McKinney to host 13th Annual Killis Melton Ice Cream Crank-off

by Staff of McKinneyNews.net

Independence Day holiday doesn’t end with fireworks on July 4. Red, White and BOOM! continues on Saturday, July 5, as Historic Downtown McKinney hosts the 13th annual Killis Melton Ice Cream Crank-off presented by Clyde’s on the Square and McKinney Main Street. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors to the town square can shop the sidewalk sales and sample fresh, unique and homemade ice cream.

The competition, held in front of the McKinney Performing Arts Center, is open to the public. Pre-registration is not required, and contestants should arrive by 10 a.m. with an ice cream freezer and pre-mixed ingredients. Salt and ice will be furnished by Clyde's on the Square. The public can begin sampling the various ice cream flavors at noon. A minimum of $3 will be accepted in exchange for a sample cup. All proceeds from the sampling will benefit the McKinney Education Foundation in memory of Leslie Geer.

“What better way to spend a hot Saturday afternoon than cooling off with a sampling homemade ice cream? You can find flavors as unique as Curry, as gourmet as Chocolate Caramel Crunch, and as familiar as vanilla,” said Red, White and BOOM! coordinator, Ty Lake. “By moving the date of this favorite annual event to coincide with Red, White and BOOM!, it rounds out a very special weekend. The Ice Cream Crank Off in one more example of what makes our wonderful community truly unique by nature.”

Along with sampling ice cream, event attendees can enjoy Historic Downtown's specialty shops, art galleries, furniture stores, antique collections, gift shops, apparel boutiques and more than a dozen restaurants. Many will have sidewalk sales for the holiday. Doc n' Clyde's, a museum featuring more than 300 antique ice cream freezers and ice cream memorabilia, will be open during the festival. The museum is located at Clyde's on the Square, 102 E. Louisiana St. For rules, entry form and directions, visit www.clydesonthesquare.com. For more information on Red, White and BOOM! visit www.mckinneytexas.org.

“Ice cream is an American pastime, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our holiday weekend than this,” said Clyde Geer, owner of Clyde’s on the Square. “Everyone has some sort of fond memory about making homemade ice cream. My family and I enjoy putting this together each year, and our hope is that families throughout our community will continue to relive those special moments and cherish time spent with one another in Historic Downtown McKinney.”