Singapore has developed rapidly over the last 60 years, but the familiar jingle of ice cream carts, which have been roaming the streets of Singapore since the 1960s, is now hard to come by. This National Day weekend, Income Insurance, together with our local ice cream vendors, will be giving out free ice cream to the public – a small but nostalgic way to celebrate how far we’ve come.
Image credit: Rick Loh via Flickr
Income Insurance is celebrating SG60, as well as its 55th anniversary, by giving out free ice cream to honour not just the iconic ice cream carts we’ve all grown up with, but also the uncles and aunties who work tirelessly behind them.
These elderly ice cream vendors will enjoy complimentary personalised financial protection, such as the Enhanced SilverCare, a personal accident plan for seniors, or the Motorcycle Insurance to cover their push carts.
Image credit: @gal_a_tea via Instagram
Mark your calendar for 9th and 10th August 2025. The free ice cream treats will be given out from 11am to 5pm on both days, or until they run out, at 6 different locations.
| Area | Location |
| Bishan | Walkway between Junction 8 and Bishan Bus Interchange |
| Clementi | In front of the fountain at Block 441A Clementi Ave |
| Eunos | Eunos MRT |
| Orchard | Outside Wisma Atria |
| Punggol | Punggol MRT Exit C |
| Tampines | Between Tampines One and Tampines Bus Interchange |
Image credit: Christian Chen via Unsplash
Yes, but there are fewer than 15 vendors left in Singapore. So when you’re queuing up for the free ice creams, take a moment to soak in the nostalgia. After all, most of us grew up seeing ice cream carts near MRT stations, outside schools, and even at HDB void decks. They’re so synonymous with Singapore that many tourists flock to the ones along Orchard Road.
The licence for them to operate ice cream carts is personal, non-transferable, and applications are no longer open. This means the ice cream uncles and aunties you see today might be the last ones. Don’t forget to say a heartfelt thanks and offer some words of encouragement for their hard work and dedication.
What is Singapore without the uncles and aunties behind the ice cream carts? Whether you enjoy your ice cream with crispy wafer or rainbow bread, there’s no better way to celebrate National Day than with a free ice cream in hand. Let’s show our appreciation to the uncles and aunties who’ve been keeping this tradition alive all these years.
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Cover image adapted from: @gal_a_tea via Instagram, Dodz Photography via Flickr
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