A festival dedicated to all things chocolate is coming to Yorkshire

A festival dedicated to all things chocolate is coming to Yorkshire this month, and we can promise visitors they’ll leave with more than a cup of lemonade and a single jelly bean. 

Taking place from the 17th to the 31st of March, The Yorkshire Chocolate Festival will celebrate all things chocolate as it takes over the centre of York – with plenty of free samples to try as you explore.

The city, which is well known for its rich chocolate heritage, will be transformed into a chocolate lover’s paradise with attractions including a diverse market of chocolatiers and confectioners, a chocolate sculpture gallery, a chocolate food gallery and a chocolate cafe bar.

Willy Wonka experience, eat your heart out – because the only tears being shed here will be ones of joy.

What to expect at The Yorkshire Chocolate Festival

The Parliament Street Chocolate Market

Immerse yourself in the sweet atmosphere as you explore Parliament Street‘s diverse market, featuring local chocolatiers and confectioners showcasing an array of sweet and some savoury products with a chocolate twist. The marketplace is open from 10 am to 5 pm.

Chocolate Sculpture Gallery

Witness the skilled craftsmanship of “Extreme Chocolatier” Ashley McCarthy as he constructs his large Chocolate House at the Activity Marquee (10 am to 5 pm), an evolving masterpiece to add to the nearby Festival Sculpture Gallery. McCarthy has also provided a range of finished chocolate sculptures from himself and others at The Yorkshire Chocolate Festival.

Chocolate Food Factory

Experience the Chocolate Food Factory at St Crux (10 am to 4 pm), where hands-on chocolate treat-making awaits. The activity is available on a first-come-first-serve basis, with the option to make a donation to support the festival.

Chocolate Cafe-Bar

Both sweet and savoury snacks and meals will be available to purchase, alongside a variety of drinks – some even with a chocolate twist – at the festival’s Chocolate Cafe-Bar. Think chilli con carne with cocoa and chocolate flatbreads, all washed down with a delicious chocolate stout.

Ticketed Activities 

There’ll also be a host of ticketed activities for chocolate lovers to sink their teeth into over the next few weeks, including an Easter Egg Hunt and a self-guided Taste Trail where you can sample the best of the city’s food scene and carefully selected stops.

Add to this chocolate egg decorating classes, daily chocolate experiences and masterclasses at York Cocoa Works, Easter-themed face painting, and adults-only chocolate beer and gin tastings with York Gin, Brew York and Fairfax Distillery.

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