Over the weekend at Apponagansett Park, the Gulf Hill Dairy Ice Cream Bucket — popularly known as “The Bucket” — opened for another season as a Dartmouth town-run ice cream stand.

Families stood in line in the sunshine over the weekend as temperatures soared from a chilly, windy Friday to nearly 80 degrees on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

“It was a hurricane out there,” said restaurant manager Arthur Domingos with the town’s Parks and Recreation department about opening day on Friday.

Domingos started operating the concession stand when the town took it over nearly five years ago.

They’ve expanded the menu nearly every year. “When we started five years ago, we had fourteen flavors. And I think we’re up to 26 now,” he said.

They also sell sandwiches, burgers, seafood rolls, and other summer fare.

According to Domingos, any profits go right back into the Bucket for improvements.

Last year they added a gazebo for customers to sit in the shade, and the kitchen has brand new floors, fridges, and fryers.

Every year the concession stand sees a growth in sales from the year before — so it operates without any expense to the town.

“We’re self-sufficient,” Domingos said proudly.

The Bucket was originally built 110 years ago next to the old Gulf Hill Dairy. It was moved down the hill to its current location at Apponagansett Park in 2002.

Dartmouth also employs around a dozen local youths — high school or college kids — to help run the stand over the summer.

“Usually they stay with us until they graduate from college,” Domingos said with a smile. “They like it here.”

On Saturday, people were putting boats in the water at the landing while children and their parents ran around the playground and the beach.

The bandstand for the town’s summer concert series — every Wednesday evening starting on June 12 — was already going up across from the Bucket.

Mary McGeown and Bob Conron were putting kayaks in at the beach for a paddle around the river.

“It’s lovely up in there,” McGeown said, adding that they come to the park as often as they can.

Laura Silva was watching her identical twin boys playing on the beach after eating their ice creams.

“They love it. They love the Bucket, and the two dollar kiddie cone,” she said. “We have our ice cream first, and then we play.”

The family comes three or four times a week in the summer.

“On Friday we were the only ones here!” declared five-year-old Harrison. He was celebrating the full use of both arms after getting his cast removed — he had broken his arm earlier in the year.

As for the park, Laura said, “it’s super convenient. It’s good for little kids, with the playground, the Bucket, you know. The beach is shallow.”

Harrison’s twin brother Zachary said that his favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate, while Harrison likes mint.

But on Saturday, Zachary had vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, and Harrison had birthday cake-flavored ice cream.

“We never tried them before,” Harrison explained.

The Bucket is open from noon to 8 p.m. daily at Apponagansett Park, 77 Gulf Road, South Dartmouth.