The Big Dipper Ice Cream Festival Returns to Worcester

Friday, June 21, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

The Big Dipper Ice Cream Festival is fun for all ages and benefits children.

The fabulous Big Dipper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival is returning to Elm Park in Worcester on Saturday, June 29th, courtesy of the organization Children's Friend, Inc. Visitors will enjoy an exceptional full day of fun, food and entertainment.

As always, all proceeds from the Big Dipper benefit the programs of Children's Friend, the oldest child and family service agency in central Massachusetts. Founded in 1849, they are celebrating 164 years of service to the children and families throughout the region. Their mission is to improve the lives of children and those who love them. The Big Dipper Festival itself was started by Children's Friend in 1989.

In addition to all-you-can-eat ice cream, there will be a food tent, a raffle, moon walks, speed pitch, basketball toss, face painting, a Polar sampling tent, balloons, team mascots, clowns, and music throughout the event. Representatives from WPI will be on hand to provide a robotics demonstration. The Worcester Fire Department, Worcester Library, Worcester's Cultural Coalition, Mass Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook, and Sweet Entertainment will also be in attendance.

But, of course, the ice cream is the most important thing of all. There will be ten vendors of ice cream, Italian ice, and frozen Greek yogurt at the park. They are: Coco's Tropical Ice of Auburn, Crystal Caves of Auburn/Robbie's Place, Coldstone Creamery of Millbury, Dairy Queen of West Boylston, Eurest Dining Services , Friendly's, Hood, Janine's Frostee of Ware, Turkey Hill and Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt.

Great Local Support

"There is no other all-you-can-eat ice cream festival in Worcester. Our ice cream vendors all do their utmost to provide a great service, and they have all become friends and fans of Children's Friend over the years," says Debby Huegel, Director of Marketing and Events for Children's Friend and organizer of this event.

"Besides that, we have extraordinary business support. Besides the cash sponsorships that we receive from many generous businesses, our meats and refreshments, paper goods, buns for hot dogs and burgers, electricity, moving vans, entertainment - even a treadmill for our "Walk on the Treadmill" tent - is donated."

To see a complete list of Central Mass business sponsors click here. Additionally hundreds of volunteers, especially from schools, help to make the event possible, including representatives from South High School, Spirit of Knowledge Charter School, Nativity School of Worceste r, and WPI. Sunrise Rotary Club of Worcester and Jr. League of Worcester are also involved.

Free entertainment will include Chuck and Mud, the award winning Dance Team InDaZone , Breje Williams, Joy of Music Jazz Ensemble, and the New England Dance Center . Tromboston, the 4-piece trombone quartet composed of Berklee and New England Conservatory musicians, will play throughout Elm Park and on the stage.

Something For All Ages

"Participants come from all walks of life and are all ages. There will be babies in strollers to senior citizens, all enjoying the ice cream and family activities. It is very family oriented, but many teenagers and college students attend, as well. There's something for everyone!" exclaims Huegel.

"We hope people will leave the Big Dipper with a smile, a full stomach, and a lot of great memories. It's another way in which Children's Friend helps to promote family values in a fun way for central Massachusetts."

Ages 10 and up pay just $5 for all-you-can-eat ice cream, ages 4 - 9 pay $1, and children 3 and under are free.

For more information on the Big Dipper Ice Cream Festival click here. For more information on Children's Friend, Inc. click here. The event begins at 10:30 am.