which was completed last summer. Blue Bell currently has six branches serving the greater North Texas area.


About the Kimbell Art Museum

The Kimbell Art Museum, owned and operated by the Kimbell Art Foundation, is internationally renowned for both its collections and for its architecture. The Kimbell’s collections range in period from antiquity to the 20th century and include European masterpieces by artists such as Fra Angelico, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Poussin, Velázquez, Monet, Picasso, and Matisse; important collections of Egyptian and classical antiquities; and Asian, Mesoamerican, and African art.

The Museum’s building, designed by the American architect Louis I. Kahn, is widely regarded as one of the outstanding architectural achievements of the modern era. A second building, designed by world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, is scheduled to open in 2013 and will provide space for special exhibitions, allowing the Kahn building to showcase the permanent collection.

Kimbell Art Museum hours: Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday, noon–8 p.m.; Sunday, noon–5 p.m.; closed Monday. For general information, call 817-332-8451. Website: www.kimbellart.org.
Address: 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107

Admission to the Museum's permanent collection is always free.