Summer is just around the corner and that means it is ICE CREAM SEASON!!!! But not just any ice cream—Dairy Queen Blizzard Ice Cream Season!!! For Dairy Queen has unveiled its new summer menu, just in time for the sunshine and warm temps. And with more than 4,000 stores in the US and 5,000 internationally, you shouldn’t have trouble tracking down one of their famous treats.
And for those in the Music City, we got a special preview of the new flavors Sunday, March 31st at the Cumberland Park. It may have been unusually chilly, but that they did not stop more than a thousand family members, friends, and fans from flocking downtown to enjoy free blizzards, games, T-shirts, prizes, food (the chicken strips are amazing), and country music of course! After all, we are Nashville 😊 And it was all made possible thanks to the new partnership between Dairy Queen and CMT.
Jamie Warnecke, Senior Director of Integrated Marketing for CMT, told our Country Note correspondent Amanda what it was like to work with DQ. “Everybody loves a blizzard first of all. And it’s been great to partner with somebody like Dairy Queen who very much has this ‘fans first’ mentality, similar to CMT. So, it’s been all about the fans and a great partnership throughout!”
Whitney McChane, VP of Marketing Communications for Dairy Queen, echoed Warnecke’s sentiments. Thrilled with the upbeat energy and joy that radiates from the state capitol, she told us that the CMT Sweetest Summer concert series is really the first of its kind that DQ has been a part of.
“It was an easy decision to partner with CMT because our fans love their music and because they’re so deeply ingrained in their community. We’re not just here supporting our new blizzard menu but also helping to raise some funds and show our support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.”
Dairy Queen has been a national sponsor of CMN for 30 years, having raised more than $1 million dollars for research, training, equipment and anything else needed to improve the lives of as many children as possible.
And what can put a smile on a child’s face more than the sight and taste of sprinkles, cookies, syrup, and any other magic you can add into the blue cup before it undergoes a transformation courtesy of The Blizzard Machine!
Speaking of which, you may find yourself asking what exactly goes into a blizzard and how do they keep track of all of the flavors over the years? Kelly Kenny, VP of Brand and Marketing at Dairy Queen, was on hand to answer those very questions.
“We have summer returning fan favorites like S’mores, Cotton Candy, and Summer Berry Cheesecake. Then we have two new flavors: Caramel Cannonball for the caramel lovers and Brownie Dough which is a mashup of brownie batter and cookie dough.”
With two new menus yearly (spring/summer and fall/winter) and over 700 flavors in the vault, it takes constant creative flow, innovation, and research to come up with new flavors or spice up old ones.
So– what’s everybody’s favorite blizzard? “It’s so hard to choose, “ says McChane. “My favorite is brownie dough—I’m a chocolate lover. So delicious. However, the s’mores blizzard which is a returning flavor is another favorite of mine. The Chocolate pieces with marshmallow inside are heaven.”
While Oreo Cookie Jar is definitely at the top of the list for OREO lovers (including us at The Country Note), we can definitely vouch for the s’mores delectable. That Sunday afternoon, we found out for ourselves the amount of work that goes into making this delicious treat when Dairy Queen and CMT invited The Country Note to peak behind the tent.
And if you ask rising pop-country sensation Walker Hayes, he likes to mix his Oreo crumbs with Butterfinger pieces!
Hayes’ set was one of four performances that rocked the Cumberland stage, hosted by CMT’s Marley Sherwood. Hayes’ energy swept across the entire lawn with fun tunes like “You Broke Up With Me” and “90s Country.” He followed 2019 ACM Vocal Duo Nominees Maddie and Tae, who serenaded the captive audience with their harmonies on songs like “Fly” and “Girl in a Country Song.” Carolina native and Opry member Josh Turner got the show started with “Your Man” and “Long Black Train” right around lunchtime. And of course, nothing says outdoor fun like the spunkiness of Lauren Alaina. With “90’s Ladies”, “What If”, and “The Road Less Traveled” making up her set list, fans belted every lyric with pride and excitement. Before she took to the stage for the last slot around 4:30, Alaina stopped by the CMT booth up top for a quick chat with CMT’s Katie Cook.
And if you weren’t there to witness it in person, CMT has got you covered! All summer long, you can find interview and performance segments on CMT, cmt.com, and on CMT’s socials! And of course, check it out on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown.
So, find a Dairy Queen near you and try one of these magical hand spun treats! Don’t forget to flip it upside down for some added fun. It won’t make a mess-we promise 😊 You can also join the Dairy Queen club for specials and discounts by visiting dairyqueen.com. Thank you to our friends at DQ Headquarters and CMT for such an eventful and memorable afternoon!
Watch interviews from the event here and for photos from CMT’s Sweetest Summer Celebration Presented by Dairy Queen, check out the photo gallery below: