Despite the cold wind blowing outside, people waited in line Wednesday to get a free Rita's Italian ice in Pottsville.
The company has given away the free treat for the past 20-plus years to signal the first day of spring.
Last year, more than 1.2 million cups of Italian ice were given away to customers in a 10-hour period, according to the company's website, www.ritasice.com.
Cesario Borrero, 12, a sixth-grader at Pottsville D.H.H. Lengel Middle School, wore an orange winter jacket with his face sheltered against the cold while waiting for his red velvet ice.
Madeline Schuettler, 12, also a sixth-grader, stood with friends and enjoyed a guava Italian Ice.
"It's cold but it's worth it," she said about the weather and the ice as she talked with friends.
"I think it wouldn't be too bad if the wind stopped. It's so cold out, yet this is so good," said Kaitlin Brennan, 12, another sixth-grader.
Snow left over from Monday's winter storm still covered the ground on either side of the parking lot.
The Rita's location at 1640 Mount Hope Ave. serves about 2,500 cups of Italian ice during the first day of spring, said Donna Burke, regional franchise service manager for Rita's. A final count is not done until the end of the day.
"This year's a little colder," she said, comparing it to last year.
Kelsey Reed wore a red short-sleeve T-shirt to scoop out Italian ice. She said she was "a little bit" cold.
Toni Mcelvaney, owner of the Mount Hope Avenue location, said the lines had been steady since opening at noon, and the location stayed open until 9 p.m.
At the Rita's location on Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven, the cold treat also had people lined up waiting for a free ice.
Owner Renee Howell said the lines had been steady and there were 20 flavors to pick from.
"We've been doing quite well," she said of those stopping by. Before 5 p.m., they went through 16 tubs of ice, she said.
In 2012, the Schuylkill Haven location gave away more than 2,600 cups of Italian ice.
