Chocolate Creations Festival returns January 30

By Stacey Sullivan

The Lakefield Chocolate Creations Festival returns Friday, January 30, inviting residents and visitors to explore 18 participating businesses and organizations to help crown this year’s Chocolate Creation Champions.

Running until Tuesday, February 17, the festival encourages the community to shop local, sample specialty chocolate creations, and cast votes for their favourites in a friendly competition organized by the Lakefield Village Lions Club.

Jack’s Family Restaurant is serving up a Biscoff Hot Chocolate as their entry in the Drink category of the Lakefield Chocolate Creations Festival, January 30-February 17. (Photo: Jack’s Restaurant - Lakefield on Facebook)

Businesses and organizations across Lakefield and area are putting their own spin on chocolate in three categories: Food, Drink, and Creativity.

In the Food category, participating businesses include:

• Burleigh Falls Inn,

• Lakefield Restaurant,

• OnPoint Kitchen & Catering,

• The Cheesy Fromage,

• The Loon,

• and The Market

The Drink category features:

• Canoe & Paddle,

• Jack’s Family Restaurant,

• Shaker’s Diner,

• Stuff’d Bakery & Cafe,

• and The Nutty Bean Cafe.

Spirited chocolate beverages also offer a non-alcoholic option.

The Creativity category highlights chocolate-themed offerings beyond the kitchen. Participating businesses and organizations include:

• Classy Closet by Sue,

• Community Care Lakefield,

• Lakefield Animal Welfare Society (Jan. 30 and 31 only),

• Lakefield IDA Pharmacy,

• Lakefield Pantry,

• Salon Sorella,

• and Sunshrine Day Spa & Salon.

To participate, visitors simply visit participating businesses, purchase the specialty chocolate creations, and vote for their favourites. A purchase is required to vote. Participants may vote more than once per category, but only once per merchant.

Votes can be submitted at the place of purchase, at any participating business, online through festival social media pages during festival dates, or by scanning QR codes displayed in participating locations. Ballots require a first and last name to be valid and can be placed in designated ballot boxes.

A portion of proceeds from every chocolate creation sold will support local organizations, charities, and families in need.

Festival hours follow each business’s regular operating hours. Salon Sorella and Sunshrine Day Spa & Salon may require appointments in advance, contact the businesses for details.

For more information, visit the Lakefield Village Lions Club and Lakefield Chocolate Creations Festival on Facebook.