Festival undergoes changes for 2013
By Ed Nadolski
Editor in Chief
It’ll be out with the old and in with the new as 2013 shapes up to be a year of transition for ChocolateFest, Burlington’s marquee annual festival.
The most notable change for festivalgoers this year will be the ability to roam the festival grounds with a beer or wine cooler – a privilege that had been confined to the beer tent for the past dozen years.
Also this year, the annual chocolate creation will no longer be fashioned by the employees of the local Nestle chocolate factory as it has been for the past 26 years. Instead organizers have lined up chocolate carvers who will turn 400-pound blocks of chocolate into sculptures that illustrate the 1960s theme of Peace, Love & Chocolate.
These changes and others, according to ChocolateFest operations President Bil Scherrer, are intended to address the evolving nature of the festival and preserve it as a powerful fundraising tool for the volunteer groups that staff the festival.
“It’s the volunteer force that makes the festival,” Scherrer said.
ChocolateFest – which is scheduled for May 24-27 this year – is in its 27th year and has generated roughly $2 million for local non-profit groups since its inception.
Last year the festival paid out nearly $110,000 to these groups even though attendance was down and the festival itself ended up in the red for the year.
The four-day festival attracted nearly 30,000 people last year, but that number was off the 31,000 in 2011 and the 35,000 in 2010. In banner years ChocolateFest has attracted over 40,000.
Scherrer attributed the decline to the economy and the weather. “I think it was a little of both,” he said.
According to Executive Committee Vice Chairman Bill Stone, the festival’s $450,000 budget is financed by three roughly equal parts – cash and in-kind donations from sponsors; vendor fees; and ticket sales.
“Last year the income side didn’t come through,” Stone said.
To help ensure the festival is able to make up the shortfall, the Executive Committee has cut $30,000 out of the 2013 budget.
The most visible of the budget-conscious changes is the elimination of the former Diamond stage on the northeast end of the grounds.
“With the amount of entertainment we have, you’re not going to notice the difference,” Scherrer said, adding that the grounds will still have a full schedule of musical entertainment and other acts.
Among this year’s musical headliners are The Toys, Pat McCurdy, Weird Science, 7th Heaven, and Tim Castle and Young Southern.
The Chocolate Experience tent featuring the Chef Meltdown and Project Yum Way contests returns, as does the Wanasek Stage with a variety of family friendly acts.
The Burlington Rotary Club will again present the world’s largest traveling outdoor carnival. North American Midway Entertainment will offer a variety of carnival rides and other amusements beginning May 22.
Scherrer said the festival changes are designed to secure the future of the festival and adapt to the changing desires of the public.
“You try to give people some value to their ticket price,” he said.
Speaking of which, tickets will remain at $8 ($7 in advance) for those 13 and older and $3 ($2.50) in advance for children ages 5-12.
Here’s a look at what’s new for 2013:
• Relaxed alcohol restrictions. People of legal age will be allowed to roam the entire grounds with purchased beer or wine coolers until 9 p.m. each day. In previous years beer was restricted to the main stage/beer garden area. Scherrer said the festival is committed to preserving a family friendly environment and made the decision only after thorough discussions with police.
• Changes for the chocolate creation. Due to concerns over safety rules associated with the work on the creation at Nestle, the annual project takes a new direction in 2013 with sponsorship from Nestle. A group of snow sculptors will try their skills in chocolate creating a series of theme sculptures both prior to and during the festival. The sculptures will be displayed in the Chocolate Experience Tent.
• Mega Pass for the carnival. For the first time this year fans of carnival rides will have the option of purchasing a Mega Pass, which will allow them complete access to all carnival rides before and during the run of the festival. The cost of the Mega Pass is $70 and is available only April 29-May 21 at Burlington Walgreens.
• New activities. Let’s Make a Deal and Family Feud Choco Style are among the new family friendly activities to join ChocolateFest favorites such as the chocolate eating contest, chocolate chunk dig and Chocolate City flash mob.
For additional information on the festival visit www.chocolatefest.com.
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