(AUSTIN, TEXAS - Aug. 10, 2017; source: Juice Consulting) - The 11th annual Austin Ice Cream Festival presented by H-E-B is just around the corner this Saturday, Aug. 12 and what a better way to cool down this summer than a day at the beautiful Fiesta Gardens along Lady Bird Lake. The family-friendly festival will start at 11 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. and feature various activities throughout the day for all ages, such as frozen treat sampling from local and national brands, savory local food trucks and adult beverages. Guests can participate in numerous contests and activities including ice cream eating and frozen treat making competitions, an inflatable obstacle course, lawn games, a dunk tank, rock wall, water gun station, a movie in the park (7:30-9:30 p.m.), canoe and paddleboard rentals provided by The Expedition School and so much more.

This year's festival will also include two live music stages for both adults and kids with music presented by KUTX. The lineup includes Suzanna Choffel, DJ Chorizo Funk, Adam and the Bull Shark and Interrobang, an eight-piece brass band based out of the University of Texas. Elizabeth McQueen and Audrey Morton from KUTX will emcee the event.

THE 11TH ANNUAL AUSTIN ICE CREAM FESTIVAL MAKES FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE BIG DAY THIS SATURDAY, AUG. 12

Celebrity judges announced for this year's 'Best of ATX Frozen Treat' ice cream making contest and Elizabeth McQueen and Audrey Morton of KUTX announced as emcees; more than 7,500 attendees are expected to scoop up frozen flavors at Fiesta Gardens for this family friendly event

(AUSTIN, TEXAS - Aug. 10, 2017; source: Juice Consulting) - The 11th annual Austin Ice Cream Festival presented by H-E-B is just around the corner this Saturday, Aug. 12 and what a better way to cool down this summer than a day at the beautiful Fiesta Gardens along Lady Bird Lake. The family-friendly festival will start at 11 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. and feature various activities throughout the day for all ages, such as frozen treat sampling from local and national brands, savory local food trucks and adult beverages. Guests can participate in numerous contests and activities including ice cream eating and frozen treat making competitions, an inflatable obstacle course, lawn games, a dunk tank, rock wall, water gun station, a movie in the park (7:30-9:30 p.m.), canoe and paddleboard rentals provided by The Expedition School and so much more.

This year's festival will also include two live music stages for both adults and kids with music presented by KUTX. The lineup includes Suzanna Choffel, DJ Chorizo Funk, Adam and the Bull Shark and Interrobang, an eight-piece brass band based out of the University of Texas. Elizabeth McQueen and Audrey Morton from KUTX will emcee the event.

The general public will also cast their "Fan Fave Flave" vote for "Best of ATX Frozen Treat" ice cream making contest through the Austin Ice Cream Festival mobile app, powered by Vuevent. "Fan Fave Flave" voting started Saturday, Aug. 5 and continues on-site throughout Aug. 12. Winners of the "Fan Fave Flave," "Professional" category and "At Home" category will be named "Best of ATX Frozen Treat" and receive a commemorative Austin Ice Cream Festival trophy. Celebrity judges for the "Best of ATX Frozen Treat" "Professional" and "At Home" categories will include Doug Lyon (Ice Cream Fest Founder), Stacy Franklin (Franklin Barbecue), Trevor Scott (Host of CBS "We Are Austin"), Eric Silverstein (The Peached Tortilla), Kathy Valentine (musician/songwriter and member of the iconic band the Go-Go's), Brandon Watson (Austin Chronicle) and Dawn Weston (Edible Austin), Jane Ko (Taste of Koko) and Elizabeth McQueen (of KUTX and festival emcee). As part of the "Best of ATX Frozen Treat" contest, event samplers will submit an entry to the contest to be evaluated by the judges. At-home ice cream makers, hobbyist chefs and crafters can also submit homemade frozen treats to participate in the "At Home" category to be evaluated by the judges.

General admission passes to the festival are $15 and include three sampling tickets to redeem at up to 18 frozen treat-sampling stations presented by local ice cream, popsicle, shaved ice and frozen treat vendors. Children eight and under receive free admission. Additional sampling tickets will be available for purchase. Early entry ZiP Fast Freeze passes are $25 and will provide early event entry through a dedicated gate, access to an air-conditioned hospitality area and extra sampling tickets. More than 7,500 attendees are expected throughout the day, so festival-goers are advised to purchase their passes asap! All ages are welcomed. This is a pet-friendly event. For more information or to purchase passes, please see www.austinicecreamfestival.com

Samplers and Vendors

The 11th annual Austin Ice Cream Festival ice cream samplers will include the following: H-E-B Creamy Creations, Central Market Small Batch Craft Ice Cream, Swoon by H-E-B, Amy's Ice Cream, Austin Scoops, Cold Cookie Company, Dippin' Dots, Moojo, NadaMoo!, Tèo Gelato and Thai Fresh. Frozen treat samplers are Shaved Ice Island, Snow Monster, GoodPop, Steel City Pops, Casey's New Orleans Snowballs and Odd Pop. The savory food vendors include The Evil Wiener, Burro Cheese Kitchen, DFG Noodles, Shake Shack and Shawarma Point.

Sponsors

The Austin Ice Cream Festival is also thrilled to announce the official sponsors for this year's event including H-E-B as title sponsor and sponsor of the Ice Cream Eating Contest, Yeti providing our ZiP +plus Austin Ice Cream Festival branded Lowball Ramblers, Soozy's (gluten free muffins) and West Elm co-sponsoring the ZiP Fast Freeze Lounge, LCRA Parks sponsoring the Climbing Wall, So Delicious Dairy Free sponsoring the Bubble Station, Pecos Pete's All Natural Tea & Soda Co. sponsoring the Water Gun Station, Frost and We Are Blood sponsoring Yard Games, water sponsor GAMA and Shipt sponsoring the Chill Zone. We've also partnered with The Expedition School providing paddleboards and canoes, Om Henna for henna tattoos and SprATX, who will be adding some color with their live painting wall. Additional sponsors include, Renewal By Andersen, Bath Expo & Window Expo, Google Fiber, Springfree Trampoline, Inca Wasi Arts & Crafts, Kriser's Natural Pet, Camp Gladiator, Texas Beer Bus Tours, Tomlinson's Feed and State Farm. Media sponsors for this year's festival include KUTX/KUT, Texas Monthly, Austin Monthly, Time Out Austin, The Austin Chronicle, EASTside Magazine, Do512/Do512 Family, Edible Austin, Tribeza and Free Fun in Austin.

"The Austin Ice Cream Festival is the ultimate family summer celebration," said Austin Ice Cream Festival founder Doug Lyon. "This is a great chance to come together with friends and family to chill out and enjoy a unique Austin event. We are excited to feature new and interesting frozen treat flavors from some of Austin's favorite makers and new ones just coming on the scene. Grab a spoon and join us."

Contests

This "Best of ATX Frozen Treat" contest will run alongside Austin Ice Cream Festival ice cream eating and popsicle stick sculpture contests. In addition to these competitions, there will also be an Ice Cream Eating Contest for attendees to put their taste buds to the test as they race to eat frozen treats. There will be multiple divisions for half-gallon, pints, half-pints for the kids and more. Lastly, there will be a Popsicle Stick Sculpture Contest for contestants to create a sculpture made entirely out of popsicle sticks either at home or on-site at the fest and enter to win. A full schedule and additional Information on these contests can be found online at www.austinicecreamfestival.com