Chocolate Lover’s Festival brings in nearly $4,300
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ARLEE – Chocolate lovers shelled-out nearly $4,300 at the 10th annual Chocolate Lover’s Festival, where desserts were auctioned off to the highest bidder.
“To put it in perspective, the best year in 10 years was only $100 more than this year. I’m so excited. We are going to do some great things with the money,” said Shannon Buhr, festival coordinator.
The funds will be split up and dished out to several recipients, including the after school arts program and the library.
“The money we get from the Chocolate Festival completely funds our summer reading program,” said Jay Kirby, chairman of the library board. “Our goal is to get more kids involved. We want to get them reading. With the program last year, some days the library was just filled up. We couldn’t do that without this fundraiser.”
The Chocolate Festival was packed this year but Raven Parson, 9, found a place to sit down and taste the treats she collected from the buffet style line before the auction. She tasted each treat carefully but savored the Chocolate Lasagna just a little longer.
“It’s creamy, smooth and so yummy,” she said.
After tasting the treats, voters turned in their ballots and proclaimed Kassie Parson’s decadent chocolate confection the Best in Show. Roxanne Duffy took first place with her truffles. Thersa Brown placed second with her White Chocolate Orange Cheese Cake, and Jennifer Schall received third place with her Haystack creation. The Best Kid chocolate creation went to Noelle West and Abby Yocum for the Chocolate Lasagna.
The Arlee girls basketball team helped serve the treats.
“I like how there are so many different kinds of chocolate,” said Shaylee Perry, sophomore.
Along with delighted taste buds, people were entertained by the country music duo Matt Brown and Troy Patton of the “Dusty Road.” Coordinator Shannon Buhr said this was their debut performance.
