Banana Split Celebration: Pa. Town, Home of Sweet Treat, Plans Party

In what has to be one of the sweetest claims to fame ever, the small town of Latrobe, Pa., is holding a three-day celebration of its history as the birthplace of the banana split.

Latrobe, just east of Pittsburgh, teamed up with Dole and a local college to launch the Great American Banana Split Celebration this weekend, The Associated Press said.

Urgent: Should Obamacare be Repealed? Vote Here Now

In an example of the importance of historical facts, Latrobe had lobbied the state’s historical commission with a 20-page paper explaining why it was the banana split birthplace, beating out two other communities in the country that claim that fame, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The commission agreed that evidence for the sundae’s creation 109 years ago by David Strickler stood as accurate, beating out Wilmington, Ohio, with receipts that showed the apprentice pharmacist ordered banana split glass boats in 1905, the Gazette said. Wilmington traces its banana split roots to 1907.

The celebration has grown to include multiple events and will take place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. With numerous chances to eat mouth-watering ice cream treats, attendees will also find cool events like a Dole Banana Daiquiri Cocktail Hour, a malt shop sock hop, and yes, even banana split-focused artwork, according to the city’s website.

And just when you think there can’t be much more to do with the sweet treat, on Sunday, participants can take place in what the city calls “the world’s first and largest banana-peeling flash mob.”

Dole, which already does events around National Banana Split Day in August, will have a big presence in town to help celebrate. As part of those nationwide events, the company has been promoting “healthier banana split recipes,” the AP said, that come in the 300-500 calorie range. A pretty typical banana split can give a sweet lover a pretty unhealthy 1,000 calories.

Latest: Do You Support Giving Illegals Citizenship? Vote Here Now

Related stories:

Adam Jones Banana Toss Not Racial, Says Regretful Giants Fan

BBC Staffer’s Banana Allergy Triggers Self-Imposed Ban on the Fruit