Edible balloons, frozen treats: Ice Cream Museum is coolest

NEW YORK — Move over Willy Wonka. A temporary museum dedicated to all things ice cream is treating visitors to edible balloons, a Chocolate Chamber, a “swim” in a pool of faux rainbow sprinkles and, of course, scoops of heavenly ice cream.

New York’s Museum of Ice Cream is the lifelong fantasy of 24-year-old, co-founder Maryellis Bunn.

The six-room tour begins with a free scoop of ice cream.

In the next room, helium-filled, edible balloons produce giggles as visitors’ voices are transformed into high-pitched squeaks.

Admission is free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. After that, it costs $18 per person or $30 for two. The museum closes Aug. 31.

The biggest attraction is a large pool filled with 11,000 pounds of confetti-colored sprinkles. Visitors can immerse themselves in the fake candy. Posted rules say: “Make a wish,” ”Dip at your own risk” and “Caution: May cause spontaneous happiness.”

Happiness was on the minds of Bunn and her co-creator Manish Vora who frequently asked “Are you having fun?”

The two launched the project to fulfill Bunn’s childhood dream of swimming through a pool of sprinkles. They also enlisted over 30 artists to create — what else? — ice cream-themed works of art. Each artist “brings a unique voice” to his or her creation, said Bunn.

In a nod to Willy Wonka, the Chocolate Chamber is entered through a satiny brown curtain to a musical remix of “Pure Imagination.” A chocolate fountain, free chocolates, cocoa-bean shards on the floor and an immersive chocolate video can be viewed from the comfort of a large bean bag.

Elsewhere, visitors can suck on a dehydrated Miracle Berry that can alter the sourness of lemon slices atop an ice cream cone into a sweet delight.

The tour ends in TinderLand, a playground featuring an ice cream scoop seesaw and an ice cream sandwich swing for two.