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  1. Venues & Destinations
  2. United States
  3. Orlando / Central Florida

Festival of Chocolate Gets Expanded Hours, Space, and Activities

Jenny Berg
March 9, 2011

If you host a Festival of Chocolate, chocolate lovers will come out in droves. So discovered the festival's organizers in 2010, when "we were expecting maybe 3,000 to 4,000 people for the whole weekend, and we got double that number," said Jeff Stanford, public relations director at the Orlando Science Center, where the sweets-filled event took place on Saturday and Sunday. Stanford assisted festival producer and creator Aileen Mand with publicity efforts.

Expecting more than 9,000 guests throughout the weekend this year, planners expanded the event's footprint to allow for less congestion. They also extended the hours, opening at 10 a.m. each day and wrapping up at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Last year, the event closed at 5 p.m. on both days. With more space and more time to fill, "we wanted to make sure that we had enough going on to engage the crowd," Stanford said. "We want to keep the lag time for attendees to a minimum."

On both days, simultaneous activities took place in different areas of the museum, and ranged from lighthearted to sophisticated in nature. At one point, for example, a brownie bingo game took place in one room while a wine-and-chocolate pairing class took place in another. In a large auditorium, a chef explained how to create decorative icing flowers. Throughout both days, a vendor showcase displayed treats from more than 30 local sweets purveyors—amid them Candy Clouds, Bake Me a Cake, and the Sugar Suite.

Mand also added more children's programming. "There was feedback from guests last year that that they wanted to see more activities for their kids and more hands-on activities in general, so we accommodated those requests," Stanford said. Activities geared at the wee ones included a playhouse shaped like a candy shop, where guests could strap on aprons and fill gold boxes with toy candy, and chocolate play-dough making.

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Photo: BizBash
The event took place at the Orlando Science Center on Saturday and Sunday, and drew more than 4,000 guests each day.
The event took place at the Orlando Science Center on Saturday and Sunday, and drew more than 4,000 guests each day.
Photo: BizBash
A vendor showcase displayed arty confections from more than 40 local chocolate makers and pastry chefs. The currency at the showcase were so called 'chocolate chip coins,' which guests could get at booths throughout the festival.
A vendor showcase displayed arty confections from more than 40 local chocolate makers and pastry chefs. The currency at the showcase were so called "chocolate chip coins," which guests could get at booths throughout the festival.
Photo: BizBash
Exhibitors dressed up their treats with flowers and bright bursts of frosting.
Exhibitors dressed up their treats with flowers and bright bursts of frosting.
Photo: BizBash
Chocolate- and candy-dipped pretzel sticks were amid the many sweet snacks on offer.
Chocolate- and candy-dipped pretzel sticks were amid the many sweet snacks on offer.
Photo: BizBash
Local bakers designed towering cakes.
Local bakers designed towering cakes.
Photo: BizBash
Treats got springy decorations such as edible butterflies and flowers.
Treats got springy decorations such as edible butterflies and flowers.
Photo: BizBash
Vendors also sold books and chocolate-making tools.
Vendors also sold books and chocolate-making tools.
Photo: BizBash
Apart from snacks, chocolate lovers could stock up on thematic merchandise.
Apart from snacks, chocolate lovers could stock up on thematic merchandise.
Photo: BizBash
A chocolate showpiece competition took place Saturday. Judges represented the Waldorf-Astoria Orlando, Notter School of Pastry Arts, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort.
A chocolate showpiece competition took place Saturday. Judges represented the Waldorf-Astoria Orlando, Notter School of Pastry Arts, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort.
Photo: BizBash
A towering sculpture of oversize prop chocolates was on display.
A towering sculpture of oversize prop chocolates was on display.
Photo: BizBash
The 'Kid in a Candy Store' activity let young guests strap on aprons and pose in a model shop. Parents used the activity as a photo opportunity.
The "Kid in a Candy Store" activity let young guests strap on aprons and pose in a model shop. Parents used the activity as a photo opportunity.
Photo: BizBash
Guests sat down for educational sessions that took on topics such as designing flowers out of icing.
Guests sat down for educational sessions that took on topics such as designing flowers out of icing.
Photo: BizBash
Signage alerted guests to activities ranging from designing a chocolate hat to classes on wine-and-chocolate pairings.
Signage alerted guests to activities ranging from designing a chocolate hat to classes on wine-and-chocolate pairings.
Photo: BizBash
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