Virginia Is for Lovers of Chocolate

By Broadside Managing Editor Sherell Williams

It’s back: the annual Chocolate Lovers Festival will descend once again on the city of Fairfax for two days on Feb. 7-8 bringing with it the return of several popular events from years’ past. Beginning Saturday, students and residents can purchase obscene amounts of chocolate, candy, and other cavity-creating goods at the annual Taste of Chocolate featuring goods from local area confectioners, chocolatiers, and pastry chefs.

Among the new events this year are a cake and sculpting demonstration by Norman R. Davis and Zane Beg of Food Network Challenge fame, a Q&A session with Davis and Warren Brown, host of Food Network’s “Sugar Rush,” a harp musical performance by Jamey Turner, and The Chocolate Mile, a one-mile run through Old Town Fairfax.

For $1, festival goers will be able to bid on and judge donated cakes and other sweet items at the Chocolate Challenge and Silent Auction in the City Hall Atrium on both Saturday and Sunday. The displays and auction will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

If you’ve wondered if you have what it takes to be a lawyer, test your knowledge of the law by participating in the game “So You Think You’re Smarter Than a Lawyer?” at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 in the Fairfax Court House. Admission to this event is free.

On Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m., Dr. Thomas Hennessey, Jr., chief of staff for the Office of the President, will speak at the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center. His lecture, “Growing a Great University,” will. New to the festival this year is an educational live animal show titled “Last Paradise on Earth: Our Rainforests.” Hosted by Animal Ambassadors, an environmental education outreach organization, the show will feature a kinkajou, macaw, iguana, boa constrictor, agouti, and a millipede.

The presentation is free and will explore how vital rainforests are to the creation of medicine, oxygen, and products, including chocolate. Jonathan Austin, a magician, juggler, and comedian will also perform on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the City of Fairfax Regional Library.

Family friendly activities such as puppet shows, circus acrobatics and fingerpainting will take place throughout both days. A free shuttle service aptly named The Chocolate Express will run between event locations from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 and from 11:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 8. For a full calendar of events, visit www.chocolateloversfestival.net.

Must-Attend Chocolate Lovers Festival Events

Chocolate Lovers Pancake Breakfast
Support the Kiwanis Cup of Fairfax and grab breakfast.
Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Fairfax
Date: Saturday, Feb. 7
Time: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: 4081 University Drive, Fire Station 3
Cost: $6

Q&A with Warren Brown and Norman R. Davis
Love the Food Network? Warren Brown of “Sugar Rush” and Cake Love along with Food Network Challenge participant Norman R. Davis and Zane Beg from The Sweet Life will answer your questions.

Date: Saturday, Feb. 7
Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: City Hall Annex, 10455 Armstrong Street
Cost: Free

Cake Decorating Demonstration
Norman R. Davis and Zane Beg from The Sweet Life in Annandale, Va will perform a cake decorating and sculpting demonstration.

Date: Saturday, Feb. 7
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: City Hall Atrium, 10455 Armstrong Street
Cost: $1

Taste of Chocolate
Shop all things chocolate from cakes to candies and brownies to ice cream from area chocolatiers and confectioners.

Date: Saturday, Feb. 7 and Sunday, Feb. 8
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 7, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 8
Where: Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive
Cost: Admission is free, pogs needed to buy treats are $1