

Get Cranky!
June 6, 2027 | 12pm to 2pm
What's better than homemade ice cream on a hot summer day?
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FREE homemade ice cream on a hot summer day!
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We make homemade ice cream by using hand-crank ice cream machines to make a variety of flavors throughout the day.
In addition to ice cream, there are games, art, music, and more. Root beer floats will also be available all day!
How does it work?
Nancy Johnson patented the first hand-cranked model in 1843. William Young produced the machine as the "Johnson Patent Ice-Cream Freezer" in 1848.
Hand-cranked machines' ice and salt mixture must be replenished to make a batch of ice cream. Usually, rock salt is used. The salt causes the ice to melt and lowers the temperature in the process, due to freezing point depression. The temperature at which salt water freezes is lower than the temperature at which fresh water freezes. The sub-freezing temperature helps slowly freeze the edible mixture, making the ice cream.
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Some small manual units comprise a bowl with coolant-filled hollow walls. The paddle is often built into the top. The mixture is poured into the frozen bowl and placed in a freezer. The paddles are hand-turned every ten minutes or so for a few hours until reaching the desired consistency and flavor.

A Sweet Summer Tradition
There’s more to Get Cranky than ice cream! Enjoy a festive day filled with games, art, music, root beer floats, and activities for all ages. Bring the family, meet up with friends, and make some sweet summer memories with Carlton County Historical Society.

Games
While you wait for a new ice cream flavor, explore the grounds for CCHS to find a variety of games including bean bag toss, hula hoops, and bubbles!

Art
The art area has a large coloring mural to fill in with your friends and family as well as chalk to decorate the sidewalks!

Ice Cream History
Carlton County has been home to many cremeries, and its very own brand of ice cream, the OK Cloquet brand. Learn more about it inside!
