St. Stephen’s annual Chocolate Fest is back for another year and will be celebrating all things chocolate from Sunday, August 4th to Thursday, August 8th at venues around town.

This family-friendly event offers something for everyone. After all, who doesn’t love chocolate? There will be plenty of entertainment, many activities to take part in, and lots of chocolate to sample along the way, so get ready to treat your taste buds.

Chocolate Fests hosts a number of featured events over the course of its four days. Everything kicks off on Sunday with Chocolate Fest’s 35th Birthday Blast. Be sure to stop by Ganong Chocolate Park between 6 pm and 7:30 pm to enjoy cake with the festival mascots, Chocolate Mousse and his wife, Tiffany.

On Monday, there will be a Kid’s Chocolate Dip n’ Paint where your child can follow along with an artist to create their own masterpiece, as well as a Chocolate Fest Trivia Night later on at Dooly’s on King Street. The next night, Dooly’s will be hosting the very first Chocolate Fest Sip Dip n’ Paint for 19+ guests. Make sure you also check out the Chocolate Pudding Eating Contest on Wednesday in St. Stephen Town Square and the brand new Chocolate Bar Bingo Thursday morning event at Ganong Chocolate Park.

The festival draws to a close on Thursday evening with the Chocolate Lover’s Choctail Hour at St. Stephen’s University. Doors open at 7 pm and the event runs until 9 pm. Come and treat yourself to hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, and, of course, plenty of chocolate desserts. This is a 19+ event and admission is $20 per person.

Aside from these main featured events, there will be many more fun activities held during every day of Chocolate Fest, such as the Chocolate Jamboree, the Treasure Hunt Challenge, the 7th Annual St. Croix Arts Showcase, and the Chocolate Fest Luncheon. Whether you stay for the duration of the festival or just visit for a day, there’s sure to be something fun to do during your stay.

St. Stephen officially became “Canada’s Chocolate Town” in 2000 due to its rich and storied history of chocolate making. It all began in 1873 when the Ganong brothers opened a grocery store and began selling candy in order to attract more customers. Their company grew dramatically and, by 1930, had become one of the biggest employers in town. Chocolate became a major part of the town’s identity, and the very first Chocolate Fest was held in 1984.

While you are in St. Stephen for the festival, make sure you also pay a visit to the Ganong Chocolatier shop, where you’ll find all sorts of old-fashioned chocolates. Try some chocolate truffles, peanut butter cups, double-dipped cherries, and many more confectioners’ masterpieces. The Chocolate Museum is another must-visit landmark, especially during the festival. Here, you can learn about chocolate making and more about the history of the Ganong family.

If you’re going to celebrate chocolate, then there’s no better place to do it than in St. Stephen. Come taste your way around Canada’s very own “chocolate town” while you learn a bit about its heritage and take part in some family-friendly events and activities.