Chocolate Fest tastes tenth year in Long Grove

Chocolate comes in many varieties, but Abraham Lincoln usually is not one of them.

Regardless, a chocolaty Honest Abe will be among the many sugary attractions in Long Grove this weekend.

The tenth annual Chocolate Fest is set for Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Long Grove. The festival is free and features live music and an ice cream eating contest in addition to the various chocolate tastings.

"There's a whole range of things from chocolate fudge to chocolate-flavored drinks," said Kelley Happ, communications coordinator for Long Grove Business and Community Partners.

Many stores in the area have their own plans for the festival, allowing visitors to go on a chocolate crawl of sorts.

Some of the offerings include chocolate apple pie, ChocoVine (a chocolate red wine,) a chocolate fondue fountain, chocolate martinis, chocolate cannolis, espresso chocolate tarts and raspberry wine served in a cup made of chocolate.

Happ said the festival draws thousands of people.

"They come in from all over, from other states as well," she said.

Live music will be on tap on three stages Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Performers include Wandering Endorphin, Las Guitarras de Espana, Patchouli, Spoken Four, The Langen Boys and the Kildeer School Children's Choir.

"You can spend the day shopping, eating and listening to music," Happ said. "It's a good way to spend the day with family."

The "Coco Crazyness" tent houses tastings and the carving of the chocolate bust of Abraham Lincoln. Chocolate popcorn tastings, fudge tastings and chocolate dessert tastings will happen all weekend.

Sunday a chocolate challenge comes to the "Coco Crazyness" tent, in case festivalgoers get a competitive drive from all that chocolate.

"We're going to have half a dozen people come up from the audience and create something interesting with chocolate, marshmallows and toothpicks," Happ said.