The Mayans used it to cure ailments. The Aztecs used it as a form of currency. Spanish aristocrats made it into a sugary drink. Regardless of how they used it, civilizations throughout history have shared one thing in common: their love for chocolate. Celebrate all things chocolate at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s 7th Annual International Chocolate Festival on Friday, January 25 – Sunday, January 27 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This year’s festival is sponsored by Whole Foods, AT&T U-Verse, the Mexico Tourism Board, Oficina Comercial del Peru en Miami, and South Miami Hospital.
Enjoy a decadent three days of cooking demonstrations, lectures, plant sales and – of course – lots of chocolate sampling. Stop by the Edible Garden to find out how to make chocolate from scratch. Take home a cacao or coffee plant at the Plant Sale and start making your own delicious treats. Relax at the Chocolate Spa with mini massages and manicures or attend a yoga class. Travel through the Rainforest, Conservatory, Tropical Fruit Pavilion, and Garden House on the Choco Walk to smell chocolate-scented orchids, taste chocolates from around the world, and participate in the interactive demonstration “From Bean to Beverage” presented by The Historic Division of Mars. Don’t forget to walk through the new DiMare Science Village, which includes the Wings of the Tropics butterfly exhibit. This year’s festival is sure to delight the chocolate lover in all of us.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156. Admission to the International Chocolate Festival is free for Fairchild members and children 5 and under. For nonmembers, admission is $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and up, and $12 for children 6-17. Those who walk, bike, or take public transportation receive $5 off adult admission and $2 off child admission. Those with a Military ID have free admission, with $20 for their spouses and $10 for their children.
For more information and a complete schedule, please visit www.fairchildgarden.org or the International Chocolate Festival Web page.