Photo by Madeline Scarborough Jayda Haynes, 6, Tiny Miss Apple of Your Eye, and her cousin Alice Haynes, 7, Little Miss Belpre, enjoy the ice cream social in Little Hocking Thursday.

LITTLE HOCKING — Although not as hot as last year, the sun was shining all Thursday for Fourth of July activities.

The weather brought out hundreds of people to the 56th annual Little Hocking Volunteer Fire Department Ice Cream Social.

Little Hocking Fire Chief Mike Chevalier said that this event is almost like a homecoming for the community.

“People come here to visit with family, friends and neighbors,” he said.

According to Wayne Mulligan, who has been an active member of the department for 59 years, the ice cream social has been part of Little Hocking since the 1960s and it’s always been held at Little Hocking Elementary School.

Photo by Madeline Scarborough St. Mark’s Church Preschool’s float won third place at the 56th annual Little Hocking Volunteer Fire Department’s Ice Cream Social.

“We used to set off our own fireworks back then, but not anymore due to how expensive everything has become,” he said.

Long-time attendee Charlene Kimberly said she enjoys how the social brings the community together.

“My husband and I have lived here a long time, and this gives us (an) opportunity to see friends we have lost touch with and support the fire department,” she said.

Seven-year-old Nicholas Mowrey of Vincent said this was his first time at the event, and he was very excited for it.

“The parade was cool, and there was a lot of candy,” he said.

Photo by Madeline Scarborough Crowds of people line up for food, drinks and ice cream after the parade at the 56th annual Little Hocking Volunteer Fire Department’s Ice Cream Social.

Emily Kemper, who was in from Waterford with her family, said that they attend the event with relatives.

“All the money from today goes to buy equipment and pay for training,” Chevalier said.

The social kicked off with the annual parade through Little Hocking.

Float awards were given to:

* Third Place: Little Hocking Garden Club.

* Second Place: St. Mark’s Church Preschool.

* First Place: Bob Powell Excavating.

There were also two awards given out to participating fire departments as well.

* Farthest traveled: Warren Fire Department

* Oldest truck in service: Little Hocking, whose truck has been on the roads for 60 years

Madeline Scarborough can be contacted at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com.