For the love of chocolate! One day each year, you can walk the streets of downtown Lewisburg while indulging in a decadent line-up of artistic creations such as whoopie pies, chocolate covered caramel waffle bowl sundaes, dipped & bedazzled Oreo cookie pops with sprinkles, chocolate covered banana shots, and so much more! Slated for Saturday, April 13th, 11a-4p, don’t miss the 13th annual Lewisburg Chocolate Festival. The day kicks off with a 10k followed by dozens of chocolate tasting locations, live music, entertainers, a chocolate bake-off, children’s activities, a chocolate mousse eating contest, and chef demonstrations. Stay for dinner as several of the best downtown restaurants are graciously offering chocolate themed entrees + desserts on the menu.

Starting at 9a, tie up your laces for the Chocolate Chase – HospiceCare 10k. The race begins at Greenbrier Valley Airport and ends at Greenbrier County Courthouse. Race day registration is $25 and all proceeds benefit the local division of HospiceCare and The Peyton Hospice House.

From 10a-11a, registration will be held for the All Things Chocolate Bake-Off at Premier Bank on E. Washington St. Judging is from 11-11:30a, and tastings are available from 11:30-2p or while the goodies last! This year’s bake-off is hosted by Greenbrier Humane Society. Do you have a budding top chef or are you a cake boss in the making? Contact Lindsey at 304-645-4775.

Try your luck at the free Chocolate Mousse Eating Contest held at the Humble Tomato (beside Del Sol). To enter, you must register at the HT between 10a-12:30p. Here is the schedule: Division One (kids 5-9 years), 1p. Division Two (kids 10-14 years), 1:30p. Division Three, (15 years-adult), 2pm. Due to the popularity of this event, entry into the competition is determined through a drawing. Only 12 participants are entered in each division.

From 11a-2p, kids are invited to have their Face Painted (at no cost) by professional artist, Tanya Hazlewood with Wild Child Artworks. She will be set-up beside Love Child (weather permitting). In the event of inclement weather, you can find Tanya inside Lewisburg City Hall. El Gleno Grande (The Horse Guy) is taking a break from touring the planet to perform for you at 11:45a and 1:45p. He will be located at the intersection of W. Washington Street and Court St (near Love Child). On Stratton Alley, don’t miss the free Chocolate Themed Photo Booth hosted by US Cellular and avail throughout the event. There will be a free Children’s Story Telling at Love Child, 12:30p. The featured book is “Skinny Brown Dog” and all participating kids will receive a book to take home (while supplies last). This is sure to be one of your child’s favorite activities at the festival! The Chocolate Festival wouldn’t be what it is without Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, circa 1971, featuring the late Gene Wilder. Show time is 2:30p at The Lewis Theatre on N. Court St. This film is brought to you by Studio 40, High Country Boutique, and AT&T.

There will be two free Chocolate Demonstrations with Tammy Jordan at the Visitor’s Center, 12p. and Leen Kim at City National Bank, 1p. Chef Tammy Jordan is the owner of Fruits of Labor Café and Bakery in Rainelle. She is the author of two award-winning books and has received the national Silver Reader’s Choice award. Most recently, her bakery ranked in the top 20 for Sweetest Bakery in America Contest and earned “Sweetest Bakery in West Virginia.” Executive Pastry Chef Leen Kim is with the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. Her talents have been featured in Forbes, Virginia Living, Meetings Today, etcetera. Last year, Chef Kim was honored by Hotel F&B Magazine as one of 25 Women to Watch.

Some entertainment during the event includes cast members from Greenbrier Valley Theatre’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr. Find them at the Greenspace, 11-11:45a. The Greenbrier Academy for Girls Drummers will perform at the Greenspace from 12-12:30p and 12:45-1:15p.

Here is a general walkabout idea (staying to the right).

W. WASHINGTON ST:

Food and Friends: Triple Chocolate Pecan Bread Pudding

Harmony Ridge Gallery:

• Hogsmeade’s Famous Butterbeer Tarts
• Harry, Ron and Hermione’s Daily Espresso Patronum by The Greenbrier Sporting Club

Serenity Now Outfitters: Gourmet Apple Slices by Sticky Finger Apples

TURN RIGHT ONTO COURT:

Amy’s Cakes & Cones: Mini Chocolate Covered Carmel Waffle Bowl Sundaes

TURN AROUND, THEN TURN RIGHT ONTO WASHINGTON ST.:

A New Chapter Bookstore: An assortment of Bellafina Chocolates: Truffles with Fine Chocolate, Fresh Cream, Nuts, Fruit, and Liqueurs

Wandering Bird Gallery: Chocolate Covered Rice Crispy Pops

Shoney’s: Hot Fudge Cake

TURN RIGHT ONTO JEFFERSON ST:

