National Root Beer Float Day

National Root Beer Float Day History

National Root Beer Float Day, is a day of enjoyment and appreciation of an iconic American cold drink: the root beer float. Known as the "Black Cow," the unique concoction mixes root beer and creamy vanilla ice cream which results in a delightful beverage famous for its frothy top.

The root beer float was supposedly created in 1893 by Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado. One evening, Wisner, owner of the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company, was struck by the idea of creating a dessert that looked like the snowy peaks of Cow Mountain. He decided to combine root beer and a dollop of vanilla ice cream, thus creating a soon-to-be-beloved drink.

Today, National Root Beer Float Day is not only about savoring the beverage, but it also serves as a tool for many businesses and organizations to raise funds for charitable causes. Throughout the day, many establishments offer free or discounted root beer floats and encourage customers to make a donation. This cordial combination of enjoying a refreshing drink while supporting a worthy cause makes National Root Beer Float Day an event worth marking on your calendar, especially as it occurs at the peak of summer, on August 6.

Top 9 Facts for National Root Beer Float Day in 2026

• For the 2026 observance, A&W Restaurants continues its tradition of honoring service members by offering a free small root beer float to guests, often paired with a fundraising campaign for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
• Many participating locations and organizations use the day to host charity events, such as supporting the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, turning the simple act of enjoying a float into a community-wide fundraiser.
• The root beer float is historically referred to as a “Black Cow,” a nickname that originated from a creative spark in a Colorado mining camp.
• The classic recipe relies on the chemical reaction between ice cream and carbonated soda; the fat in the ice cream coats the carbon dioxide bubbles, creating the signature thick, frothy head.
• While root beer is almost exclusively a North American beverage, the concept of the 'float' has inspired various international variations using different soda flavors.
• Culinary experimentation with the treat is common, leading to variations like the 'Purple Cow' (grape soda), 'Orange Whip' (orange soda), and the 'Boston Cooler' (Vernors ginger ale).
• The term 'Black Cow' is believed to have been coined by local children in Cripple Creek who shortened Wisner’s original name for the drink, 'Black Cow Mountain'.
• The popularity of the beverage surged during the 1920s in the United States, as the non-alcoholic root beer became a staple at roadside drive-ins and soda fountains during the Prohibition era.
• Modern enthusiasts often celebrate the day by hosting blind taste tests of various root beer brands to determine which pairs best with the richness of premium vanilla ice cream.

In the News and Trending for National Root Beer Float Day

Top things to do for National Root Beer Float Day

• Visit an ice cream parlor and order a root beer float. They may be offering special deals to celebrate the day.
• Make your own root beer float. Check out this recipe for a bubbly root beer dessert.
• Try different variations of a root beer float. Some examples are a green giant which uses Sprite with lime sherbet, a purple cow which uses grape soda, and a sherbet cooler which uses seltzer water.