Homewood Chocolate Fest 2018: What To Know If You Go

HOMEWOOD, IL - Homewood Chocolate Fest will return for its 16th winter on Saturday, Feb. 17. Admission is free to the event that includes a bake-off contest, baking demonstration, PopUpSCIENCE activity and goodies from several vendors. Here's everything you need to know if you plan to head to the yearly event.

When

The 16th annual Homewood Chocolate Fest will take place from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17.

Where

There will be two locations this year. The baking demo, bake-off contest and vendors will be at the Homewood-Flossmoor Auditorium, 2010 Chestnut Road. Kids activities, including a PopUpSCIENCE activity will be at the Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway.

Chocolate Bake-Off Contest

Visitors will same professional and amateur submissions for a small donation that will benefit the Homewood-Flossmoor High School orchestra and their upcoming trip to Germany. The Bake-Off, hosted by the Community Relations Commission, is a spirited contest for bakers and confectioners to compete for recognition as “Home Sweet Homewood's Master Pastry Chef.” A panel of judges selects three winners for both the amateur and professional baker category.

The public tasting begins at 12:30 p.m. and the winner is announced at 1:30 p.m.The deadline for Bake-Off applications is Tuesday, Feb. 12.

Baking Demo

This year’s baking demonstration is by pastry chef Casey Thompson from The Cottage on Dixie. Thompson will demonstrate how to create White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Bark. Demonstrations will begin at boon and 1 p.m.

PopUpSCIENCE “Sweet Shoppe Science & Math”

Visitors can choose from three flavorful and fun activities; a hot chocolate math facts game, an M&M balancing scale activity or test a variety of chocolate bars’ buoyancy in sink or swim experiments. Plus, the Homewood Science Center is showing the chocolate lover’s classic film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” in the Michael Wexler Theater. Also, The Homewood Community Relations is hosting a free apron decorating activity for kids.

Vendors

Bakewell Bakery, Bob’s Belgian Hot Chocolate, The Cottage on Dixie, Elite Sweets, EmpanadUS, Fannie May, Mother Wilma’s Marshmallow Factory, Tiddleywink Toffee and more.

The Homewood Business Association is also selling their Chocolate Passports Around the World.

Mayor's Take

“Homewood Chocolate Fest is an especially sweet treat in the middle of February” Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld said. “We are pleased to collaborate with the Homewood Science Center and be able to expand our offerings... and our space. This is always the sweetest festival Homewood has to offer and it’s great to see the community come out to be together. And of course sample chocolate.”

Photo courtesy of the Village of Homewood