The second annual New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival in downtown Toms River will take place July 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Washington Street.
For $4 per person, festival-goers can savor the different ice cream flavors produced by contestants from all over the New Jersey region and vote for their favorite flavor. Tickets are limited.
The event features competitions for People’s Choice Best Flavor — Name Brand and Local, as well as a Special Judges Panel for Best Flavor, Name Brand and Local.
Some contestants returning this year are Leiby’s Dairy of Tamaqua Pa., Applegate Farms of Upper Montclair, and new this year, Lollipops Ice Cream of Mount Laurel, along with many others.
While the ice cream will provide a cold treat, Washington Street is sure to heat up from the live sounds of Inside Straight, a popular group performing classic rock hits, R&B and danceable tunes. The festival will provide children’s rides by Inflatable Adventures, food vendors, crafters and more.
The Toms River Business Improve-ment District (TRBID) is producing the ice cream festival in celebration of National Ice Cream Month.
"Ice cream is a part of the experience of summer at the Jersey Shore, and Toms River has long been the gateway to the shore experience for hundreds of thousands of people," said TRBID Chairman Frank Capone. "It is appropriate for us to host this celebration of ice cream and family fun at the shore."
Volunteers from the Ocean County Historical Society will demonstrate the old- fashioned way to make ice cream. Modell’s Sporting Goods will be on hand promoting its "Team Week" program, a fund-raiser for nonprofits, with a football toss.
Lovers of banana splits will have the opportunity to learn more about their chosen ice cream treat from Michael Turback, author of "The Banana Split Book, Everything There Is to Know About America’s Greatest Dessert." Turback will be a judge for the ice cream competition and will be available to autograph his book and talk with fellow ice cream lovers about sundaes.
For more information on how to compete as a contestant at the event, and for more details about the event, visit www.DowntownTomsRiver.com.