Chocolate lovers – and who isn’t? – are invited to attend the Ultimate Chocolate Festival the weekend of March 22-23 at the Natural History Museum of Utah at the Rio Tinto Center. The not-to-be missed event will feature local chocolate-makers, cafes, specialty items, and the museum’s popular feature exhibit Chocolate: The Exhibition, from The Field Museum in Chicago.
“The Ultimate Chocolate Festival is all things chocolate, from drinks and specialty dishes to the museum’s world-class exhibit that graphically tells the interesting history of this wonderful treat,” said Natural History Museum of Utah Public Programs Manager Colleen McLaughlin. “Plus, the Festival will bring together a mix of Utah’s award-winning chocolate-making community who will demo their craft and provide interesting insights about chocolate.”
The festival will take place throughout the museum. The Canyon will host more than a dozen local chocolate specialists including Amano Artisan Chocolate, Chocolot, Caputo’s, Mill Creek Cacao Roasters, Solstice Chocolate, and The Chocolate Conspiracy, as well as a variety of cafes and specialty stores such as Pop on Over Café, Chocolate Covered Wagon, Amour Spreads and Butchers Bunches.
The Sky Gallery on the fifth floor will be turned into a special Mayan Coffee Café with an assortment of drinks from Café Ibis, Harmons, and Crio Bru. Hands-on activities will include cacao bean grinding, chocolate tastings, and a community art project. Plus, there will be Myan and modern dance performances and educational “Chocolate Blasts” from local experts throughout the weekend.
“The museum is dedicated to bringing world-class exhibits to Utah and developing programs that help to showcase natural history and how it relates to our community,” said McLaughlin. “The Ultimate Chocolate Festival, together with the exhibit, does that in a big way. The weekend festivities will really bring chocolate to “life”, not only by enlivening all our senses, but also by providing a great learning opportunity for kids of all ages.”
The Ultimate Chocolate Festival takes place the weekend of March 22-23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is included in the museum’s general admission price – $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and youths (ages 13-24) and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Become a member today and receive free admission to exhibits and special events throughout the year. Visit www.nhmu.utah.edu for more information on memberships and the Ultimate Chocolate Festival.
