Temperatures in the mid-90s on Saturday paved the way for a popular annual event, the Escalon United Methodist Church ice cream social. Served up at the church on Jackson Avenue, the social is the community’s unofficial ‘end of summer’ event, bringing together residents to enjoy some homemade ice cream, a slice of pie or a brownie, and some conversation.

Coordinator for the ice cream social is Klint Turner, who has taken over running the gathering from his grandmother, longtime coordinator Annabelle Martin. The social, officials said, is a tradition that goes back some 50 years.

Martin was on hand Saturday to enjoy the social, and sat back to watch her grandson run the show.

Turner said there were eight varieties of homemade ice cream available: vanilla, mocha chocolate and coffee, mint ‘n chip, chocolate, peach, avocado key lime, strawberry, and raspberry swirl and chocolate chunk.

“We had about 110 people come,” Turner said of the good turnout.

Donations are accepted at the ice cream social and proceeds help pay for various church programs and projects.

A crew of volunteer scoopers was on hand to serve up as many flavors as attendees wanted to try. There were also slices of pie, brownies, cookies, water and coffee served.

Freshly made pies gave a preview for this fall, when the church will have its annual bazaar and will sell a variety of whole pies, ready for baking.

Among the helpers in the ice cream line was eight-year-old Easton Leon, who said he chopped up some chips and mixed in many of the ingredients for the mint ‘n chip variety.

Residents gathered at the many tables set up in the church social hall, which has recently had carpet installed, along with a new coat of paint and new blinds, giving it an overall fresh and inviting appearance.