In the fall of 2007 the Jensen Center invited community residents to participate in the Dream Team for the Jensen Center, our wonderful community center here in Amherst. Participants made suggestions for what they would like to see happen at the Jensen Center. All ideas were voted on. A chocolate festival was in the top ten.
Shortly after the Dream Team exercise, a dedicated and creative group of women volunteered to serve on the committee. Planning for the first festival began in January of 2008. The idea of the festival expanded to include cooking classes, a chocolate cook off with prize money, massage, introduction to lifetime fitness activities, an art/craft/bake fair, informational programs, and a concert with Christine Kane.
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Over 500 people enjoyed the first Festival of Chocolate. We were blessed by a wonderful group of dedicated and flexible volunteers who helped to make the first festival a huge success.
With the first festival under our belts and after recovering from chocolate overload (just one day - who wants to go too long without chocolate) we reviewed what worked and what could make it even better, and began planning for the second festival. The most common comment was, "I didn't know that there would be so much to do other than just tasting chocolate. Next year I'll be prepared to spend the entire day!"
Because of the uniqueness of the event, the festival was awarded a JEM grant by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to promote the event and encourage tourism to our community.
Witness for yourself the efforts to improve this wonderful event. Please join us for the second annual Festival of Chocolate... and More on November 21, 2009 from 9:00am - 4:30 pm followed by an evening concert with Claudia Schmidt at the Jensen Center in Amherst.
