This weekend Scotland’s only outdoor Festival of Chocolate will return to Perth as part of the city’s 2014 Winter Festival. Taking place on King Edward Street on 22-23 November, 10am-7pm, the growing event will be a highlight of a spectacular weekend of celebrations and entertainment in the city centre, marking the switching on of Perth’s Christmas lights.
Perth and Kinross Provost Liz Grant will officially open the Festival of Chocolate on Saturday 22 November at 11am.
This year the Festival of Chocolate will host the National Chocolate Awards for the first time, awarding achievements from most unique flavour and best ‘anything-but-a-bar’ chocolate product to start-up business of the year, which is sponsored by Business Gateway.
A wide range of tempting tasting sessions, hands-on workshops and demonstrations by expert chocolatiers also make up this year’s full programme. Festival-goers can peruse a large market of quality local and national chocolate goods and will be encouraged to explore the many stalls on the hunt for two golden tickets to win a prize.
Stacey Galfskiy, organiser of the Festival of Chocolate, said: “I’m thrilled that the Festival of Chocolate is returning to the Winter Festival for its second year, bigger and better than ever. The Festival will showcase the amazing produce that is being created around the UK using chocolate, and the delicious tasting sessions, hands-on workshops and demonstrations by expert chocolatiers mean that festival-goers will really immerse themselves in the world of chocolate.”
Perth and Kinross Provost Liz Grant, said: “The Festival of Chocolate is a marvellous part of this year’s Winter Festival. I’m delighted to see so many local businesses represented at the Festival of Chocolate, alongside many traders and chocolatiers from around the UK. The Festival’s programme really shows off what a fantastic food and drink offering Perth and Kinross has. It is sure to encourage many people to visit our area to enjoy our fantastic shopping, dining and many vibrant festive experiences on offer.
“As well as the Festival of Chocolate, on Saturday and Sunday Perth’s streets will be filled with vibrant family-friendly entertainment as we celebrate the switching on of Perth’s Christmas lights, meaning that Perth is truly the place to be this weekend.”
The Festival of Chocolate will begin each day at 10am, and the wider Winter Festival entertainment will begin each day at 12 noon.
Perth city centre’s streets will be transformed into winter wonderlands, inspired by favourite Christmas films. St John Street will be dressed as Narnia from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and George Street will be themed as Miracle on 34th Street.
Winter Festival-goers will enjoy a variety of street entertainment, including ice sculptures, street food, and fun fair rides, and will have the opportunity to meet Santa himself, as well as his reindeer and huskies.
On Saturday 22 November, Provost Liz Grant will switch on Perth’s Christmas lights. Visitors will be treated to a performance by Peter Andre, best known for his music and television career. Peter will be joined on the Main Stage in Tay Street by 70s and 80s super-group Boney M. featuring Maizie Williams, the swing music group and Britain’s Got Talent Finalists, Jack Pack, Lorraine Crosby and her band, and rising music star from Kinross, Daniel Paris. The day will also include performances by a large number of local groups on the Community Stage and at the Singing Christmas Tree.
Click here for a full detailed of the Christmas Light Switch On.
