Sweet treats are headed to Northern Virginia. Chocolate lovers can get their sugar fix at not one, but two NoVA festivals.
Fairfax City Chocolate Lovers Festival
The first, the Fairfax City Chocolate Lovers Festival, returns to Old Town Fairfax February 6 to 8. It’s been an annual tradition since February 1993.
The three-day festival has a full slate of chocolate-focused events and tastings, plus live music. Some of the activities include:
- A wine and chocolate pairing event with Dolce Vita Wine Bar on February 5.
- A “liquid chocolate” event with sippable sweets on February 6 and 7.
- A chocolate-tasting experience in the Sherwood Center on February 7 and 8.
- A make your own chocolate bar workshops on February 7 and 8.
- A “Sweet Mile” run at 9 a.m. on February 7.
- A cupcake-decorating experience benefitting Children’s National Hospital on February 8.
The festival runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Festival entry is free, but some events may require tickets.
McLean Chocolate Festival
McLean will have its own cocoa-focused event, too. The 14th annual McLean Chocolate Festival was postponed from its original date in January and will now be on March 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McLean Community Center.
This annual event will include live entertainment and children’s programming like face painting, as well as opportunities to learn about chocolate history.
The festival will include vendors such as Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates, Tysons Creamery, and River-Sea Chocolates.
Tickets are $3 and come with a tote bag. The event is a fundraiser for the McLean Rotary Club benefitting local schools and community organizations.
Feature image of Fairfax City Chocolate Lovers Festival courtesy City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation