The Chocolate Lovers Festival was developed in 1992 as a joint effort of the City of Fairfax, Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Fairfax Coalition, Downtown Fairfax Merchants Association and George Mason University. The purpose of the festival was to draw visitors to Old Town Fairfax, to encourage community participation and to foster cooperation among the city government, the business community and local residents.
The first festival was held in Feb 1993 and continues an annual tradition with "love of chocolate" as a unifying theme. This popular festival continues to attract chocolate lovers from around the country.
The Chocolate Lovers Festival, is held on the first full weekend of February and features activities for all to enjoy. In 2017, the festival will be held Feb 3 from 6pm - 8pm, Feb 4 from 10am - 5pm (Chocolate Chip Pancake Breakfast begins at 8am) and Feb 5 from 12noon - 4pm. Join the City of Fairfax for the Taste of Chocolate, the Chocolate Challenge, the NEW Liquid Chocolate Tent featuring all chocolate drinks, the ever-popular Kiwanis Chocolate Chip Pancake Breakfast, open houses at historic buildings and much more.
The Chocolate Lovers Festival placed 1st among the Best Food Festivals in the Northern Region by the Virginia Living magazine readers. The Chocolate Lovers Festival has placed for Best Food Festival in the Northern Region in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 which is every year Virginia Living has held the survey!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaIGPe99pe4&feature=youtu.be
Events Schedule
All of the Chocolate Lovers Festival events are located in the heart of the City of Fairfax. Festival events are suitable for all ages and all locations are handicap accessible. Directions and Map
- Some events require a fee, and other events are free to all visitors. These events can be identified on the schedule by a $, and the prices listed below the event.
- Due to the nature of the Chocolate Lovers Festival, sanitary food conditions are of the highest priority. For this reason, and the comfort and safety of all participants, there are no animals allowed inside any event site. Certified service animals, as defined by the ADA, are of course an exception.
The Chocolate Express provides free shuttle service between event locations during the festival. All shuttles on the route are fully accessible. The Chocolate Express will run on Saturday from 9:30am to 5:30pm and on Sunday from 11:45am to 4:30pm.
2017 Events Schedule
Fri, Feb 3, 2017
NEW! Liquid Chocolate Tent! (Old Town Square) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Kick off the best weekend of the year in Fairfax City with all the liquid chocolate your heart could desire. This heated tent will host different types of chocolate soda, chocolate wine, chocolate beer, hot chocolate, desert wine pairings, chocolate milk and more! Don't miss out on this great new addition to the festival!
Sat, Feb 4, 2017
Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale ($) (Fire Station #3 / University Dr) 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Open House - Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Fairfax Story and Chalkboards to Smartboards
Child Fingerprinting by Fairfax County Sheriff’s Dept. (Historic Fairfax Courthouse) 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Historic Records & Archives (Historic Fairfax Courthouse) 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Open House – Legato School 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Ford House Open House - Historical Exhibit & Chocolate Treats 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Taste of Chocolate ($) (Old Town Hall)
(doors close @ 4:30 pm) 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Chocolate Challenge and Silent Auction ($1 Admission) 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
2017 Grant Recipient (Every1CanWork d/b/a Cameron’s Chocolates) Exhibit
(City of Fairfax Regional Library) 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
City of Fairfax Fire Department Life Safety Puppet Show (City of Fairfax Regional Library) 10:30 am
Harley Eye Candy Photos (City of Fairfax Regional Library) 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
The Chocolate Caper Mock Trial- Little Miss Muffett (Historic Fairfax Courthouse) 11:00 am
Tours and Chocolate Treats – Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Precision Motorcycle Skills Competition by Patriot-Harley Owner’s Group 1:30 pm
City of Fairfax Fire Department Life Safety Puppet Show (City of Fairfax Regional Library) 12:45 pm
So You Think You’re Smarter Than A Lawyer? (Historic Fairfax Courthouse) 12:30 pm
Chocolate Dipped Tales w/KayDee Puppets (City of Fairfax Regional Library) 2:00 pm
Precision Motorcycle Skills Competition by Patriot-Harley Owner’s Group 2:00 pm
Precision Motorcycle Skills Competition by Patriot-Harley Owner’s Group 2:30 pm
The Chocolate Caper Mock Trial- Little Miss Muffett (Historic Fairfax Courthouse) 2:30 pm
NEW! Liquid Chocolate Tent! (Old Town Square) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Be Our Valentine: Music with Cody & BJ (City of Fairfax Regional Library) 3:30 pm
Sun, Feb 5, 2017
Open House - Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center – The Fairfax Story and Chalkboards to Smartboards 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Open House – Legato School 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Taste of Chocolate ($)(doors close @ 3:30 pm) 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Chocolate Challenge & Silent Auction ($1 Admission)(silent auction bidding ends @ 2:30 pm) 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Tours and Chocolate Treats – Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Construct a Cupcake ($) (Twin’s Ace Hardware - 10310 Main St, 2nd Floor) Minimum donation of $1.00 per cupcake (all monies will be donated to the National Children’s Medical Center) 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Cake Walk (Old Town Square) 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
2017 Grant Recipient (Every1CanWork d/b/a Cameron’s Chocolates) Exhibit
(City of Fairfax Regional Library) 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chocolate Covered Fairy Tales” w/Storyteller Gary Lloyd (City of Fairfax Regional Library) 2:00 pm
Magic and Juggling with Jonathan Austin (City of Fairfax Regional Library) 3:30 pm
