Top Chocolate Festivals of the West Coast

Are you a fan of chocolate? What kind of a question is that, right? Is it possible not to like chocolate?

Well, apparently it is, but even among chocolate lovers there are those who enjoy an occasional bar or assorted chocolates, and people who like to take it one step further.

Just like in the case of every other niche, there are numerous chocolate fairs, festivals and other events that attract chocolate lovers from all over the USA (or even the world).

If you’re interested in it, you’re looking for places where you could eat and learn, and you live somewhere in or near the West Coast, you’ve come to the right place.

1. Silicon Valley International Chocolate Festival

San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, California 94403

It’s not a coincidence that it takes place in Silicon Valley; this chocolate festival is all about new technologies.
Chocolatiers from all over the world come to the show to present the world not only with their new flavors and delicious chocolates but also with fresh, exciting, innovative ways of preparing, manufacturing, eating and drinking chocolate.

Would you like to try drinking raw cacao or eating chocolate while practicing yoga? Or maybe you have always wondered how it would be to snort chocolate powder?

Here you can do all of that, and more. Chefs from all over the world prepare fancy, delicious dishes into which they incorporate chocolate. You also get a chance to prepare something yourself, learn about the history of chocolate or take part in an ancient Mayan cacao ceremony.

2. Northwest Chocolate Festival

2001 West Garfield Street, Pier 91, Seattle, Washington 98119

This is an absolute must-see as it is the largest chocolate event in the world that includes more than 160 participants from more than 20 countries.

They come to spend two days in Seattle, Washington sharing everything that can come to your mind (and more) with you and other chocolate lovers.

Chocolates, bars, desserts, bonbons, truffles, drinks, cakes, caramels, and more, are all made by hand and with the absolute best variety of ingredients.

You can spend time walking around the place, visiting workshops (more than 80 of them), tasting not only pure chocolate but all kinds of dishes that incorporate it.

3. San Francisco Fall Chocolate Salon

San Francisco, California, various locations

San Francisco is widely known for its diversity when it comes to people and their cuisines, and it’s already famous for its delicious chocolates. But it doesn’t stop there – once a year, there’s a two-day event that allows people to taste some of the best chocolate products of over 30 award-winning chocolatiers and other culinary artisans.

Every year it takes place in a different location so you have to keep up with the information to know where to look for – it’s usually more than one place in the city where you can taste different products, watch how they’re being made, talk with chefs, artisans, and various professionals, try chocolate with other dishes, etc.

4. Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend

2545 W Turner Rd, Lodi, CA 95242

If there’s something better than a chocolate event, it can only be a chocolate and wine festival. This is a very special duo that’s extremely hard to resist and while you probably should resist it on a daily basis, you definitely shouldn’t miss this two-day event, especially when it usually comes in February (doesn’t it sound like the perfect option for Valentine’s Day?).

With a ticket to Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend, you are allowed to visit more than 50 wineries in the region, enjoy their special, splendid wines along with Brix chocolate products, manufactured especially for the event and the specific wines; there are also various pieces of entertainment organized by each winery. It’s not a surprise that there are people from all over the USA who decide to visit Lodi on this special occasion.

5. Brookings Winter Art & Chocolate Festival

Brookings, Oregon 97415

It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Valentine’s Day or not, every February is special for you in the state of Oregon. Brookings Winter Art and Chocolate Festival come right after this day and it allows you to walk around almost 30 arts and crafts booths, including the chocolate boots – every year in different locations.

All artisans come with the best products that they have, as they’re being judged by a special jury, which gives you an opportunity to enjoy the best of their products. Most of the artisans are local so you will probably know each chocolatier, but they always come up with something new to surprise the participants and the jury.

There’s live music and various contests to watch or take part in, e.g. chocolate-eating contest or tasting of almost 40 different flavors of gourmet fudge.

Do you feel like even a bigger fan of chocolate now? There’s no time to waste – go and educate yourself on the topic a little bit while eating as much as you can!