Chocolate Fest returns to Long Grove this weekend
Historic Downtown Long Grove and official sponsor Long Grove Confectionary present the town's annual Chocolate Fest Friday through Sunday, May 19-21.
The festival is dedicated to old-world charms, family frills and delicious chocolate. Live music on four stages conjures up a time bygone. Children roam the village in search of chocolate treasures during the Chocolate Scavenger Hunt while parents zigzag after them in and out of boutiques hunting for their own hidden gems. Local vendors dot cobblestone streets, wheeling out chocolate-infused creations from pudding pie pops to burgers with a special sauce.
In the Primrose School of Long Grove Kid Zone, interactive activities include pie-eating contests, potato sack races, dancing and the bubble show.
New features include the Long Grove Confectionery Chocolate Experience Tent and additional satellite parking lots. Free activities include painting with chocolate, chocolate pudding pictionary and chocolate play clay.
Acts on the Stasek Chevrolet main stage include ARRA from 9 to 11 p.m. Friday and Wedding Banned from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Among the many other bands and groups appearing at the festival are Gooroos, Cowboy Jukebox, Semple & Valentine, Ginger Road, 97Nine, School of Rock, Mr. Myers and Gussied.
Antique appraisals will be provided by Emporium of Antiques, noon to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The festival is 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (free preview from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at 308 Old McHenry Road in Downtown Long Grove. Admission is $5 per person per day. Kids 12 and under get in free. A three-day pass is $10.
Parking is free at all public lots: Stempel Municipal Lot, 360 Historical Lane, Archer Lot, 343 Old McHenry Road, Kildeer Countryside Elementary School, 3100 Old McHenry Road,
There is shuttle bus service from the former Dominick's at Chase Plaza, 1172 Lake-Cook Road (intersection Lake-Cook and Arlington Heights roads). Buffalo Grove. The last shuttle will leave 5 to 10 minutes after the event closes.
Food vendors include Brothers BBQ, La Cebollita, Luke's of Mundelein, McCormick & Schmick's, Joanie's Pizzeria, Prairie House, Sire Restaurant, The Strawberry Patch, Bar Cacao Chocolate, Morkes Long Grove Chocolates AMD Puna Chocolate.
Full information is at longgrove.org/events-festivals.