Dreamland Margate celebrates 99th birthday with huge ice cream
Published: 08:40, 03 July 2019
Updated: 08:40, 03 July 2019
Dreamland is celebrating its 99th birthday today and has created a huge 99 ice cream to mark the occasion.
The seaside amusement park's flagship scenic railway opened on July 3, 1920 and the Margate attraction is now counting down to its centenary next year.
The giant 99 was created using 40 litres of ice cream and a massive chocolate flake made of 20 different pieces.
Only one visitor was able to see the extreme ice cream with three-year-old Edith given a peak of the massive treat.
Dreamland chief executive Eddie Kemsley said: "We don’t do things by halves at Dreamland – we promise the biggest smiles, the biggest screams, and the biggest laughs.
"So we decided to start our centenary countdown with the biggest treat we could make."
The celebrations at Dreamland will continue at the weekend with a big ice cream giveaway on Saturday.
The first 99 guests through the gates at 10am will receive a free 99 ice cream cone with flake from the park's Stylish Ice Cream Company van in the food court.
The park is launching its Dreamland 100 Memories campaign today asking past and present visitors to share their memories, experiences and photos from the park.
Managers are now planning a major programme of events, installations and activities in 2020 to mark 100 years.
It has set up a special Facebook page where people can share their photos and memories for the next 12 months and will continue to work with the Dreamland Trust - the group instrumental behind the park reopening and responsible for managing the park's archives and heritage.
Ms Kemsley added: "There are so many incredible stories about Dreamland out there, and there must be hundreds of pictures we haven’t seen yet.
"We are particularly interested in identifying some of the people in our very old photos. So if you or your family were regulars at Dreamland in the past, and have the pictures to prove it, then please get in touch.
"Whether you first visited 9 weeks ago or you know someone who was here when Dreamland first opened in 1920, please share your story with us this year."
For more details about the park - which will be open every day from July 19 to September 1 and is free to enter - visit the Dreamland website.
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Matt Leclere