The weekend forecast may predict cloudy skies and cool temperatures, but the truth cannot be denied: ice cream season is upon us.
This year a couple of new businesses are appearing on the scene.
In South Royalton, mother- daughter duo Ellen Trottier and Lyndsey Stender are teaming up to launch LJ’s Scoops, an ice cream window inside the new-and-improved Royalton Deli on Chelsea Street. LJ’s is slated to open this weekend, while Trottier plans to unveil the deli on May 18.
A short drive away, on Route 14 in Sharon, the owner of iDeal Cannabis has tentative plans to open an ice cream window in the former Sandy’s diner building in mid-May. Sundaes, hard ice creams, maple creemees and a slew of toppings will be available, but no cannabis flavors, a store employee said.
While fledgling vendors polish their machines, the fate of one fallen scoop shop remains unknown. Dairy Twirl, the ice cream spot on Lebanon’s Mechanic Street, has remained vacant since a building fire forced the shop to shutter in January, 2025, though the business’ sign remains on the premises.
Efforts to reach Dairy Twirl’s owner by deadline on Friday were unsuccessful.
The area’s remaining ice cream offerings are vast and varied, from Ice Cream Fore-U’s towering cones of soft serve to Red Kite Candy’s scoops of Maple Caramel Swirl.
Below is a round-up of ice cream spots across the Upper Valley. Hours and days of operation are subject to change. Not seeing one of your favorite shops? Feel free to submit a business to be added to the list.
Claremont
Sundaez Ice Cream Bar, 50 W Pleasant St., Claremont: 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 12 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Check Sundaez’s website, sundaezicecreambar.com, for updated summer hours as they appear.
Wadeโs Place, 488 Main St., Claremont: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 12 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. 603-542-3774.
Fairlee
Jan’s Fairlee Diner, 614 Route 5, Fairlee. Check the diner’s Facebook page for updated hours. 802-333-3569.
Hanover
Hanover Scoops, Unit 104, 57 South Main St., Hanover: 1 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 1 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday; 12 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday starting in mid-June. 603-607-6877.
Red Kite Candy, 5 South St., Hanover: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Starting May 15, Friday’s hours will be extended to 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday’s hours will be 12 to 9 p.m. Then in early June, the shop will transition to its full summer hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 12 to 9 p.m. on Saturday. 603-277-9201.
Newbury, Vt.
Phoenix Scoops, 4991 US Route 5 South, Newbury. The owner hopes to open Phoenix in late June from 12 to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. 802-866-5681.
Plainfield
Macโs Maple, 259 River Road, Plainfield. The creemee window will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday beginning Motherโs Day Weekend. Starting in June, the window will be open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the end of August. After that, ice cream will be served from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday through the last weekend in October. 603-298-8008.
Randolph
Silloway Maple, 1303 Boudro Road, Randolph Center: Maple creemees are available 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Summer hours will be updated on Silloway’s website. 802-272-6249.
Sweet Scoops, 15 North Main St., Randolph: Hours are subject to change. Visit Sweet Scoops’ Facebook page for updated hours.
Sharon
iDeal Cannabis, 5772 Route 14, Sharon: The ice cream window, which is separate to the dispensary, is planned to open May 13. The window will be open from 1 to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday in May. Hours for the rest of the summer are to be determined. 802-587-5090.
South Royalton
LJโs Scoops, 232 Chelsea St., South Royalton: Open May through October, 3 to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday; 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday; 1 to 7 p.m. on weekends.
West Lebanon
Cold Stone Creamery, 10 Benning St., West Lebanon: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. 603-790-5015.
Ice Cream Fore-U, 298 North Plainfield Road, West Lebanon: The ice cream window is slated to open in mid-May, according to a Fore-U employee, but an exact date has yet to be determined. 603-298-6884.
Windsor
Boston Dreams, 7 State St., Windsor: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. 802-230-4107.
Frazer’s Place, 2066 Route 5 North, Windsor: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 802-674-9859.
Woodstock
Abracadabra Coffee Co., 35 Wayside Road, Woodstock: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The White Cottage Snack Bar, 823 West Woodstock Road: Open daily at 11 a.m.; closing at 10 p.m. in July and August. Call for closing times during the early and late season. 802-457-3455.
Woodstock Scoops, 20 Central St., Woodstock: 12 to 6 p.m. all week; 12 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday starting in mid-June. 802-214-3277.
