21 Annual Chocolate Festival in Southbury Connecticut

The 21st Annual Chocolate Lovers' Spring Expo to benefit Easter Seals will be held on Sunday, April 6 from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Southbury off of I-84 exit 16.

Chocolates from Sweet Maria's

With chocolate lovers in mind, this event showcases many of the areas  finest chocolate delights and specialty food items from a wide variety of exhibitors and culinary schools.

In addition to chocolate, event goers are sure to enjoy a silent auction, door prizes, special drawings, and demonstrations as well as music by Excite Disc Jockey Entertainment and Bella Winds Woodwind Ensemble as you shop for chocolate goodies, unique gifts, products & services.

Tickets are $25 in advance ($30 at the door). Children's tickets (ages 5-12) are $5. For tickets or exhibitor information please call 203-754-5141 Faith Hull (ext. 251) or Carolee Kalita, (ext. 243). 

Proceeds benefit the programs and services of Easter Seals, serving the special needs of infants, children, and adults with disabilities in greater Waterbury, central, and northwestern Connecticut. www.waterburyct.easterseals.com.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Calling all chocolate lovers....

Less than three weeks before Valentine's Day, shop for amazing sweets for your sweetie from some of the region's best chocolatiers as the Maritime Aquarium located on 10 North Water Street in Norwalk CT is taken over on Sun., Jan. 26 by Chocolate World Expo.  This event is perfect for people who are serious about chocolate, not for folks looking to load up on candy commonly available in most grocery aisles.

The Expo, one of the largest consumer-oriented chocolate events in the United States, will feature some 40 vendors who will offer tastings and sales of their products. They'll be set up throughout the Aquarium's galleries.

Vendors at the Expo typically offer small tasting-sized portions of their products that can be tried right away. Think of the chocolate tastings in the way you might think of a wine tasting at a winery: you get a small sample to try and you often get to talk with the person who made the product. If you like what you've tasted, you can purchase that product directly at the show for yourself or as a gifts.

Chocolate lovers will find much more at the expo than traditional chocolates as this event features unique offerings like chocolate-covered bacon and – appropriate for the Aquarium – one vendor’s “chocolate shark bites.”  Vendors will also offer baked goods, specialty foods and even fine soaps and bath products.

All of The Maritime Aquarium exhibits will be open on Jan. 26 – and will stay open two hours longer than normal: from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Your Chocolate World Expo admission includes Aquarium admission.  IMAX^® movies are available as an additional ticket, as always. 

The special admission price on Jan. 26 is $15 for adults and $10 for kids 3-12.

Aquarium Members Important Notice:
Aquarium Members receive a $2 per person discount (adult and child) on event/Aquarium admission this day. Senior member price is same as adult price. Sorry, but Aquarium members do not receive free admission for this special event. Member guest discounts do not apply.

For more information about the Maritime Aquarium www.maritimeaquarium.org.  For area information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com