By Kathy L. Collins
Chocolate lovers rejoice! The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) will hold its 3rd Annual Festival of Chocolate, Florida’s largest all chocolate themed event, on Saturday, January 19, Sunday, January 20 and Monday, January 21. MOSI is located at 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa.
The Festival of Chocolate will showcase the area’s best chocolate and confection companies who will be on hand selling tasty treats of everything chocolate from truffles, cakes and cupcakes to cookies, brownies and ice creams. There will also be savory items such as chocolate BBQ sauce, balsamic vinegars and meat rubs. For the little chocoholics, Kids-4-Chocolate is the perfect place to create, launch and play.
You will delight in the interactive demonstrations where award-winning pastry chefs will share techniques and tricks of the trade. You can witness a live wedding cake competition where you will see breathtaking artistic sculptures.
The Festival of Chocolate will feature a Cocoa Couture Fashion Show on the Yumway, a chocolate Game Show Stage for the competition junkies and Chocolate 101 for those looking to take home a pinch of chocolate wisdom. In addition to all of the tasting and other offerings, families can attend Chocolate University and learn about the health, history and science of chocolate.
Kerrie Hoening attended the festival last year. Hoening said, “The Festival of Chocolate was a great event. We enjoyed tasting a variety of great chocolate delights from chocolate covered salty treats to fountains for dipping.”
Entrance into The Festival of Chocolate is included when you purchase MOSI admission. Adults are $21.95 and children are $17.95. MOSI members receive discounted entry pricing at $10 and member children 12 and under can attend for free. Advance purchase tickets are available. For each adult advance purchase ticket you will receive two dollars in chocolate coins to spend at the festival.
MOSI is the largest science center in the southeastern United States, and is home to the only IMAX Dome center in the nation. Visit www.mosi.org. www.tampa.festivalofchocolate.com or call 438-4066.
