Spring has Sprung. Go Get a Free Ritas

Rita’s Italian Ice will be offering free ices today (Tuesday) in honor of the first day of spring. They do it at all 500-plus Ritas locations. They’ll be doing it at the Rita’s franchise on Mayo Road in Edgewater too.

Ritas in Edgewater will be offering free regular sized ices on the first day of spring.

Just stop by and get a regular size ice, any flavor. Other items from their regular menu will be available (at regular price).

Rita’s got its start in 1984 when Philadelphia firefighter Bob Tumolo started selling his special blend of water ice with fruit out of a porch window in Bensalem, PA.

Last year, Rita’s said that they gave away over 1.2 million regular-sized ices in a ten-hour period on the first day of spring. In all, Rita’s franchises have been offering the freebies the first day of spring since the early 1990s.

All you need to do is stop by from noon to 9 p.m.

Other nearby spring celebrations include the annual sock-burning from 4 to 6 p.m. on First Street in Eastport on Tuesday. That tradition says boaters don’t wear socks between the spring and autumnal equinoxes.

In Washington, DC, the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin are in peak bloom this week (March 20-23). To visit, take Metro to Smithsonian or try for a parking spot on Maine Ave., SW.