“I always look forward to seeing what the vendors come up with. They have a lot of variety in what they offer. There’s going to be a little bit of everything,” said Sherri Krazl, marketing chair of Chocolate Meltdown.
Chocolate Meltdown is a fun, delicious way to support the arts. The event will feature vendors with chocolates for tasting, an amateur baking contest, an art exhibit, children’s activities, a silent auction featuring items from the bake-off contest as well as educational materials about chocolate. Also, new this year with the purchase of a separate ticket, there will be chocolate pours of liqueurs, wines and beers at the Chocolate Bar.
“This is just a fun event, especially in January, when it’s so cold and dreary,” she said.
With each admission ticket, attendees will receive five tasting coupons to visit the vendors for free tasting samples. Additional tickets may be purchased for a dollar each or six tickets for five dollars, and monies raised will be used to help promote the arts.
Children ages 12 and under are admitted free. There will be free children’s activities during the event, such as cupcake decorating, and pretzel dipping in chocolate (without tasting coupons). However, if children participate in the tasting areas, coupons are required.
Vendors will include bakers and chocolatiers to gourmet cooks and caterers. Visual artists will also participate. Monies raised will go to Miami University Art Museum and the Oxford Community Arts Center to support programming.
Chocolate Meltdown will feature more than a dozen vendors, including Antiquity Teahouse, Baking Diva Cupcakes, Ruby’s Chocolates, Serendipity Bakery, Graeter’s Ice Cream and many more. In addition to tasting the chocolates, attendees may also purchase items from the various vendors. On average, 300 to 500 guests have attended the event, annually.
Books & Brews will be a part of the event as part of the new, Chocolate Bar in the South Parlor. The bar will feature pours of liqueurs, wines and beers. There will be a separate pour ticket that guests can purchase for the pours. Tickets are $1 per pour.
Oxford has added some new, additional events, which will be happening throughout the weekend – on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – as part of “Conquer Cabin Fever.” Chocolate Meltdown will be one of the featured events. Other featured events throughout the weekend will include “Sled Dogs and Snowshoes,” Ice Skating, a “Ninja Obstacle Course,” and more. For more details, and a schedule of events, go to www.enjoyoxford.org/conquercabinfever.
The deadline to enter the “Melt Your Heart” bake-off competition is Wednesday, Jan. 1. The deadline to enter art in the “Melt Your Heart: A Chocolate Inspired Exhibition” is Monday, Jan. 6. The bake-off competition and exhibition will both offer new child and youth categories this year. More information and entry forms may be downloaded from the website at www.chocolatemeltdown.com. The art exhibition will remain on display at the Oxford Community Arts Center through Friday, March 6.
HOW TO GO
What: Chocolate Meltdown
When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Oxford Community Arts Center, 10 S. College Ave., Oxford
Cost: Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.chocolatemeltdown.com, at the Oxford Community Arts Center and at the Miami University Art Museum for $7 (plus online ticketing fees, if purchased online.) Tickets will also be sold for $10 at the door. Ages 12 and younger will be admitted free, when accompanied by a paying adult (purchase of tasting coupons at the event are required.) Children's chocolate activities in the designated area will not require coupons. Each admission ticket includes five tasting coupons that may be used at the vendor booths. Additional coupons may be purchased at the event for $1 each, or 6 tickets for $5.
More info: www.chocolatemeltdown.com or the event page "Chocolate Meltdown 2020" on Facebook and "Chocolate Meltdown" on Instagram.
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