I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream…

TOMS RIVER, NJ, July 6- Beat the heat of summer with cold treats and good times at the 2nd Annual NJ State Ice Cream Festival downtown here, Saturday, July 24th from 11am to 3 pm along Washington St.

For only four-dollars per person, festival goers can savor the different ice cream flavors produced by contestants from all over New Jersey region and vote for their favorite flavor. Tickets are limited. The event features competitions for Peoples Choice Best Flavor - Name Brand and Local, as well as a Special Judges Panel for Best Flavor, Name Brand and Local.

Some contestants returning this year are Leiby’s Dairy of Tumaque PA, Applegate Farms of Upper Montclair, and new this year, Lollipops Ice Cream of Mt. Laurel plus more! While the ice cream will provide a cold treat, Washington Street is sure to heat up from the live sounds of Inside Straight, a popular group performing classic rock hits, R& B and danceable tunes. The festival is full of family fun including kids’ rides by Inflatable Adventures, food vendors and crafters, and so much more!

The Toms River Business Improvement District (TRBID) is producing the Ice Cream Festival in celebration of National Ice Cream Month. “Ice Cream is a part of the experience of summer at the Jersey Shore, and Toms River has long been the gateway to the shore experience for hundreds of thousands of people,” observed TRBID Chairman Frank Capone. “It is appropriate for us to host this celebration of ice cream and family fun at the shore.”

Volunteers from the Ocean County Historical Society will repeat its popular kids activities and demonstrations of the old- fashioned way to make ice cream, a real treat for the little ones! Local TRBID merchant Modell’s Sporting Goods, is to be on hand promoting its “

Lovers of banana splits will have the opportunity to learn more about their chosen ice cream treat from Michael Turback, author of The Banana Split Book, Everything there is to know about America’s Greatest Dessert. Turback will be a judge for the ice cream competition and will be available to autograph his book and talk with fellow ice-cream lovers about sundaes.

This years’ event Media sponsor is 92.7 WOBM FM. The radio station will be on hand to provide music and giveaways. Other sponsors include the Atlanta Bread Company, Cole Financial, Gateway Toyota, Ocean First Bank and Papetti’s Foods.

For more information on how to compete as a contestant at the event, and for details for the general public, visit www.icecreamfest.com.

The TRBID is involved in producing numerous downtown events and promotions including the Cruisin’ Downtown 2004, runs the second Wednesday of the month through September. For more information regarding the BID can be obtained by calling 732-341-8738 or visiting the BID’s web site at www.DowntownTomsRiver.com.