The rain did not damper the Salisbury Elementary School Ice Cream Festival June 7; it was a perfect afternoon for the numerous families who turned out for the event.

Volunteer Megan Pascal explained it is a “give back” event. Students received a number of tickets to use for various activities and were given a coupon for a free ice cream treat. Guests could purchase more tickets if they wanted to do more of the activities. There were only a handful of activities that came at a cost. Everything else was free with tickets.

Volunteer Lauren Wellbank said the Ice Cream Festival “is a way to give back and celebrate the end of the year with the students and their families.” The school has been doing this event for over 60 years and is the longest-running event in the history of the school district.

Numerous information tables were set up to provide information including the PTO, the Allentown Public Library and the Scouting America Cub Pack and Troop 146. A photo booth, bounce house and cake walk were available in the main gym area.

Student Ryland Christ was happy to see his friend Brody McNeill win cupcakes on the cake walk.

Various games lined the numerous hallways. Toilet paper throws, Skee-Ball and spinning wheels were just a few of the many game choices. Amid the games, students could find face painting by Tootsee the Clown and Friends and Caricatures by Alexander Clare of Bethlehem. Jace Peterka dressed as Pedro, the mascot for Cub Pack/Troop 146 and could be found mingling throughout the event. An entertaining game of interest was the donut game. Donuts were attached to strings. With hands behind their backs, students could only use their mouths to eat the donut. Nora Davies, Milan Caceres and Kenneth De La Cruz took a chance at it. De La Cruz’s dad shared that “it was worth it” as he watched his son enjoy eating the donut at the end of the game.

Another popular station was the “Make your own candy stick” in which students could fill candy sticks with different flavors. There were also stations for sand art and painting.

Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church in Allentown held a book donation drive and volunteers brought about 500 donated books to have children pick a few to take home for summer reading. Volunteers Georgann Hafer and Linda Hoffman enjoyed seeing the smiling students and their families choosing books. Tabatha Hottenstein was happy to see the books available at no cost. Her daughter Aileen was thrilled to find a book on “Frozen,” one of her favorites.

An entire side of the gym was lined with donated baskets for the raffle event. Director of Fundraising Lauren Kormanik explained that practically everything at the event is free for the students with their tickets. “Every child receives a free ice cream or water ice as well as a T-shirt.” Any money raised from the basket raffle pays for the ice cream and T-shirts, which are the largest expenses as every student and staff member receives a free shirt. Any leftover funds are used for teacher and administrator requests for class activities, field trips or materials.

Kormanik was impressed by the turnout this year. “What better way to spend a rainy and cloudy Saturday afternoon?” Kormanik said.

Outside, as the rain stopped and sun appeared, many families enjoyed the food trucks and ice cream. Guests lined up for Sweet Scoops, Hanks Italian Ice, Uno Taqueria and La Frikitonia-Puerto Rican Flavor. Covered tents, chairs and tables were available for guests to enjoy their food and treats.

Students could even take a chance on dunking School Board Director and Salisbury Youth Association Coach Ian Riccaboni who fell into the dunk tank a few times throughout the afternoon. The line for this grew as the afternoon went on. Riccaboni said “he loved seeing the kids having a good time” and that he enjoys being a part of this every year. Members of the Salisbury police and Eastern and Western fire departments were on hand to provide for the safety of all the guests.