Local ice cream shops offer out-of-this-world flavors for 2024 solar eclipse

Thanks to news coverage, special events and planned closures, only those living under the largest of rocks could still be unaware of the total solar eclipse on April 8.

During totality, when the afternoon sun will be completely obscured by the moon, some strange things will happen. The temperature is expected to drop by as many as 15 degrees, streetlights will come on and birds will likely retreat to their nests.

But you know what the cool kids will be up to in the roughly four minutes of total darkness?

Gazing up at the once-in-a-lifetime event while devouring a cold, creamy eclipse-themed treat.

There are local ice cream shops all over the county modeling their latest frozen dairy creations after the total solar eclipse, and the Beacon Journal thought it only right to put together an eclipse ice cream crawl of sorts to help you visit them.

Use this interactive map to visit these local ice cream shops and let us know your thoughts on their eclipse-themed offerings.

Chill Artisan Ice Cream

Who could resist the chance to not only hold the eclipse but take a giant bite out of it?

It might fulfill that longing we had as children to bite a chunk from the full moon as though it was a giant ball of cheese.

Well, patrons can handle and eat the phenomena, at least an ice cream version of it, at any of Chill Artisan Ice Cream’s three locations across Summit and Medina counties.

Chill Artisan owner Patrick Jaworski is serving “Hello Darkness My Old Friend,” a coconut ash ice cream, and MoonPie, a creamy marshmallow ice cream with chocolate-covered graham crackers, as part of his shops' eclipse line up.

Shops will also have eclipse chocolates shaped as crescent moons with nonpareils for sale.

Both eclipse-themed ice cream flavors and chocolate are available through eclipse day.

Pav's Creamery

Something better than cosmic bowling and, dare we say, better than cosmic brownies, hit the market in early March and has been rocking the local ice cream scene since.

Last month, Pav’s Creamery announced its blue moon cosmic cone, an eclipse-themed treat made of blue moon ice cream covered in solar sprinkles and topped with a Space Dunk Oreo.

As a bonus, everyone who purchases the cosmic cone will receive a pair of solar eclipse glasses.

All locations are selling the new creation through eclipse day. Pav’s will close its doors from 3 to 3:30 p.m. April 8 for employees to observe totality.

Stricklands Frozen Custard

The original Stricklands Frozen Custard on Triplett Boulevard is serving up three specials only on April 8.

They’ll have a MoonPie sundae — vanilla custard topped with hot fudge and whipped cream all wedged between two halves of a MoonPie — as well as a returning blue moon flavor.

As if that’s not exciting enough, for the first time in its 88 years of operation, Milky Way custard will also be on the menu. The chocolate, vanilla and caramel custard will have Milky Way candy bar pieces mixed into it.

Skoops Ice Cream

Skoops locations in Barberton and Seville are already selling a delicious MoonPie sundae.

The MoonPie sundae has two MoonPie halves hugging chocolate and vanilla twist custard smothered in hot fudge and topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and a cherry.

“We knew we wanted to do something for the solar eclipse so we thought, ‘What’s moon? What’s sun? What’s something? And we came up with the MoonPie because, well, moon and pie,” said Alexandra Yankovich, Skoops’ assistant general manager and social media manager.

It’s reminiscent of Skoops’ famous Henry's hot fudge brownie, the contents of which are a quarter-pound brownie with homemade vanilla soft serve and whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and a cherry to top it all off.

This sweet eclipse creation is the brainchild of Skoops owner Terry Rastetter-Helbling, who has also ensured blue moon custard is on the specials menu in Barberton leading up to eclipse day.

It's a total eclipse party: Check out sampling of festivities in Akron area, beyond

Both the sundae and blue moon will be available through eclipse day. Skoops will open at 5 p.m. April 8 to give workers a chance to enjoy the eclipse.

Biggins’ Big Dip

Name a better way to observe the eclipse’s shift into totality than lakeside with a giant sundae in hand.

Biggins' Big Dip in Coventry Township has taken a more symbolic approach to its solar eclipse sundae, which weighs more than a pound.

While the sundae can come in smaller sizes, it’s always made with a base of twist custard (Earth), marshmallow sauce (rays of sun), Lucky Charms marshmallows (people watching the eclipse) and a chocolate dipped Belgian waffle as the eclipse itself.

And yes, solar eclipse glasses are included when purchasing the tasty treat, which is available through April 8.

Biggins’ Big Dip also offers customers a beautiful view of the Portage Lakes. During the darkness of totality, those on foot and in the water will still be able to make their way to Biggins’ thanks to its functioning lighthouse.

Durbin Magic Freeze

Fudge fans know that Durbin Magic Freeze is the place to go for ice cream’s favorite chocolate topping, but the Barberton shop also has four new menu items in celebration of the eclipse.

Owner Dan Durbin knows people go nuts for their banana custard, so he and his team made sure to incorporate it into their lineup via a banana eclipse shake. The treat is made up of creamy banana custard with “celestial swirls” of hot fudge and topped with whipped cream and a banana eclipse marshmallow pie.

Another offering is a blue moon solar shake comprised of blue moon custard, fluffy clouds of whipped cream and stardust sprinkles. The shake has hints of tropical vanilla and citrus flavors.

What really sets Durbin Magic Freeze apart are its ice cream solar sandwiches. Customers can pick from the selection of available soft serves and have it tucked between a sun and moon(pie).

All specials will be available for purchase Friday and will remain on the menu over the next week or two.

Got a restaurant recommendation? Contact Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com and on Twitter @TawneyBeans. And follow her food adventures on TikTok @akronbeaconjournal.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Eclipse-inspired creations hit menus of Akron area ice cream shops