NATIONAL BLUEBERRY POPSICLE MONTH

September is National Blueberry Popsicle Month and a time to honor the creator of this tasty treat.

At age 11, Frank Epperson of Oakland, California, probably had no idea a simple mistake would make him an icon in the world of frozen treats. In 1905, Epperson accidentally left a glass of powdered soda and water with a mixing stick in it on his porch during a cold night. When he woke the next morning, he found his first creation of the ice pop. Blueberry to be exact. In 1923, Epperson patented the concept of ice pops. He initially called the treat “Epsicle” and later called it the “Popsicle.” A couple of years later, Epperson sold the rights to his invention the Joe Lowe Company in New York City.

Frank Epperson reportedly served the first ice pops at a fireman’s ball in Oakland, California. Since then, the Popsicle brand sells about two billion of their frozen treats a year. Though the most popular flavor is cherry. Blueberry popsicles have a few other variations to choose from besides the standard frozen ice pop. There is a Blueberry Greek Yogurt Popsicle and Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicle available too. If you prefer to make authentic ice pops, there are ice pop molds available for purchase. Martha Stewart is among those to have published recipes for blueberry pops.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

With the last warm days of summer, stay cool with a blueberry Popsicle.

Use #NationalBlueberryPopsicleMonth in social media correspondence.

NATIONAL FREEZER POP DAY

In the heat of summer, National Freezer Pop Day brings the sweet chill of relief! On July 8th, grab one of America’s favorite ways to cool off with a frozen sweet treat.

Freezer pops have a long history – one that’s over 60 years old. And that history includes kids and summer fun. What’s better than getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family? Well, perhaps cooling off with a freezer full of freezer pops in every flavor of the rainbow.

Summer is one of the best times of the year. It’s important to keep the freezer or cooler stocked with freezer pops of all varieties and textures. There’s one for people of all ages! They make the summer even better and more memorable. And they’re shareable, too. Everyone has their favorite flavor, and you know which one it is by looking in the seemingly always near-empty freezer or cooler. From lazy summer days to busy sporting events, these portable treats please even the pickiest crowd.

NATIONAL FREEZER POP DAY HISTORY

The Jel Sert Co. founded National Freezer Pop Day in 2020 to celebrate the summer and being a kid with freezer pops. The Jel Sert Co. is the maker of Fla-Vor-Ice, Otter Pops, Pop Ice, Kool Pops, All Sport, and Wyler’s Authentic Italian Ice.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalFreezerPopDay

Stock your freezer with freezer pops. Enjoy your favorite flavor and include a friend or family member in the experience. Share your summer day with us by using #NationalFreezerPopDay on social media.

NATIONAL BOMB POP DAY

The last Thursday of June is reserved for enjoying a summertime favorite.  It’s National Bomb Pop Day!   Invented in 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri, Bomb Pops are also known as the red, white and blue Popsicle.  Having one of these frozen treats is a terrific way to kick off the upcoming 4th of July celebrations in your community!

History

On July 30, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri, James S. Merritt and D.S. Abernethy created the Bomb Pop. Bomb Pop was given a trademark in 1971. Merritt Foods, owned by D.S. Abernethy, closed its doors in 1991, and Wells’ Dairy acquired the firm, along with Bomb Pops.

The Walt Disney Company and Wells’ Dairy agreed to jointly produce Buzz Lightyear Bomb Pops in 2003.

There have been several legal disputes between rivals selling similar-looking popsicles in 2014, but they were ultimately resolved.

Today….

The Bomb Pop is a frozen treat that Wells Enterprises now produces. Cherry, lime, and blue raspberry flavorings are present in the original flavor. There are nine primary Bomb Pop varieties as of 2015.[ Presently available varieties of Bomb Pop include Original, Fruit Bomb, Watermelon, Hawaiian Punch, Warheads, Jolly Rancher, Original Sugar Free, Banana Fudge, Lemonade, Tongue Splashers, and Nerds.

Here are some additional details that you may find interesting:

  • It is a popular treat for Independence Day celebrations in the United States.
  • The Bomb Pop is also known as the Firecracker Popsicle.
  • The name “Bomb Pop” was inspired by the Cold War, which was happening at the time the popsicle was invented.
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HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy one of these frozen treats and use #NationalBombPopDay to share on social media.

NATIONAL MOVIE NIGHT

Pop some popcorn, grab a blanket and your favorite buddy, put away the cell phones and tablets, and then queue up a string of movies for a fun night of entertainment. National Movie Night on the second Friday in June encourages us to start (or restart) a tradition of movie nights with friends and family.

Movies have been bringing people together for over 100 years. The stars, the stories entertain us, connect us and help us create memories. As technology evolves, so does how we enjoy our movie nights. From the theater to reel-to-reel home movies, the VCR, DVD, and streaming, we’ve been enjoying movies on big and small screens. Drive-in movies invited us to enjoy films from the comfort of our cars. Today, our video library is as large as we want it to be thanks to streaming services. We can even enjoy movies in our own backyards projected onto screens under the stars.

Can you smell the popcorn popping? Start your tradition with friends and family on National Movie Night with new and classic movies at the theatre or in your homes.

Jennifer and Jayda Borget, a mother-daughter duo fluent in movie quotes and authors of the Family Movie Night Journal, founded National Movie Night to create an opportunity to bring new and old movie night traditions to life. Be prepared to laugh, cry or cringe, but most importantly, to make memories! Need a list of suggestions for National Movie Night? This list at movienightjournal.com will get you started.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalMovieNight

What movie will you watch and who will you invite for National Movie Night? There are so many ways to start a movie tradition:

  • Make a movie night bucket list.
  • Share your favorite movie quotes.
  • Create a group with people who love movies. Plan to celebrate with a night out at the movie theatre.
  • Host a movie night in with the family. Pick a film the whole family will enjoy.
  • Invite friends and family for a movie night BBQ. Hang a sheet or screen to project the movie onto. Wait for it to get dark and then let the entertainment begin.
  • Load up the car and head to the nearest drive-in movie theatre.
  • Create a buffet of your favorite movie snacks and beverages for everyone to enjoy.
  • Ask everyone to write a review and deliver it in their best critic voice.
  • Invite everyone to dress in their red-carpet best for movie premieres and go to the movies in style.

Don’t forget to share your movie night traditions. Use #NationalMovieNight to share your celebration on social media and follow @movienightjournal. Sit back, hit play, and enjoy the show!

NATIONAL GRAPE POPSICLE DAY

May 27 calls for warm weather and sunshine so we can recognize National Grape Popsicle Day.

In San Francisco, California, in 1905, 11-yr-old Frank Epperson was outside on his porch, mixing water with a white powdered flavoring to make soda.  Upon going inside, he left it there on the porch with the stirring stick still in it.  That night the temperature reached a record low and the following morning, Frank discovered the drink had frozen to the stick.

Years later, in 1922, Epperson introduced his treat at a fireman’s ball where it was a huge success. Then in 1923, he made and sold his frozen treat-on-a-stick at an amusement park in Alameda, California.  Epperson applied for a patent in 1924 for his frozen confectionery, which he called “Epsicle” ice pop.  He then renamed it “Popsicle“.

Popsicles are one of summertime’s favorite treats for kids of all ages. National Grape Popsicle Day honors one of the most popular flavors!

I remember how much fun we had making our own, then enjoying them on a hot summer day. I hope to pass this fun summer treat on to my nieces and nephews. There’s nothing better than summer as a kid. We played outside, begged to run through the sprinklers, and enjoy picnics, barbeques, and popsicles.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Use #GrapePopsicleDay to post on social media.