13th Annual Celebration of All Things Chocolate

By GERRY and PAMELA BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
January 26, 2019

When Pam learned about a festival celebrating all things chocolate, you didn't have to tell her twice. We're there!

The event is the 13th Annual International Chocolate Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, happening Jan. 25-27 from 9:30 to 4:30 each day. We joined hundreds of other chocoholics on the first day, seeing the exhibits, visiting the vendors, learning about how chocolate is produced and most importantly, sampling the wares!

This weekend, guests also can choose from a variety of lectures and cooking demonstrations. Other popular venues are the Choco Beer Garden -- sweet sips from local breweries -- and the Chocolatiers selling their goods in the Garden House. There's even a ChocoSpa, where you can get a chocolate-scented massage. Kids can get interactive with the Chocowalk Passport Expedition and attend the Chocokids Story Time.

It's pretty much a chocolate lover's dream.

Join us as we experience the festival...

Directional signage helps point the way

This is Oscar, whose company has been in business 18 years. We sampled
​ his hot chocolate ... divine!

As you expect, the
​Chocolatier area was popular

You can buy your own
​ cacao tree, or chocolate orchid

At A Glance

When: Jan., 25-27, 9:30 am- 4:30 pm
Where: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Rd.
Coral Gables, FL 305.667.1651  
Website: Fairchildgarden.org

Frank, a Fairchild volunteer, explained how the chocolate is harvested from the cacao trees.

It starts with opening the cacao pods, above, on its way to becoming the
​ sweet goodness we all love so much

We bought one of these festival
​T-shirts, a bargain at only $12.

The vendor tents were buzzing ... Pam scored some new jewelry.

The weather was perfection, and so
​ was the festival. See for yourself
before it's gone for another year.


​Photos by North Palm Beach Life