Forget daylight saving, it's spring when Dairy Palace, Sambo's Tavern open

Snow, schmow.

While more wintery weather is expected on Sunday and spring is still 11 days away, several area crab and ice cream businesses are gearing up to reopen for the season.

The Dairy Palace, a popular, old-fashioned New Castle ice cream stand, will start serving soft serve cones today at 11 a.m.

The seasonal business at 2 Jay Drive, off Basin Road, has been in operation since it was founded in 1956 by Vince and Joyce Parker.

The couple's daughter and her family are continuing the 52-year-old Delaware tradition. The cash-only stand offers ice cream cones, sundaes, milkshakes and more.

Woodside Farm Creamery, the Hockessin dairy farm and ice cream operation, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, plans to begin sales again on March 17.

Customers who bring a banana to the 1310 Little Baltimore Road farm on opening day from noon to 8 p.m. will receive a banana split at half the usual price.

Sambo's Tavern, the adults-only, Kent County crabhouse, has set March 28 for its seasonal opening.

The 283 Front St. restaurant in the tiny town of Leipsic operates from March to October. It's named for founder Samuel “Sambo” Burrows. Steamed crabs and crab cake sandwiches are the eatery's specialties.

But keep this in mind: Sambo's only has a tavern license, which means customers must be 21 or older to enter. (Seriously. No exceptions. Get a babysitter and leave the kiddos at home.)

Also, bring cash. Sambo's doesn't take credit cards.

Every year, Rita's Water Ice operations celebrate the first day of spring by giving away free Italian Ice.

It's been a harbinger of the season for 20 years.

Free Italian Ice will be handed out at Rita's locations on Tuesday, March 20 from noon to 9 p.m.

Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico