Bill Nance and Melody Morris, co-directors of Faith and Friends Radio and co-hosts of the morning show, started the festival 22 years ago. At the time, they both worked at WFCJ and started the festival because no one else was doing anything similar in the area.
Morris is known for loving anything and everything about chocolate thanks to Nance, who talked about it way too much on the morning show. Listeners have sent her various chocolate-related articles over the years, but one in particular—a news article about a chocolate festival in Italy that included chocolate baths—stands out. She remembers bringing it to Nance as a cute story, but one thing led to another, and before long, they realized they were hosting a festival.
Festival-goers can expect a wide variety of chocolates. At past festivals, you’ll find everything from traditional chocolate chunks, cakes, brownies and fudge, to more unusual offerings like chocolate-covered jalapeños and crickets.
“People can be really, really creative with chocolate,” Morris said.
The chocolate festival will feature 60 vendors, the majority of which will be chocolatiers. There will also be arts and crafts vendors, nonprofits and other businesses. Those who don’t sell chocolate will have free chocolate giveaways at their tables.
And since “you can only eat so much chocolate,” food trucks will be on hand at the event. Other highlights include an entertainment stage, selfie station, kids’ games, bouncy castles and door prizes.
Christian singer Russ Taff will perform at the festival and will be a guest on the radio station’s “Kaleidoscope” shows, which will air and be recorded from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Other local entertainment groups will also perform.
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This year’s festival has a safari theme, “Chocolate Hunt,” where vendors are encouraged to decorate their booths.
“What I love most is seeing all the familiar faces, seeing new festival goers, seeing people having fun and having a good time and knowing that we are connecting with our community,” Morris said.
More details
The Montgomery County Fairgrounds are located at 645 Infirmary Road in Jefferson Twp. The Chocolate Festival is a family-friendly event with free admission. Most of the festival will be held indoors.
More information online: faithandfriendsradio.com or the radio station’s Facebook page (@faithandfriends)
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