The Scoop on the Ice Cream Festival

An estimated 10,000 ice cream lovers will converge on downtown Toms River for today's

Here's the complete schedule and some tips to help you navigate one of the biggest events in Toms River.

Tasting kits may sell out, and the People's Choice tasting lasts until 3 p.m., though the event itself is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. So don't arrive too late to count yourself among the judges.

Admission is free. So is parking, though it may be hard to come by. Try the lots on West Water and Irons Street, near the post office, for a short walk to Washington Street.

If you are trying to drive downtown and wonder what all the traffic is about, you must not have read this article. Instead of a crawl down Hooper Avenue south of the high school or navigating Main Street to get downtown, consider using the parkway, or the Highland Parkway.

Transversing Washington Street won't be possible between Main and Hooper, with roads expected to close early for vendors to set up. Be careful near Water Street, too, as the Wooden Boat Festival is going on, creating extra pedestrian traffic in the area.

Here's the lineup of the day's events:

11:30 a.m. to 12:15: Oceanaires Barbershop Chorus

12:15 to 12:30 p.m.: Kid's Ice Cream Eating Contest

12:30 to 12:45 p.m.: Adult Ice Cream Eating Contest

12:45 to 1:45 p.m.: The Kootz Band

1:45 to 2 p.m.: Kid's Ice Cream Eating Contest

2 to 2:15 p.m.: Adult Ice Cream Eating Contest

2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.: The Tidal Wave Band

4 to 4:15 p.m.: Children's Ice Cream Eating Contest