Everyone knows New Year’s resolutions are just meant to be broken! So go ahead and indulge your sweet tooth at the Valley’s sweetest event – the 24th annual Glendale Chocolate Affaire, Feb. 9-10 in Historic Downtown Glendale, where you’ll also discover a celebration of arts, culture and romance!
You won’t know where to start first as you take in the amazing array of nearly 40 chocolate purveyors, featuring unique delights like Mexican hot chocolate, salted chocolate honey caramel, banana chocolate or turtle crepes, chocolate lemonade, chocolate salsa. Or, if your tastes run more mainstream, you’ll find chocolate-covered strawberries, bananas, cheesecakes and endless varieties of fudge. Even if chocolate is not your favorite, you are sure to find sweet and savory treats galore to tempt your taste buds.
The Chocolate Affaire is presented by Arizona’s famous candy makers, Cerreta Candy Company, and Willy Wonka’s got nothing on them! The candy factory will offer tours all weekend and visitors can get a magical behind-the-scenes look at how their confections are made, and not just chocolate; everything from taffy to caramel and nuts and popcorn. Free shuttles, sponsored by SRP, are provided from the festival to the candy factory. Be sure to get your free sample!
Families with children will enjoy a variety of activities, face-painting, entertainment and more. And of course, Cerreta’s chocolate-pizza-making booth is a hit with all ages.
The Chocolate Affaire is an opportunity for artists – whether professional or amateur – to express themselves on canvas, as well. Two opportunities will take place on Saturday, Feb. 9. Artists are invited to paint outdoor scenes in the downtown area, or anywhere in the city, during the Plein Air Painting Competition, which
begins at 8 a.m. This event is presented by the Glendale Public Art Program, and to find all the details on this competition, visit www.glendaleaz.com/arts/FreeCulturalAndPerformingArtsEvents.cfm#pleinair.
In addition on Saturday, budding painters can take part in one of two Paint Nite classes, where you can paint your own version of a masterpiece. A different design is offered at 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Find more information and register online at https://www.paintnite.com/venues/glendale-chocolate-affaire-10003984.
A third artistic project will take place all weekend long during event hours. All ages are invited to stop by and create art that will be used to beautify a prominent area of downtown Glendale. Artist Kristine Kollasch and her crew will be on site to help everyone express their inner artists and to be part of a fun activity that will help build community pride. This is a free activity presented by the City of Glendale Public Art Program.
This festival is also the Southwest’s largest gathering of romance novelists and attendees can meet authors. A bevy of musical entertainment will be happening throughout the event, as well. For the complete author lineup and entertainment schedule check out www.visitglendale.com.
Event hours are Saturday 10 a.m.- 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. Parking is available at various locations throughout the downtown area, or preferred parking is offered for $10 at the two city parking garages, both of which are accessible from 59th Avenue. For more parking information and directions, visit www.visitglendale.com.
The Glendale Chocolate Affaire is presented by Cerreta Candy Company and sponsored by SRP, KTVK TV 3 and KPHO TV 5, Cerreta Candy Company, Arizona Republic, Hensley Beverage Company, the Glendale Ambassadors, Swire Coca Cola, Diamond Resorts and the Glendale Public Art Program. Free Cerreta Candy Company tour shuttles are sponsored by SRP.
For more information on Glendale’s festivals, visit www.visitglendale.com or call our special events hotline at 623-930-2299.
