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“There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles.” – Anonymous.
Over the centuries chocolate has been used for currency as well as food and drink for royalty and noblemen. It is also credited with fostering amorous feelings, well being and good health. To promote the power of the cocoa bean the Third Annual WV Chocolate Festival is on Saturday, March 27 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The day promises delicious treats that will be sure to top anything that Willy Wonka could offer.
The West Virginia Chocolate Festival’s sweet success story began three years ago in Ripley as a way to promote the city and as an additional function for Jackson County residents.
Said Mayor Carolyn Rader, “I’m not taking credit for all of this. This is all the brainstorm of Sherri Knotts. I said to her one day that Ripley needs something in the spring. We have 4th of July in the summer and football in the fall and baseball in late spring, but we need something, some umph! here in Ripley in springtime. I wanted to give all of the local people a centralized place to sell their chocolate- you know the churches and the schools. Sherri wanted more of the exquisite chocolateers in our state, so we combined them and it has worked for us. None of the chocolate festivals in West Virginia are called the West Virginia Chocolate Festival. Not Morgantown or Louisburg. Sherri contacted the office of Tourism and we are the West Virginia Chocolate festival now. The first year we had about 1,100 people come through the door on that day. It was great fun.”
Since that time the WV Chocolate Festival has become a much-anticipated event for vendors and chocolate lovers alike. According to Rader last year’s event drew approximately 2,200 visitors.
This year’s event will be held at McCoy’s Inn and Conference Center for the second year in a row.
At least 20 vendors are expected to have confections ranging from peanut butter filled eggs to whimsical suckers to hand dipped chocolates. Since the festival is the week before Easter visitors will be able to find a wide variety of freshly made candies to fill Easter baskets.
Kicking off the festival and helping to march away the winter blahs will be the Ripley High School Viking Marching Band. The parade will also include festival royalty and start at 11 a.m. at the City Parking Lot. The parade, lead by the mayor dressed as an M&M, will come out onto 21 and go north to the light and then west on 33 to McCoy’s.
“There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles.” – Anonymous.
Over the centuries chocolate has been used for currency as well as food and drink for royalty and noblemen. It is also credited with fostering amorous feelings, well being and good health. To promote the power of the cocoa bean the Third Annual WV Chocolate Festival is on Saturday, March 27 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The day promises delicious treats that will be sure to top anything that Willy Wonka could offer.
The West Virginia Chocolate Festival’s sweet success story began three years ago in Ripley as a way to promote the city and as an additional function for Jackson County residents.
Said Mayor Carolyn Rader, “I’m not taking credit for all of this. This is all the brainstorm of Sherri Knotts. I said to her one day that Ripley needs something in the spring. We have 4th of July in the summer and football in the fall and baseball in late spring, but we need something, some umph! here in Ripley in springtime. I wanted to give all of the local people a centralized place to sell their chocolate- you know the churches and the schools. Sherri wanted more of the exquisite chocolateers in our state, so we combined them and it has worked for us. None of the chocolate festivals in West Virginia are called the West Virginia Chocolate Festival. Not Morgantown or Louisburg. Sherri contacted the office of Tourism and we are the West Virginia Chocolate festival now. The first year we had about 1,100 people come through the door on that day. It was great fun.”
Since that time the WV Chocolate Festival has become a much-anticipated event for vendors and chocolate lovers alike. According to Rader last year’s event drew approximately 2,200 visitors.
This year’s event will be held at McCoy’s Inn and Conference Center for the second year in a row.
At least 20 vendors are expected to have confections ranging from peanut butter filled eggs to whimsical suckers to hand dipped chocolates. Since the festival is the week before Easter visitors will be able to find a wide variety of freshly made candies to fill Easter baskets.
Kicking off the festival and helping to march away the winter blahs will be the Ripley High School Viking Marching Band. The parade will also include festival royalty and start at 11 a.m. at the City Parking Lot. The parade, lead by the mayor dressed as an M&M, will come out onto 21 and go north to the light and then west on 33 to McCoy’s.
“The Viking Band, which I can’t say enough good things about, leads the parade. I have never called the school to where Sherry Poole did not always say ‘Yes I will help you.’ The kids wear M&M shirts, which are so cute. Karen King does a bang up job with the Chocolate Festival Pageant. There will be candidates running for office throwing out chocolate. There will be a little Mr. Kiss and a big Mr. Kiss and the Chocolate Queen that reins over the festival. It’s a short parade. It’s enough to get everyone’s attention.”
The Jackson County Children’s Choir will provide entertainment at the festival site along with the Ripley High Choir. There will also be games for kids as well.
Said Rader, “This is just going to be a great day no matter what the weather is. It’s fun. It’s an attention getter for to Jackson County and it’s a great time.”
For more information on the WV Chocolate Festival call (304) 372-3482.
