It’s time to get your chocolate fill this April at Lewisburg Chocolate Festival, set for Saturday, the 11th. There will be live music, free movies, street performers, children’s storytelling, chocolate demos, a chocolate mousse-eating contest, tastings and more. From 11am-4pm, you can try unique and delicious chocolate treats from over 30 locations throughout downtown. To see the TASTING MAP, scroll down. Event organizer, Cindy Lavender Bowe, says “Every year has been more successful than the last! The first year we hope to sell 100 tickets; we sold 2,000. This number has grown exponentially each year – last year we sold 40,000.”

The event begins at 9am with the HospiceCare 10k Chocolate Chase. Runners take off from Greenbrier Valley Airport. If you prefer to walk, there’s a one-mile walk starting at First National Bank in downtown Lewisburg. There will be a Chocolate Brunch at the Greenbrier Public Library from 9am-11am. You can find waffles with honey pecan chocolate pralines, white chocolate mousse with fresh fruit, chocolate bacon, and more. To attend this brunch, call 304-647-7568. Admission is $10/adult and $6/child.

The Lewis Theatre will showcase Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory circa 1971 at 11:30am and 3pm. Don’t miss the Chocolate Bake Off at First National Bank. Registration is at 10am, judging is from 11-12pm, and tasting is 1-2pm. One of the biggest crowd pleasers of this festival is the Chocolate Mousse Eating Contest. It will be held at Stella’s with registration from 10am-12:30pm. Ages 5-9: 1pm; 10-14: 1:30pm; 15+: 2pm. This event is free.

The Greenspace will boast events throughout the day with Black King Coal performing Appalachian Soul to soothe your a.m. sugar high at 11am. Children’s Story Time is held at 2pm; and Second Block Rock, an alternative/rock band, plays at 2:30pm. Comedian, El Gleno Grande and his noble steed Sigfrido will entertain you on the corner of W. Washington/Court Street at 11:45 and 1:15pm. “[El Gleno is] unique, captivating, and really, really funny. Truly I have never seen people laugh that hard!” – Erika Wollam, Nashville Summer Lights Festival.

For the cooking/baking enthusiasts, there will be two Pastry Chef Demonstrations: The first demo is with The Greenbrier’s Executive Pastry Chef, Jean-Francois Suteau, held at City National Bank at 1pm. The second is with the Omni Homestead Pastry Sous Chef, Alex McClenaghan, at the Greenbrier Valley Visitor’s Center at 2pm.

An Appalachian Outlaws’ Meet & Greet will be held from 2-4pm at the Humane Society Booth on Church Street!

Now in its 9th year, this festival is ready to satisfy the taste buds of more people than years’ prior, including you! So don’t miss out. And while you’re in town, enjoy the local shops, restaurants, and shows! Many downtown restaurants will host special chocolate themed entrees and desserts. Lewisburg newest restaurant/bar, The Asylum (pg 13), will have a Chocolate Drink Menu all weekend. Downtown evening entertainment includes Black Mtn Revival at the Sweet Shoppe (pg 12) at 9pm, Rivertown Gypsies at the Irish Pub at 8pm (pg 11), the film “Chocolat” at the Lewis Theatre at 7pm, and a live performance of “The Skin of Our Teeth” at Greenbrier Valley Theatre at 7:30pm.

Tasting tickets are just $1/each and they are sold in packs of 5. Buy your tickets at: Harmony Ridge Gallery, Greenbrier Valley Baking Company (pg 5), ReMax, and the Greenbrier Visitors Center. You can also purchase them from LewisburgChocolateFestival.com

– LBSPY, April 2015