Rita’s Offers Free Italian Ice on Wednesday

Wednesday is one of Rita’s most highly anticipated days of the year—the first day of spring, which means free Italian ice for all.

The Rita's in Edgewater will give away seven-ounce cups of Italian Ice all day Wednesday—an endeavor owner Sruthi Reddy says takes several days to prepare for.

"We make a lot of ice Tuesday and all day Wednesday, and we have everybody who works here scheduled tomorrow," Reddy said. "We have way more people work at a time than on a normal day."

Last year during the promotion, the Rita’s chain gave away more than a million cups of ice. The Edgewater location handed out more than 2,000 servings.

While the day itself is a marathon for Rita's employees, Reddy said she looks forward to it each year. This is her third season at the Edgewater location and she said the promotion serves as the kick-off for its busy season.

"A lot of people don’t realize we open before first day of spring," Reddy said. "This is the day everyone knows for sure Rita’s will be open, and the season really picks up."

The Edgewater Rita's is located at 120 Mayo Rd. For featured flavors and more information, check out its Facebook page.