If you’re in the mood for a chocolate-filled weekend, consider attending a chocolate festival. These events are held at a variety of locations throughout the United States. You can learn more about each event, including who’s participating, what you can expect, and how much it will cost. If you’re active-duty military, you can visit for free. Here are some of the highlights and locations. Read on to find out more about these exciting events!
Locations
Chocolate is a central part of the culture of St. Lucia and the island is a leader in “chocolate tourism.” Chocolate lovers come to the Caribbean island to experience artisan chocolate and learn about the process of cacao-growing. The Discover Chocolate Festival is an educational experience for all chocolate lovers and will be held at the Jade Mountain Resort north of Soufriere on December 10th. The Stonefield Villa Resort is located near the festival venue.
Participants
The Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce is seeking participating chefs and bakers for their annual Chocolate Festival. The festival will feature a “Cake Walk” with freebies, local musicians and food trucks, chocolate pie eating contests, and a homemade dessert competition. Participants are expected to make 100 pieces of their chocolate specialty and provide these to festival attendees for the tasting. The specialties must be bite-sized. Those who can’t bake must purchase ingredients from local bakeries.
Highlights
Attend a chocolate festival to enjoy the unique taste of gourmet sweets and indulge in delicious treats. These festivals attract people from all over the world and have several activities that are sure to please all your senses. Chocolate makers and cookbook authors will be in attendance, as will pastry chefs and musicians. There are workshops and demonstrations by celebrity chefs, and there is even a fashion show featuring chocolaty outfits and gowns. Highlights of the chocolate festival include.
Costs
The cost of a ticket to the chocolate festival can vary depending on the event you’re attending. The Taste of Chocolate uses pogs, which are like poker chips or wooden nickels, to facilitate easy exchange. These are then counted at the end of the festival and vendors are paid accordingly. Liquid Chocolate uses tickets. While both methods are convenient, they are not perfect, as attendees can’t move seamlessly between activities. The committee is now looking at universal payment methods.
Kids’ activities
If you’re planning a trip to the Greater Lowell area this spring, don’t forget to check out the Chocolate Festival! Kids can sample delicious chocolate samples and make their own treats. There are also games, raffles, and prizes to enjoy, including a chance to meet Sant, the famous chocolate bear. Other fun activities for kids include face painting, chocolate pudding eating contests, and Paint with Chocolate. Throughout the festival, there’s live music and other family-friendly activities.
Exhibitors
In addition to its exhibit halls, the Northwest Chocolate Festival offers a full education program that includes keynote panels, self-guided trainings, and cacao lectures. For companies interested in reaching a larger audience, the Festival also features a Business-to-Business section, where exhibitors can connect with industry leaders and key professionals. To register for the 2020 festival, visit chocolatefestival.com/register. The deadline for submitting proposals for exhibits is January 11.