Story by Leigh Duncan, Contributing writer
It is that special time of year again as the annual Murray Ice Cream Festival is returning this weekend, Sep. 8 and 9. It is the eighth year that the event will be held downtown.
Deanna Wright, program director for Main Street Murray, said the ice cream festival has been a tradition for over 20 years now. This year the event will be a place where lovers of anything from cars to inflatables to country music can gather and celebrate over ice cream.
“We [Main Street Murray] are pretty much the coordinators of everything related to [the festival],” said Wright.
She said that events will take place both Friday, Sep. 8 from 5p.m.-8p.m. and Saturday, Sep. 9 from noon-5p.m.
On Friday the Rotary Scooper Bowl will take place, an event designed to raise money for nonprofit organizations involved with Main Street Murray. For $5, you receive all-you-can-eat ice cream while supporting nonprofits. Wright said that the “Despicable Me” spinoff movie, “Minions,” will be shown at 8 p.m. The Murray Lions Club has stated on their Facebook page that they will be offering free vision screenings at the event.
On Saturday a plethora of events and activities will occur, including a musical performance by Murray State graduate Arista Manning at 1p.m., karaoke, inflatables, bungee jumping and, of course, free ice cream.
“That’s the part everyone comes for, the free ice cream,” Wright said. The ice cream given out will be Kroger brand.
There will also be a cruise-in put on by The Metal Mafia, a vehicle enthusiast group founded seven years ago.
Lisa Pack, the cofounder of Metal Mafia, said the group has a set of rules.
“If it has wheels, bring it,” Pack said. “Sedans, trucks, motorcycles, four wheelers, tractors, anything with wheels.”
Pack said in this situation, every single vehicle is a show vehicle. Pack said that the Metal Mafia’s cruise-ins are a place for car enthusiasts to gather and discuss cars.
Pack also said that if you register with The Metal Mafia, you will be entered into a drawing. Names will be drawn roughly every thirty minutes. Prizes that you can win include gift certificates to restaurants, coupons for tire rotations, car baskets from AutoZone, coupons for oil changes and more.
The Farmers Market will also be present on Saturday, set up on South Fifth Street.
The Murray Ice Cream Festival will be held all around Court Square, which is off of Main Street. Admission is free and the event is child-friendly. The event is sponsored by the Murray Bank this year.