Since 1995 there has been an ice cream festival in June in this small town. The festival includes a cranking competition, as well as a taste competition. You may purchase tickets to sample all the entrants and vote for the one you like best. There are many rides for the kids and plenty of food, featuring a square hamburger. The event is held on Chestnut square, and there is an ice cream freezer museum open for tours. Children of all ages can learn to make ice cream free.
Get your year started off with a bike ride at Blue Ridge, Texas on the first day of the year. The event is organized by a local bicycle club. There is an entry fee and you can get a T-shirt commemorating the ride. These are fairly long rides in the Texas countryside and you need to have your own bicycle and some experience is recommended. Route maps are handed out, and there are three routes available -- of 15, 28 and 40 miles. The event starts and ends at the Blue Ridge Community Center. This is not a competition, but meant to be an enjoyable ride for all.
Friday night high school football is a tradition in most parts of the country, but it is especially big in rural Texas. There are high school stadiums that seat more than 10,000. The one in Blue Ridge is not that big, and they do not have a great winning tradition, but they still take their football seriously. There is usually some pageantry along with the games, halftime band performances and of course some football.
Independence Day celebrations are big in nearby Melissa, Texas, which is 10 miles west of Blue Ridge. The event is held on the first Saturday of July. The day starts with activities for children, such as face painting and bouncing houses. Food is available from area vendors starting early in the afternoon. A parade is held on Main Street early in the evening, and then there is a band. The day ends just after dark with a large fireworks show.
