ICE CREAM SAFARI AT CHATTANOOGA ZOO
Visitors to the Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave., can chill out eating ice cream while watching animal antics when the third annual Ice Cream Safari is held on Saturday, June 9, from 4 to 7 p.m.
"It's just something really fun to cool everyone down when the summer heat gets here," said Hannah Hammon, the zoo's director of marketing and communications.
Area vendors will be located throughout the 13-acre site serving ice cream and other sweet treats including nondairy options. Vendors include Mayfield Dairy Farms, Baskin-Robbins, MoonPie, Clumpies Ice Cream, The Ice Cream Show, Dippin' Dots, Icee, Wendy's and Food City.
In preparation for the fundraiser, the zoo will close to the general public at 3 p.m. before reopening at 4 o'clock for the Ice Cream Safari.
Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children ages 3 -12. Children ages 2 and younger are free. For an additional $5 each, guests get a wristband allowing them to enjoy ice cream throughout the zoo. The wristband also gives access to face painting, animal enrichment and animal encounters. Chattanooga zoo members get 50 percent off ticket prices.
If wristbands do not sell out in advance at $5, they will be sold on the day of the event for $8 apiece.
Zoo officials started Ice Cream Safari to offer more family-friendly events, said Hammon.
"It's a really fun experience because you get to go through the zoo, but you also get all the ice cream you can eat," she said.
"We want this event to bring in funds for operating needs," said Hammon. "We also want it to bring awareness to the community about the zoo, what all we hold here and how we can be a resource to the community."
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL AT CHATTANOOGA MARKET
Staff Report
We all scream for ice cream this weekend, apparently.
Chattanooga Market is also hosting an ice-cream fundraiser. One of the market's most popular summertime events, the Ice Cream Social is set for Sunday, June 10, at the market in First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. Market hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is free, but a $6 ticket is required to receive sample scoops from participants Brusters, Clumpies Ice Cream, Milk & Honey, Mayfield Dairy Farms and The Ice Cream Show.
All proceeds from sales will benefit programs of the Chambliss Center for Children.
"Two awards will be given: one for best pure flavor and one for best flavor with inclusions," says Katie Harbison, Chambliss Center vice president.
Each of the five ice-cream vendors will submit an ice cream into each category. People purchasing the ice-cream tickets can vote on their favorites in each category, she says.
Last summer's Ice Cream Social netted $5,300 for the agency, says Harbison.
Market spokeswoman Melissa Siragusa says "summer produce is pouring in with peaches, strawberries, and tomatoes." Summer vegetables coming into the market include squash, cucumbers, snap peas and more.
In addition to the fresh produce, marketgoers will find meats, cheeses, spices, fresh flowers and original crafts and art being sold by the market's 200 vendors.
For more information: 423-648-2496.