The 28th annual Broughton Ice Cream Social will bring thousands of people to the Washington County Fairgrounds for cold and refreshing ice cream and other treats from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $3.50 in advance and $4 on the day of the social.
July is National Ice Cream Month and the second Sunday in July is National Ice Cream Day. For over a quarter-century, Marietta-based Broughton Foods LLC has celebrated with the annual ice cream social. Money raised from the event goes to assist area organizations and programs, said organizers.
Proceeds from this year's social will benefit the Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities Ewing School and WASCO Workshop to raise funds to help with about $100,000 in repairs for their pool.
The 30-year-old swimming pool is used by a variety of people throughout the community, including children and adults with disabilities who benefit from the heated therapeutic waters. Marietta Memorial Hospital also makes use of the facility for patient therapy and "arthritis swims" are offered to the entire community on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
Over the past 27 years, the company has helped raise over $450,000 to help 35 organizations.
There will also be live musical entertainment at the social.
Tickets can be purchased at Broughton Foods, Ewing School and WASCO Workshop, the Washington County Courthouse Cafe, Heart to Art Jewelry, Marietta Harbor, Apex Feed and Supply, banks in Beverly, Waterford and Williamstown and at Peoples News in Marietta.
As in past years, Broughton Foods will donate all of the ice cream, fruit drink and iced tea along with supplies and equipment. The J.M. Smucker Co. will donate the toppings for sundaes and the Marietta Brewing Company will donate its locally-brewed root beer for floats.
Several hundred volunteers, including Broughton employees, are involved in putting on the social.
