February 2008 Guide to U.S. Chocolate Festivals

Chocoholics, rejoice! February is your month. Pack your bags and check out the local flavor at chocolate festivals across the United States. Here's your February 2008 guide to 10 of the country's sweetest festivals.

Week of Chocolate (www.weekofchocolate.com)
Bloomington, Indiana
January 26-February 2, 2008
Enjoy a full week of chocolate celebrations and support area charities. Here's just a small sampling of activities for every chocoholic: a chocolate travelogue, a chocolate carnival, Chocolate Jeopardy, and even a chocolate prom. On Sunday, January 27, the Indiana University Art Museum serves up the elegant "Art of Chocolate" ($70/couple, $40/person). On Saturday, the week concludes with the 11^th Annual Chocolate Festival. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and free for children under 6. Quite a bargain for all-you-can-eat chocolate! Between bites, shop for Valentine's chocolates, enter the chocolate creations contest, play with your kids in the children's area, and enjoy entertainment and a silent auction.

Carolina Chocolate Festival (www.carolinachocolatefestival.com)
Morehead City, North Carolina
February 1-3, 2008
Visit the Carolina coast for an array of yummy charity events. On Friday, February 1, enjoy a sophisticated country club event, "An Evening Wrapped in Chocolate" ($125/couple, $75/person). On Saturday, February 2, sip champagne and nibble on chocolates as you are pampered with manicures, pedicures, hair styling, and mini-massages at the "Chocolate Spa Night" ($50/person). Also on Saturday, dance the night away to live jazz and a chocolate buffet at "The Enchanted Evening" ($50/person). There are also cooking demonstrations, a brunch, and bingo. The festival itself is February 2 and 3 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center. Adults are $8, children 5-12 are $2, and children under 5 are free.

4^th Annual Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival (www.belmontshore.org)
Long Beach, California
February 2, 2008
A $10 book of 12 tickets entitles you to sample a variety of chocolate treats. Enter the homemade chocolate dessert contest and let your kids go wild at the chocolate pie-eating contest.

Chocolate Lover's Festival (www.chocolatefestival.net)
Fairfax, Virginia
February 2-3, 2008
This annual 2-day festival in Old Town Fairfax has been benefitting charity since 1992. "Taste of Chocolate" vendors sell chocolate treats like cakes, candies, fudge, ice cream, and brownies. Be amazed by the culinary works of art in "The Chocolate Challenge", eat breakfast at the Kiwanis chocolate chip pancake breakfast, watch historic re-enactments, tour historic buildings, and let the kids have fun at the children's activities. Some events require a fee, but most are free.

Chocolate on the Beach Festival (www.chocolateonthebeachfestival.com)
North Beach Communities of Grays Harbor County, Washington
February 8-10, 2008
Grays Harbor County is located on the Pacific Coast, about 1 ½ hours from Seattle. This 3-day fundraiser for the historical society's Museum of the North Beach is a fun, Valentine's Day-themed event. Party until the wee hours with chocolate shots at the Friday night kick-off event. On Saturday and Sunday, you can buy your Valentine sweetie some sweets or other gifts, and take part in unique events such as the chocolate trivia homes tour, chocolate finger painting, and the family scavenger hunt. All are welcome to participate in the chocolate baking contest, even kids.

Garfield Park Conservatory 9^th Annual Chocolate Festival (www.garfield-conservatory.org)
Chicago, Illinois
February 9-10, 2008
Just 10 minutes outside of Chicago, this botanical conservatory will provide you will a little learning along with your chocolate. Educational exhibits explain the tree and plant origins of candy and chocolate. There are candy sales, Valentine card making for the kids, live demonstrations by local pastry chefs, samples, free recipes, and chocolate manicures. A $1 donation is suggested.

Romeo Romantic Days & Chocolate Festival (www.romeodda.org)
Romeo, Michigan
February 9-15, 2008
Romeo is a small, historic town from the 1800's located about 45 minutes north of Detroit. Get into the Valentine's Day spirit at Romeo's Romantic Days! Attend the "Chocolate Truffle Workshop", "Cupids' Card Making", poetry readings, and stroll downtown for crafts and chocolates.

Chocolate Lover's Festival (www.eurekachocfest.com)
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
February 16, 2008
The 4^th Annual Chocolate Lover's Festival offers dipping fountains, wine, gifts, a silent auction, and "Best of" chocolate contests. The highlight, of course, is chocolate tasting! Adult tickets are $12, kids under 12 are $6.

Chocolate Wine Trail (www.stonehillwinery.com)
Hermann, Missouri
February 16-17, 2008
Follow a trail to seven local wineries and sample chocolates with perfectly paired wines. Tickets are $25 per person. If you visit every winery (and why wouldn't you?) you will be entered in a drawing for a gift basket.

Chocolate Festival Inn-to-Inn Cross Country Ski or Snowshoe Tour (www.mwvskitouring.org)
Interval, New Hampshire
February 24, 2008
Here's a festival that helps you burn all those chocolate calories! For the 19^th year, the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoe Foundation is hosting a unique chocolate festival. Cross country ski, snowshoe or drive along 65 kilometers of trails, stopping along the way for chocolate treats at participating inns. Ski, eat a brownie, ski, sample some chocolate fondue, ski, have a cup of hot chocolate . . . you get the delectable idea! Purchase the $20 pass at the first stop, and follow the festival map for all the trailside stops. Receive a stamp at each inn, and then present your stamped trail map at select area businesses for still more chocolate.

Discover deliciously interesting American towns at a chocolate festival this February.