City National Bank: Choco Demo

Blackwell’s Catering

• Warm Chocolate Bread Pudding Drizzled with Chocolate Frangelico Sauce
• Gluten Free “Baby Cakes”

Plants Etc.: Chocolate Ice Cream by Homestead Creamery

TURN AROUND, THEN RIGHT ONTO WASHINGTON ST:

Stonehill Realty: Homemade Chocolate Truffles by Catholic Charities

The Washington Street Pub (formerly Irish Pub): Zona’s Revenge Witbier Served with Chocolate Bark by Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company

WV Fine Artisans Gallery: Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas, Chocolate Glazed Cream Puffs, and Cocoa Dusted Meringue Mushrooms

Patina: Chocolate Bark by Cocoa Mill Chocolate Company:  Milk & Dark Chocolate with Almonds and White Chocolate with Cranberries

The Wild Bean: Espresso Brownies

The French Goat: Spiced Dark Chocolate Cherry Saltine Toffee

The General Lewis Inn: Mini Whoopie Pies

TURN AROUND, THEN RIGHT ONTO LEE ST:

Lee Street Studios: Chocolate-Strawberry Petits Fours, Dark Chocolate Truffles Rolled in Sea Salt, and Dark Chocolate Truffles Rolled in Crushed Peppermint

TURN AROUND, WALK TOWARD WASHINGTON, TURN RIGHT ONTO RANDOLPH:

The Asylum:

• Chocolate Covered Banana Shots
• Chocolate Cherry Cordial Shots

The Escape: French Oreo by Posh Manna Bakery:  Macaroon with Dark Chocolate Outside and Vanilla Cream Inside

WALK TOWARD WASHINGTON:

Warner Music School: Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes

TURN RIGHT ONTO WASHINGTON ST.:

Robert’s Antiques & Wine Shop: Moscato Dessert Wine in a Chocolate Cup

Greenbrier Real Estate Service: Milk and Dark Chocolate Houses

Edith’s Health & Specialty Store: Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Bites in Almond with Sea Salt and Carmel Sea Salt Varieties

Bella The Corner Gourmet: Decadently Dipped & Bedazzled Oreo Cookie Pops with Sprinkles, Sugar Crystals, Nuts, and More

Merle Norman Cosmetics & Boutique: Milk and Dark Chocolate Dipped Sea Salt Caramel by Coblentz Chocolate

Wolf Creek Gallery: Belgian Chocolates:  White, Milk & Dark Chocolate, Passion Fruit, Coffee, Salted Caramel, Almond, and Blood Orange

Former Old Hardware Gallery:

• Chocolate Infused Cider or Mead by Hawk Knob Appalachian Hard Cider & Mead
• Maple Chocolate Drops by Moonstruck Maple

Love Child: Chocolate Popcorn by Greenbrier Episcopal School

TURN RIGHT ONTO N. COURT STREET:

Corn + Flour:

• Avalanche Cookies made with Milk Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Rice Krispies, Mini Marshmallows, and Chocolate Chips
• Baby Chocolate Cheesecakes with Sour Cream Chocolate Ganache

Show Your Colors: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center:

• Candied Orange Peels Dipped in Chocolate AND Brownie Bites by Pro Start Culinary Students from Davis Stuart
• Oreo Truffles by Greenbrier East High School National Honor Society
• White Chocolate Clusters with Pistachios and Cranberries AND Dark Chocolate Clusters with Peanuts and Raisins by United Way of Greenbrier Valley
• Holl’s Chocolates Custom Creamy Melt Away Swiss Chocolate Truffle Pops by Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Center

WALK BACK TOWARD WASHINGTON & TURN RIGHT:

Yarid’s: Swiss Milk Chocolate Holl’s Shoe-Shaped Lollipops

Del Sol Cantina and Grille: Chocolate Martinis

The Humble Tomato: Orange Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse

Congrats! You completed the walkabout. Now… what’s for dinner? (Make sure you call ahead to reserve!)

Entrée Specials –

• The French Goat: Coffee Crusted Pork Tenderloin, Cauliflower Purée, Spring Vegetables, Milk Chocolate Cherry Jus. 647-1052
• The Asylum: Nutella Bacon Burger 681-318-3515
• General Lewis Inn: Cocoa Fried Chicken 645-2600
• Stardust Café: Lamb Chops with Dark Chocolate Pepper Sauce 647-3663

Festival tasting TICKETS are on sale now and available to buy at lewisburgchocolatefestival.com. All tickets purchased online will be available at “will call” located inside Lewisburg City Hall on W. Washington St. downtown, during the event from 10-2p. Come eat for a good cause as this event benefits the United Way of Greenbrier Valley which works to improve the education, health, financial stability of friends and neighbors in Greenbrier, Monroe, and Pocahontas counties. What’s raised here stays here!

– HashtagWV #112. April 2019.