ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — This month, The Hop Ice Cream is feeling the love. The local ice cream parlor will mark Black History Month, Love Asheville Month and more seasonal celebrations with a calendar filled with new flavors, local collaborations and themed events across its locations.

“The month-long celebration highlights Black creators and local partners with the goal of uplifting our community,” wrote The Hop in a press release.

Café calendar

Sunday, Feb. 1: Local Love Boxes

The Hop launched its Local Love Boxes on its online store at the beginning of February.

“Each box features nine 5 oz cups highlighting local inspiration and collaborators,” The Hop said.

The flavors include:

Monday, Feb. 2: Peach Crumble Caramel Crunch ice cream release

One of the Local Love Box flavors, Peach Crumble Caramel Crunch, developed with Go Local Asheville and Cooking with Comedy, will be made available in all The Hop locations on Monday, Feb. 2. The flavor is available in both dairy and vegan versions.

8 a.m. to noon, Sunday, Feb. 7: Ice Cream for Breakfast Day with Chill Cereal Bar

The annual Ice Cream for Breakfast Day event returns to The Hop at 640 Merrimon Ave. with several local partnerships.

Ice Cream for Breakfast Day 2026 will include:

  • Chill Cereal Bar pop-up and flavor launch
  • West End Cinnamon Roll ice cream launch
  • $1 off Jitterbug Milkshakes
  • Bridge & Tunnel Coffee Truck on-site serving affogatos
  • Salted Caramel Doughnut ice cream sandwiches made with Hole Doughnuts

Wednesday, Feb. 11: Chill Your Chug, Local Love edition

Every one of The Hop locations will feature a favorite community deal on Wednesday, Feb. 11: Five scoops for $10 or $11 vegan, “encouraging guests to explore our locally inspired flavors on the menu,” The Hop said.

2:30-4:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14: Folk Saints Dulce De Leche pop-up

On Valentine’s Day, The Hop at 640 Merrimon Ave. will host a pop-up event by Folk Saints Dulce de Leche.

Sunday, Feb. 15: King Cake ice cream release

The Hop locations across town will receive King Cake ice cream, a Mardi Gras-themed flavor developed with Dough House just in time for the Asheville Mardi Gras parade.

2-3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15: Black History Month book event #1

In partnership with Read to Succeed and Books Alive with Miss Ann, The Hop at 640 Merrimon Ave. will host a Black History Month children’s book event. For this event, the book of choice will be “Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better” by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman, and include story time and family activities.

Go Local Asheville will be giving away free Go Local Cards to guests in attendance.

Tuesday, Feb. 17 to Monday, Feb. 23: Asheville Restaurant Week #2

The Hop will join in for Asheville Restaurant Week with Local Love Ice Cream Flights, highlighting collaborations like Peach Crumble Caramel Crunch, Local Love Boxes and other local items and special toppings. of locally inspired craft novelty items and topping specials.

1-3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21: Black History Month book event #2

For the second Black History Month book event at The Hop, 640 Merrimon Ave., Malaprop’s Bookstore presents Jorge Redmond, author of “Black Boy, Black Boy and Black Girl, Black Girl.” The story time event will also spotlight children’s books by other Black authors.

Go Local Asheville will be giving away free Go Local Cards to guests in attendance.

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