“I wanna get chocolate wasted!” yelled out a small child in Grown Ups (2010), and now, everyone has their own excuse to use the same phrase this weekend.
The Fairfax Chocolate Lovers Festival kicks off on Friday, Jan. 31 with just about everything chocolate-flavored, including the decadent dessert itself. Expect to find chocolate-flavored beer and hot beverages, chocolate truffle samples and more throughout the weekend.
Sound like heaven? To make the most of it, start your chocolate-inspired journey on Friday night from 6 to 8 p.m. by heading to Liquid Chocolate, where you’ll find chocolate soda and milk, dessert wine pairings, two different chocolate milk stouts (only for adults, of course), chocolate milkshakes, chocolate-covered strawberry liquor and more. This event will also be hosted on Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m.
On Saturday, the real festival begins (and lasts through Sunday) by welcoming Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates, The Capital Candy Jar, Capitol Chocolate Fountains, River-Sea Chocolate and over a dozen more chocolate vendors from across the region, who will be sharing chocolate samples and spreading the love to all attendees.
But, it doesn’t stop there! Chocolate samples aren’t limited to pieces of chocolate bars or hand-designed truffles. You will also find chocolate cake, brownies, fudge, ice cream and all sorts of other sweet confections to enjoy.
Locals can also have their very own Charlie and the Chocolate Factory moment by finding one of the festival’s limited-edition chocolate bars, which will be scattered throughout downtown, and only three will have a golden ticket inside.
Find a golden ticket and you will win a chocolate lover’s basket and a tour of Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates facility. Attendees will also be eligible to win a cake during the weekend-long cake walk.
Take note that the Chocolate Challenge (which features bakers, chocolatiers and more from across the region) has been canceled this year due to a small number of registrants.
The festival is free to the public, but in order to sample chocolates and treats, you must purchase $1 tickets with cash or a credit card at the Old Town Hall. // Old Town Hall: 3999 University Drive, Fairfax (find the map here); free, samples available with ticket purchase
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