Whiz Bang Days Ice Cream Tradition to Change After 25 Years
Whiz Bang Days officially kicked off Thursday in Robbinsdale. The space where the annual ice cream social is held will have a very different look come next year.
Thursday was a very hot day for the annual ice cream social in Robbinsdale.
“Whenever there’s free ice cream, you get a big crowd,” says Brad Bakken, president and CEO of Citizens Independent Bank. “How can you beat free ice cream on a 95 degree day?”
For the last 25 years, Citizens Independent Bank has dished out hundreds of free sundaes as part of the annual ice cream social in July. The event brings everyone together—police, fire, community groups and residents. People usually turn out in droves to have a sundae in the bank’s parking lot and green space.
“It’s just what we do for the community,” explains Bakken. “Over the years, it’s turned into the unofficial/official kick off to Whiz Bang.”
Ice Cream Social location may change….slightly
By this time next year, the area will have a different look and feel. Currently, the event happens next to Citizens Independent Bank. A developer is buying land around the bank to build a high end apartment complex called Birdtown Flats. The complex will have new amenities and 152 new apartments. Construction will begin this month, with residents moving in as soon as next year. So while the traditional Ice Cream Social may be changing for the sake of progress, organizers say it’s definitely not going away.
“We’ll always do it here,” says Bakken. “Next summer we will have it. There will be a new park here. We made sure with new development that there would be space to have it here.”
The 70th Annual Whiz Bang Days will run from July 12-15. The parade will roll on Sunday and the annual fireworks show over Crystal Lake will cap off the celebration that night.
