Every year, the First Responders' Friends organize the Conestoga Classic Car Show to give community members an opportunity to check out classic cruisers and support local emergency services. The annual show has become a staple of Conestoga residents' autumn traditions, and the First Responders' Friends recently unveiled a similar event that will be held for the first time this year: Cars and Cones.

Cars and Cones will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 31, at Safe Harbor Park, 5365 River Road, Conestoga. Like the Conestoga Classic Car Show, Cars and Cones will feature a variety of classic cruisers and opulent automobiles, but the event will have a delicious twist: Members of the First Responders' Friends will dip and serve ice cream throughout the evening.

Parking will be available along the creek at Safe Harbor Park, and guests may acquire a space by paying a suggested donation per car. The parking donation will include two tickets for ice cream, which may be redeemed at the pavilion on the opposite side of the park. Under the pavilion, members of the First Responders' Friends will offer a hand-dipped ice cream for each ticket, and available flavors will include vanilla, chocolate, mint chocolate chip and Moose Tracks.

Designated parking spaces will be offered to vehicle owners who wish to enter their cars in the show, and no preregistration is required. Community members who would like to attend without participating in the show may purchase ice cream tickets for a small fee. The West Willow Fire Police will direct traffic and parking during the event, and a rain date has been set for Friday, June 7.

"In the car show world, they call it a 'cruise-in.' People can just enjoy the evening, take a cruise in their car and swing by," said First Responders' Friends board member Melanie Scheid. "Anybody can come. It's a good time to gather, check out some cars and share ice cream with their neighbors."

The idea for Cars and Cones was conceived after Brookfield Renewable U.S., the company that operates the hydroelectric plant at Safe Harbor Dam, contacted the First Responders' Friends to propose a new community event. Brookfield expressed interest in engaging the community adjacent to its facility, and the power company offered to host the event on its property. Brookfield also offered to offset the cost of supplies with a donation to the First Responders' Friends. The funds raised by Cars and Cones will benefit local emergency service organizations such as the West Willow and Conestoga fire companies, Pequea Township Police and Lancaster EMS.