Every year since 2008, this unique festival has sprung up from the windswept Washington Coast every February. Even now, four years later, the question is frequently posed; “What IS the Chocolate on the Beach Festival?”
In many ways the answer to the question is as simple as the name of the festival, but with over three miles of chocolate up and down the North Beach area, there is much to take in and an incredibly wide variety of events focused on chocolate.
This will be the 5th year the Chocolate on the Beach Festival will attract chocolate vendors and chocolate lovers from around the country and if you are a chocolate-lover, you will be astounded at the variety of chocolate this festival brings! Each year as the demand for chocolate has grown, so too does the area where the chocolate can be found.
In the past the Hall of Sweets was the primary location for these delicious festivities, however this year there will be two buildings full of chocolate vendors as well as additional events within Seabrook, Aloha, and at the Pacific Beach Resort and Conference Center.
Admission is just $5 per adult which allows access to each vendor building (both the Hall of Chocolate and the Hot Cocoa Hall) on both Saturday and Sunday. Even better is that all children under 17 are free! Additionally, all out of town guests staying at either Seabrook or at any other of the festival-sponsored accommodations will receive a highly coveted Golden Ticket!
Golden Tickets are a special certificate which allows anyone over the age of 21 to receive a special chocolate surprise at the Information Desk at the “Hall of Sweets” and to as to be entered into a drawing for another stay at the beach! If you are just attending the festival for the day, there is one other way to receive a Golden Ticket. Just spend $20 or more at any participating merchant or restaurant in the area during the festival, you can bring your purchase receipt to the Sweet Shoppe in the “Hall of Sweets” and receive a Golden Ticket that way too!
Additionally, for every $10 spent (sales tax, alcohol & tobacco not included) at participating Merchants during the festival, you will receive a ticket for a chance to win Chocolate Festival Door Prizes. Simply write your name and a phone number where you can contacted during the festival! You can see the list of merchants and a map of their locations on the festival website.
Be sure to map out your trip before you go. With three miles of chocolate fun, you’ve got to pace yourself! Veteran festival participants recommend starting at the “Hall of Sweets”, located at the Pacific Beach Elementary School. It makes a great first location to shop the many Festival Vendors as well as the location for our Chocolate Recipe Contest, Sweet Shoppe & some of our festival events. The “Hot Cocoa Hall” is the newest festival vendor room and is at the North Beach Community Center, right next to the Grays Harbor Fire District #8 fire hall and is just a short drive from the Hall of Sweets.
Check out the full calendar of events and be sure to save time for the free Seabrook Family Scavenger Hunt and the free movie showings throughout the weekend at the Pacific Beach Resort and Conference Center. After attending the festival in years past, many people book their accommodations a full year in advance, but there are still many great places to stay at the beach for this amazing event.
See you at the Chocolate on the Beach Festival, this February 24, 25, & 26! For more information, please visit the festival webpage, www.chocolateonthebeachfestival.com.
Tags: aloha, chocolate, chocolate on the beach festival, chocolate recipe, hot chocolate, moclips, pacific beach, pacific beach elementary school, seabrook, washington coast
