New event looks to draw out those with sweet tooth
CRANBERRY TWP — Though venturing out during the cold winter months may be difficult, the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau has created an event to attract anyone with a sweet tooth.
The Celebration of Chocolate will take place Feb. 22 and 23 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North, 100 Cranberry Woods Drive.
As is obvious from the festival's name, the event will be a two-day extravaganza of all things chocolate, including specialties like chocolate wine and chocolate beer.
There will even be an appearance by Willy Wonka, the famed fictional character in children's literature, who will be walking around selling “golden” raffle tickets. The winner will get a trip to Hershey for their choice of a spa day or a visit to the amusement park.
Patti Jo Lambert, spokesman for the tourism bureau, said the Celebration of Chocolate will surely be a sweet event for residents.
“It's cold and miserable outside, so this is a fun way to get out and do something new and different,” Lambert said. “Everybody loves chocolate.”
The event also provides a venue for companies to reach consumers in a way not normally possible.
“It's a great opportunity for smaller specialty shops to get out in the community, to get out in front of a crowd,” she said. “There really are a lot of unique and interesting small businesses in the area that aren't really well known.”
There will be all kinds of things chocolate, Lambert said. That includes chocolate soap and candles as well as demonstrations about cooking with chocolate.
There will even be a fashion show featuring only chocolate-colored apparel.Lambert added that this is the first year for this event, an idea created by the tourism bureau to help businesses during winter.“They were looking for interesting things to do when people get stir crazy,” she said. “They thought it would be a fun thing to showcase chocolate because everyone loves it, and it's right after Valentine's Day.”Admission is $10 per adult and $5 per child.The Celebration of Chocolate will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 22 and from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 23.Those attending are asked to take nonperishable food items to be donated to Butler County food banks.For more information, call 724-234-4619.
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