A Guide To The 2020 Homewood Chocolate Fest

HOMEWOOD, IL — The Homewood Chocolate Fest, one of the south suburbs' most popular annual month of February events, will return for its 18th year on Saturday, Feb. 22. All the fun is jam-packed into a three-hour frame from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Homewood-Flossmoor Auditorium at 2010 Chestnut Ave. in Homewood.

Here's a guide to the event, which includes the popular Chocolate Bake-off contest.

Chocolate Bake-Off Contest

Bake-Off applications are due on Monday, Feb. 17. Enter the contest here.

A panel of judges selects three winners for both the amateur and professional baker category and award cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50. After the winners are decided, the public samples each entry beginning at 11:30 a.m. in exchange for a small donation to benefit the Homewood School District's Foundation 153.

The top overall winner will be crowned "Home Sweet Homewood's Master Pastry Chef." The winner will be announced at 1:30 p.m.

Baking Demonstration Planned

At noon and 1 p.m. Amy Crump, of Bite Me Bakery, demonstrates how to make a gluten-free and plant-based HobNob Bar Cookie with a (dairy-free) chocolate topping.

Vendors

Elite Sweets, EmpanadUS, Mother Wilma’s Marshmallow Factory, Tiddleywink Toffee, Fabulously Sweet Creations, Cute as a Cupcake, Exquisite Pound Cakes, Park’s Pastries, Pop’s Popcorn Shop

From The Mayor

“It’s a wonderful relief from the winter routine to stop by Home Sweet Homewood for a bit of chocolate,” Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld said. “The community really shows off its creativity at the Bake-Off contest and visitors help a good cause by sampling the delicious creations. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it.”