GREENFIELD — According to the famed cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz, “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
The sweet treat takes center stage this Friday, Aug. 13, at the 12th annual Greenfield Chocolate Walk, hosted by the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
Over 20 vendors will be passing out chocolate in all shapes, sizes and consistencies, from doughnut holes to ice cream to beer, and plenty of melt-in-your mouth chocolate candies.
“We typically have between 20 and 25 vendors each year,” said chamber president Retta Livengood, who always gets a kick out of seeing hundreds of people traverse the downtown streets in search of a chocolate fix.
Ticket sales are capped at 300 this year, and were still available to purchase at the door as of the Daily Reporter’s press time.
Proceeds benefit the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce, which created the event to promote commerce among the downtown businesses.
“You may drive by businesses but never stop in, but this event motivates you to go into the stores and hopefully spend some money there,” Livengood said.
Chocolate walk vendors include a wide range of local merchants, all eager for the chance to market themselves and connect with potential customers.
“We absolutely love the chocolate walk,” said Jayne Hoadley, owner of J. Evelyn Confections and the Greenfield Chocolates shop downtown.
“We meet so many new people, and everybody is always so excited to be there. It gives our downtown some great visibility, because you never know who is going to walk through your front door and remember you for future gifts or personal purchases,” she said.
Hoadley is often tapped by fellow business owners to create custom chocolates that perfectly market their brand, like the gun-shaped chocolates she’s made for years now for Highsmith Guns.
Her own offering this year will include caramel covered chocolate dipped pretzels and a “naked truffle,” coated in cinnamon sugar or cocoa powder.
Livengood said the unique-shaped chocolates are always a big hit at the Chocolate Walk, along with non-candy offerings like the chocolate-drizzled popcorn that will be handed out this year.
“We’re all about the weird and wacky stuff. We once had chocolate covered bacon,” said the chamber director, who was happy to see the return of the sundae bar at Bradley United Methodist Church this year.
“I love that a church is doing a ‘Sunday’ bar,” she said.
A local realtor and home builder are both having chocolates made in the shape of tiny houses, said Livengood, and one vendor has considered passing out chocolates shaped like a vacuum cleaner.
Although she won’t be offering them at the Chocolate Walk, Hoadley recently scored big by offering crunchy, sweet chocolates in the form of cicadas, complete with bright red eyes on a body of milk chocolate, with a gooey, crunchy center.
While she wasn’t sure how customers would respond to the unique treats, the chocolate bugs were soon flying off the shelves.
“Oh my gosh, sales for them were off the charts. People loved it,” said the chocolatier. “We were trying to come up with something that would bring people in because of the construction going on, and we thought what would be fun and unique. Had we not done that project, we would not have made our month (sales goal).”
No matter what form the chocolate comes in on Friday, Livengood said the crowd always goes wild for the chance to collect more than 20 samples of chocolate from all over downtown, using a map and punch card provided at check-in.
The event runs from 5-8 p.m. Advance tickets can be purchased online for $15, at the door for $20, while supplies last.
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WHAT: The 12th annual Greenfield Chocolate Walk
WHEN: 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13
WHERE: 20 different stops throughout downtown Greenfield
HOST: Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce
WHY: To support downtown businesses and raise funds for the chamber
TICKETS: Advance tickets can be purchased online for $15, or at the door for $20, while supplies last.
INFORMATION: greenfieldcc.org/events/Chocolate-Walk-1486/details
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