It’s one of the surest signs we're awakening from winter. It comes before the grass grows and before the flowers bloom.
And today, as we head into our first week of double-digit high temps in 2021, it happened.
Tickleberry's, the Okanagan Falls ice cream, confection and gift shop that's been a valley landmark pretty much since its 1987 debut, opened its doors.
"We're open from now until the last Sunday before Christmas," said a happy Jessica MacLean, the GM of the shop's mile-long ice cream counter. "We're open 11 to 5 seven days a week, and longer in the summer."
Tickleberry's has a few surprises in store for the new season, including new all-vegan flavours such as mango, raspberry and pineapple. All are made in-house.
"We'll have 80 flavours at a time in the summer," said MacLean, "and we regularly rotate them so they're not always the same. Some are made here, others are sourced from premium suppliers."
And of course, COVID measures -- such as plexiglass screens at the ice cream freezer, socially-distanced lineups and mandatory mask-wearing -- will all be in effect until the pandemic blows over.
We checked out some of the merchandise then headed over to the Fudge Factory, where head chef Angie Ellingsen awaited.
Ellingsen's been with Tickleberry's for 21 years. She makes all the fudges and all the jams right there in the store, and says she also spends her time "helping make things pretty in the building."
She's doing a marvelous job on all counts. Tickleberry's has a great vibe and tons of stuff to check out, and the fudge is downright decadent.
You'll find Tickleberry's at 1279 Main Street, just a minute south of the OK Falls town centre. Like you didn’t know that already.
