Annual Ice Cream Festival Scoops Up The Fun In Broken Arrow

There are many ways to tell someone ‘Thank you.’  Thank you can be said with a card, with flowers or with a gift, but this summer, one of Broken Arrow’s core businesses is saying thank you in the sweetest way possible: with ice cream.

Blue Bell Ice Cream, in partnership with the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce, will be hosting the Taste of Summer Ice Cream Festival as a means by which the local creamery offers its thanks to its host community through a day of family-friendly fun and ice cream.

“This is Blue Bell’s giveback event – one in which, they give back to the Broken Arrow community,” said Jessica Mugg, events and communications director, Broken Arrow Chamber. “In the past, Blue Bell had hosted the Taste of Summer event out at their factory, but over time, with the number of people coming in and the amount of traffic, the event eventually outgrew the plant.

“Following this, Blue Bell representatives approached the Chamber to inquire what could be done to help retain the annual event, as it was growing so big – in previous years, there have been more than 12,000 people in attendance – that it was in danger of going away – no one wanted that,” she continued. “The event proved so successful, it outgrew its space, so we were happy to partner with Blue Bell and moved the event to Central Park on Main Street to retain this popular summer celebration.”

Slated for July 20 – not coincidentally during National Ice Cream Month – the Taste of Summer Ice Cream Festival will bring a day of fun, activities, and live entertainment to downtown Broken Arrow, along with ice cream – and plenty of it.

“Blue Bell will be providing all-you-can-eat ice cream for attendees, and they always bring out a huge variety of flavors – last year, we had more than 20 different flavors of ice cream available,” Mugg said. “As in the past, there will be a kid’s zone, with inflatables, games, and arts and crafts for the children, as well as a ‘touch a truck’ area to give the kids the chance to get up close and see some bigger pieces of equipment.”

For an entry fee of $5, everything is free, except for items purchased from food and marketplace vendors, and the outing allows the public to meet the men and women responsible for Blue Bell Ice Cream.

“It’s a lot of fun - it’s amazing to see all the people who come out to this event and to see the Blue Bell volunteers interact with their customers one-to-one,” she said. “Closer to the event date, we’ll be revealing the flavors to be featured this year.”

According to Blue Bell’s website, the company offers 66 different flavors of ice cream, 20 of which are offered year-round, with the additional two to three dozen being offered seasonally.

Aside from being a uniquely ice cream-centric event, the Taste of Summer is remarkable in that it’s “a truly family event,” according to Mugg.

“This is one of those events at which the entire family can come out, enjoy as much ice cream as they want, and enjoy the day together,” she said. “You know how certain events target certain age groups or members of the population? This is an event that’s held specifically for entire families. I kind of think of it as our family-friendly block party – everyone gets together, has a great time, and enjoys ice cream. It’s such a fun event.”

Blue Bell’s Taste of Summer Ice Cream Festival powered by Oneta Power will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Central Park, 1500 South Main Street in Broken Arrow.

Paid event parking will be available adjacent to the festival site, with parking proceeds going to benefit the Broken Arrow Band.