Sundae Sunday: Saco celebrates fathers with record-breaking banana split

SACO — Local history was made on Father’s Day with the creation of a more than 120 foot-long, record-breaking banana split.

The colossal sundae was created by Saco Scoop, the downtown ice cream shop owned by local community group Saco Main Street.

Saco Main Street Program Director Molly Donlan set out to beat her own record. A few years ago, when working at a retirement community in Portland, she led an effort to create a 60-foot banana split, the longest one on record in Maine at the time.

“I told them when I left, I’m taking my idea to Saco,” she said.

Donlan, who started the job at Saco Main Street in late April, wasted no time on accomplishing this objective.

On Sunday, she and other staff and volunteers with Saco Main Street laid out rain gutters across a makeshift stand of buckets and tables to hold the banana split.

The goal was to double Donlan’s last record, and the result was a banana split that was 120 feet, three inches.

“A little extra, just to make sure we cross the finish line,” said Saco Main Street Executive Director Rob Biggs.

That’s a lot of bananas – 161, to be exact.

The ice cream concoction was measured by Saco Mayor William Doyle, and a proclamation from Governor Janet Mills was read.

“It’s the real deal. The Saco Scoop is officially home of Maine’s biggest banana split,” said Donlan.

The giant sundae was made lickety-split, in about 10 minutes, to prevent the ice cream from melting. And the ice cream, garnished with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and all the fixings, was devoured quickly by the numerous onlookers.

“It’s a good day for Saco. It’s a great way to celebrate Dads,” said Doyle. “Who doesn’t love ice cream?”

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.