Toms River,,NJ - Ice cream lovers mark your calendar! Don't miss the 6th Annual New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival on Saturday, July 19 from 11:30 am to 5 pm in Downtown Toms River. The Festival, which will be on Washington Street, has something for the entire family, with inflatable rides, street performers, crafters, vendors, food and live entertainment. It's held in celebration of National Ice Cream month, and State Senator Andrew R. Ciesla and Assemblymen David W. Wolfe and James W. Holzapfel have honored the event with a Joint Legislative Resolution.
Of course, a visit to the festival wouldn't be complete without trying some of the cool, delicious treats! Attendees wishing to sample and vote on the ice cream entries in the People's Choice category can purchase tasting kits for a nominal fee. Tasting starts at 12 noon and runs to 3:30 pm. Tasting kits are $5 in advance or $6 the day of the event. Visit www.icecreamfest.com for details
Festival attendees will enjoy the on stage performances by "Waitri," the cabaret singers who double as wait staff at Show Place Ice Cream Parlour in Beach Haven; The Garden Statesmen, the Barbershop Chorus' Princeton Chapter; and the ever-popular Yosi and The Superdads. The fun continues with ice cream eating contests, children's games and inflatable rides.
There are two changes to this year's festival. The "Special Judges" segment of the competition will be a totally separate category so that quality, family-oriented ice cream parlors from throughout the state can be judged on an even playing field. Participants in the Special Judges category will be asked to submit a gallon of vanilla for judging by the panel
The second change is the public can nominate their favorite ice cream parlor as a potential invitee for the Special Judges competition. Details regarding the nomination process will be announced shortly and will be available on the festival's web page on the Downtown Toms River site www.downtowntomsriver.com.
This year's contestants to date include Farley's Homemade Ice Cream, Jackson; Applegate Farm, Upper Montclair, who placed first in last year's People's Choice category; Sweet Kate's Ice Cream, Forked River, who placed first in last year's Special Judges category; and Baskin Robbins whose ice cream garnered accolades last year as a national entrant in both the People's Choice and Special Judges categories.
The New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival is sponsored by Commerce Bank, Comcast, First Energy Foundation (JCP&L), Extra Space Storage, HealthSouth, New Jersey Natural Gas, United Water of Toms River, Mr. Alan's Florist, Tracey Harman Photography and radio stations WJRZ and The WRAT. For further information on all of Toms River's summer events, visitwww.downtowntomsriver.com or call 732-341-8738.
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