CHESAPEAKE — Chesapeake United Methodist Church will have its annual ice cream festival to celebrate July as National Ice Cream Month.

The festival will be from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday.

The festival will be block party-style in the streets surrounding the church, located at the corner of Second Avenue and Fifth Street in Chesapeake.

The feature of the event each year is homemade ice cream along with hot dogs and sauce and drinks, all available for free. Ice cream will be available this year in chocolate, vanilla, sugar free vanilla and peach flavors.

“The festival was started in 2005 as an ice cream social at the church,” said pastor Chuck Case. “We moved to the Chesapeake Triangle park for several years, and then returned to the streets around the church two years ago because of the rain shelter and restroom facilities. We continue to put it together every year because our mission focus is providing basic needs for children in our community, and this provides a nutritious meal, entertainment and fun.”

Free inflatables and other games for children will be available. Everyone will be invited to register for door prizes from many community business sponsors.

The special music entertainment will be provided this year by the Huntington Harmonica Club.

“We hosted the club this year for our leadership banquet and knew we wanted to ask them to our ice cream festival,” said Case. “I remember how impressed I was with their variety of music and styles, and they even gave me a harmonica lesson.”

In case of rain, the festival will be moved inside the church.

Parking is available in nearby parking lots and on nearby streets.