We have already explored the best toys of ’80s summers — the Slip ‘N Slides, the Big Wheels, and the items that kept us outside until the streetlights turned on. However, no sweltering summer day in the ’80s was complete without the other half of the equation — the frozen (or nearly frozen) treats.
We aren’t just referring to the treats hiding in your freezer. Summer snacks in the 1980s were ubiquitous, found at gas station slushie machines, drive-thru windows, and ice cream trucks circling neighborhoods with that catchy tune that prompts you to yell, “CAN I HAVE A DOLLAR?!” and dash for the door.
Take the most obvious example — the Popsicle. By the ’80s, this iconic brand had been around for 50 years and achieved something that companies only dream of (or dread?) — its name became synonymous with the entire category. You would refer to anything frozen on a stick as a popsicle.
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Similar to toys, the ’80s heavily relied on merchandising, not only with new “summer blockbuster movies” but especially with video gaming, which was actually keeping more kids indoors (the horror!) during summers. You would see Mario, Pac-Man, and a few other unlikely cartoon mascots featured on popsicles and ice pops throughout this list.
Thanks to the rising diet culture of the ’80s, there were some genuine attempts at creating “healthier” or lower-calorie versions of these treats; however, notice who they were marketed to: not kids, but adults — predominantly moms. Quite rude, honestly. Kids still enjoyed them.
LOOK: These 27 Frozen (and Almost Frozen) Treats Perfectly Defined ’80s Summers
Grab a spoon, a stick, or just your bare hands — these are the treats that transformed a sweaty afternoon into a memory you’re still chasing decades later.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
LOOK: How Many of These Classic ’80s Summer Toys Do You Remember?
Whether you slipped and slid or jarted better than anyone else, the toys of your childhood summers were everything. Here’s a look at just some of the classics.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
