Chocolate Fest turns back the clock

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Updated: March 17, 2012 10:18AM

Attention chocolate lovers: Homewood is ready to fulfill your cravings during its annual Chocolate Fest this weekend.

Renowned chocolatiers will offer free tastes of their creations and they’ll be plenty of homemade treats to sample from the Chocolate Bake-Off Competition during the fest that runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Auditorium, 2010 Chestnut Road.

The bake-off, hosted by the Community Relations Commission, features 20-plus entries that will be available for tasting for a donation to the Girl Scouts in honor of their 100th anniversary.

“These are wonderful, creative, decadent items,” said Allisa Opyd, events coordinator for the village.

The event isn’t pure chocolate. Fast Eddie and the Corvettes will perform music from the late 1950s and early ’60s.

“It’s the perfect event for the mid-winter blues and to get the family out to try wonderful chocolates and see great entertainment,” Opyd said.

The Downtown Homewood Business Association also will have its fingers in the candy jar. Merchants will feature chocolate from around the world. All chocolate lovers need to do is pick up a “passport” at the auditorium and proceed to tempt themselves by visiting participating businesses, which include Art Corner, Global Fusion, Bella Vita, Twisted Q, Art 4 Soul and Nathalie’s Interiors.

The day will wrap up with a pie-eating contest, with both adult and youth categories. Whoever eats an entire pie first wins. The pies will be donated by Gordon Food service.

Chocolatiers include local favorite Mitchell’s Candies, Fannie Mae, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory of Orland Park and Enjoy, which will feature baked chocolate goods. Candy Land from Tinley Park will offer gourmet caramel popcorn drizzled with dark chocolate.