More than 15,000 bars of chocolate will be distributed throughout downtown Long Grove for a scavenger hunt during the annual Chocolate Fest set for the weekend of May 20 though 22, according to Mary Prekop, retail and brand development manager for the Long Grove Confectionary Co.
“The fest started in 2000 and has evolved over the years, and now we feel like we’ve hit a really nice rhythm,” she said. “We’ve got great music. We’re doing the chocolate scavenger hunt, and we have great activities for the kids.” People enjoy the scavenger hunt so much, she said, that they’ve added more scavenger cards for purchase at $5 each this year. Participants visit businesses to get stamps and chocolate, then return to the big red tent outside the Long Grove Confectionery Co. to get more chocolate.
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“People like going out and discovering places they don’t know are there. It’s really fun,” Prekop said. “And at the end of the hunt, they get our signature peanut butter melts. Plus you also get a little backpack to put all your chocolate in and one of the participants will win a year’s worth of chocolate.”
Also included are tickets to make a reservation for four people to tour the chocolate factory in nearby Buffalo Grove.
Long Grove Confectionery Co. will be making 15,000 handcrafted pieces of chocolate for the hunt, in addition to 40,000 apple cinnamon doughnuts dipped in chocolate and 1,000 cookies available to buy.
“We’re very excited to be introducing the Aunt Patti’s Myrtle cookie. It is phenomenal. It’s just crazy good,” Prekop said.
Other Long Grove businesses will sell treats, including chocolate cheesecake on a skewer, chocolate tea and chocolate wine. “Plus one of the shops, Epilogue, will do a special display of wind sculptures just for the fest,” she said. Bakers also are hand crafting 1,000 fried chocolate pies for the pie eating contest at 1:30 p.m. May 22.
The $5 entrance fee, separate from the $5 scavenger hunt fee, includes live entertainment from groups including American English all weekend long, as well as children’s activities and family centered events. One of the children’s favorites is the Bubble Man. “He does the most amazing thing with bubbles,” Prekop said. “The bubbles are huge and they’re absolutely fantastic.”
Youngsters also can participate in potato sack races and tug-of-war contests. “Our goal is to make these things fun for families. We’re such a plugged-in world. We’re all staring at our screens all day. The Chocolate Fest is an opportunity to step back in time and just have some fun. Let’s get dirty. Let’s play.
“This is really a nonprofit festival put on by residents, business owners and property owners. Every effort is made so it will be a fun family event.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
Long Grove Chocolate Fest
When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. May 20 and 21; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 22
Where: Village of Long Grove, Intersection of Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin roads
Tickets: $5, kids 12 and younger are free; free admission for all 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 20
Information: 847-634-0888; visitlonggrove.com/2016/01/28/long-grove-chocolate-fest-2016-2/