The church has been holding the event since 1975.
Fair weather for St. Peter Lutheran Church Ice Cream Social in Otisco
Thu, 07/24/2025 - 12:30am
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Otisco held its annual Ice Cream Social on Sunday, July 20, to seventy-degree temperatures and a light wind. With Farm and City Days over in New Richland, St. Peter’s offers a nice, relaxing way to unwind after a long weekend. The event is held under tents on the church lawn. There were cars parked 15 deep along the street to the east and west of the church with many coming and going.
Starting at four, on the menu for the night were sloppy joes, calico bean hotdish, potato salad, many many pies with ice cream, coffee and lemonade. The event continued “until the food was gone.”
“Made” said organizer Pat Lewer, “by members of the church and donated for today.” Mary Hoy, who was taking donations added, “It’s our church's ice cream social, we do it every year. This started out in 1975 and we always time it so it happens toward the end of Farm and City Days out of New Richland. When people are done over there, they can come here to relax afterwards. Every member I know made two pies, but I know for sure they all made at least one for tonight.”
All proceeds go toward whatever the church needs. Last year more than $2,000 was raised; funds were used for some roof repair. The year before that (2023), income went to repair the bell tower. Organizers said attendance this year was down a bit, with 140 people attending and $1,400 raised. Hoy was philosophical about it, saying there have been slow years before. “Luckily,” she said, “we have a beautiful day to accompany us again, if God wants us to get there, we’ll get there.”
Looking at their history, twenty years ago in 2005 there was an evening that threatened rain. So, the St. Peter ice cream staff put up tents and have kept them around since. With more than 15 volunteers, there was no shortage of people willing to lend a hand. To keep an accurate tally, they don’t count heads, they count the number of plates being used to keep track of how many had been served.