Chocolate lovers of Arizona, brace yourself for the sinfully delicious Glendale Chocolate Affaire festival, named one of the Top 100 Events in North America, this weekend (Feb. 5-7) at Historic Downtown Glendale. What better way to get geared up for Valentine’s Day, than to tempt his or her palette with some silky smooth chocolate?
Attending chocoholics will delight in the three-dozen chocolate purveyors, discovering everything from chocolate truffles, sweet potato fries with chocolate and brown sugar glaze and tropical hot chocolate, to deep-fried chocolate bars and organic dark chocolate. Arizona’s famous candy makers and the event’s sponsor, Cerreta’s, will be offering tours all weekend. So guests can get a behind-the-scenes look at how the chocolatiers create this sweet oral fixation.
It’s no surprise that the festival has become the largest gathering of national romance novelists in the Southwest. Adding to the undenying romance, this symposium of literary romantics offers fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with authors, as well as the chance to attend free writing workshops given by the experts.
Got no babysitter? Bring the kids because there will be myriads of activities, including hands-on arts and crafts, face painting and a rock-climbing wall. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available throughout the weekend to take couples or families on a scenic, charming ride through the historic Catlin Court district.
Also stay tuned for this year’s 2010 Glendale Centennial Plein Air Painting Event at the festival. The city’s Library & Arts Department, in collaboration with the Marketing/Communications Department, is sponsoring the art competition, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The Glendale Chocolate Affaire festival was named one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the Washington Post, the Seattle Times and the American Bus Association. The event also was bestowed with the 2003 Governor’s Tourism Award for the Best Special Event in Arizona. It is sponsored by Cerreta’s Candy Company, Kokopelli Winery, 3-TV KTVK, The Arizona Republic, YooHoo, KMLE, KOOL and JAMZ.
Event hours are Friday 5 – 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The event is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Glendale, in Murphy Park, located at 58th and Glendale avenues.
For more information on the Glendale Chocolate Affaire, including the entertainment lineup and a list of authors making appearances, call 623.930.2299.
I’m so there. Chocolate is my favorite thing in the world.
Oh how I wish it would come to Scottsdale.