Katelyn Bauerbach, left, and her best friend Maizy Wilson wave at a Little Hocking fire truck as it passes out candy during the parade at the fire department’s ice cream social Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

LITTLE HOCKING — After a five-year hiatus, the Little Hocking Fire Department’s ice cream social made its return Saturday.

With a history dating back to the early 1970s, the community found itself at a loss when the event was postponed after they lost a location to host it.

“It was a big disappointment,” said Faith McClay, Little Hocking resident. “We’ve been coming here since our kids were little; now they’re a little bit bigger, but I think they’re just happy to have it back.”

The social kicked off with a parade honoring fire departments from Belpre to Little Hocking. Sirens blared and, for the kids, candy was tossed from nearly every float. The parade led a route back up to where the social took place at 95 Federal Road, the former Little Hocking Elementary School site.

Food and, of course, ice cream awaited everyone, as well as a raffle. As for activities, the social had a dunk tank, a bounce house, an inflatable course and hay rides.

The line for food at the Little Hocking Volunteer Fire Department’s ice cream social stretches out the door as hungry community members wait their turn Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

The evening promised more to the community including a live performance from The Matt Hansell Band and for the first time, fireworks.

“We wanted to try to make it special,” Little Hocking Fire Chief Mike Chevalier said. ” We had a bunch of good sponsors. The fireworks would’ve never been possible except for corporate sponsors and actually private sponsors to help us fund it.”

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.

Two boys try to sink a firefighter on the dunk tank during the Little Hocking Volunteer Fire Department’s ice cream social on Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)