Super Size: New Castle Ice Cream Festival returns this weekend
The New Castle County Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood calls itself Delaware’s largest family picnic, and the 2018 edition sounds like a super-sized version.
Here’s our annual guide to the festival:
The basics: The festival runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 23, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at the county-owned Rockwood Park, 4651 Washington St., North Wilmington. Admission is $5; children under 12 get in free with a paying adult. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome. Details: http://wjbricecreamfest.com.
Kids are us: “It’s all about the kids,” said Barry Schlecker, who in 2012 took over planning and promoting the festival, duties he shared this year with WJBR and the county. That explains the emphasis on “children participating and interacting with stuff” and children’s entertainers.
Nice ideas: Free samples of more than 40 flavors of ice cream are courtesy of Hy-Point Farms, the festival’s sole supplier of ice cream. Hy-Point is debuting some summer flavors, such as bubble gum, and has an allergy-free section and ice cream for dogs. AJ Lurie, vice president and market manager for WJBR, promises lower prices. The costliest ice cream is $5, for a double-dip waffle cone.
Vendors — 95 percent from Delaware — sell “a tremendous variety of food,” Schlecker said. (Despite the picnic slogan, you can’t bring in food. Nor can you smoke.)
A picnic, plus: Lurie counts at least a half-dozen new items, all in a redesigned layout. “We want to keep it fresh,” he said, “and keep it a tradition.”
- In Princess Park, various Disney princesses appear two at a time for storytelling, face-painting and hairstyling. They’ll also help build $3 ice cream sundaes.
- The 300-foot zip line ride costs $10. In the Bungee Bounce, participants strap on bungee cords and jump on a trampoline. The cost is being determined.
- Pony rides, the Touch a (Hy-Point Farms) Tractor and the photo booth are free.
Wait, there’s more: Grandpop Bubbles was so popular in his one-day debut last year that he is back both days and with more space for his Giant Bubble Park. The meet and greet with the Paw Patrol and Marvel characters adds the Black Panther. The beer garden adds a tailgating section and cornhole.
Returning features include carnival games, entertainers, trapeze artists, live alpacas (“some of the softest animals I ever felt,” Lurie said), train rides that debuted last year and the Faithful Friends pet adoption center. J Bear, the WJBR mascot, is joined by mascots from the Delaware Blue Coats and Wilmington Blue Rocks. Booths showcase nonprofits, businesses and artisans.
The 1851-54 park mansion is open, decorated in the style of descendants of Joseph Shipley.
Parking: There’s not much street parking within walking distance. Free shuttles run from lots at Merchants Square, 4300 Gov. Printz Blvd.; Mt. Pleasant High, 5201 Washington St.; and Rockwood Office Park, 503 Carr Road. Handicapped-accessible parking is at Rockwood.
A brief history: The festival began in 1983 as a fundraiser for the Friends of Rockwood. New Castle County later took it over, canceled it because of costs and brought it back. The festival again this year benefits Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.
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