I’d hoped to do a roundup of tax day freebies, but this free shaved ice offer from Kona Ice was the only one I could find in Southern Maine. Let’s hope the weather on tax day is as warm as it was the previous week, because then you’ll really want some free shaved ice.
Anyway, Kona Ice is calling April 18 “Chill Out Day.” You know, you’ve finished your taxes. Now, you can sit back and relax and chill out now that the hard work is done.
Then, you can head to two Southern Maine locations for free shaved ice.
Image: Kona Ice
Where can you get free Kona Ice in Southern Maine
On April 18, Kona Ice is hosting its eighth annual National Chill Out Day. Trucks around the country will be serving free cups of shaved ice, with a limit of one per person.
The two participating locations in Southern Maine are:
- Sanford
- Shapleigh
Kona Ice of York County will be serving up this free shaved ice from one of its iconic trucks.
Image: Kona Ice
In Sanford, look for the Kona Ice truck near Partners Bank, 900 Main Street, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.
In Shapleigh, the Kona Ice truck will be at Ted’s Fried Clams, 222 Emery Mills Rd from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
You can use this link at Kona Ice to find a truck near you.
What is shaved ice
You’re probably familiar with Italian ices, such as the ones that Rita’s Ice serves on the first day of spring, or even snow cones. However, shaved ice is a completely different concept.
It’s popular in Hawaii, thus the Kona name.
However, the first place I ever had shaved ice was in the Caribbean. It’s something you would buy from a street vendor, and it was super cheap and delicious.
I think I recall that Caribbean vendor using something that looked like a small mandolin knife to shave the ice block for our treat.
Adobe Photos
Here is how the brand explains what shaved ice is:
“Shaved ice is ice that is finely shaved through a blade.”
Because they use a blade, you don’t get chunks of ice or crushed ice. At the same time, it’s not the same as an Icee or a slushie. Think of shaved ice, instead, as ribbons of ice to which you add flavors to make it delicious.