What can we say? The city that gives Halloween an entire month to be celebrated, can’t just do Valentine’s… “Day”. We wrap it up into a nice festival package which runs from Feb 8-16. The 12th annual Salem’s So Sweet, Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival kicks it all off Friday, February 7th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, at Colonial Hall in Rockafellas, 227 Essex Street.
That is the night when everywhere you turn will be table after table of wine and chocolate samplings from premier Salem restaurants, stores and sweet shops. Within the walls of Colonial Hall you will sample light & dark chocolate, chocolate covered fruits or nuts, chocolate ice cream or mousse. Well, you get the point.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 978-744-0004, online at SalemSoSweet.EventBrite.com, or in person at the Salem Chamber of Commerce, 265 Essex Street, Suite 101. See the festival homepage for a full list of participating restaurants.
Kylie Sullivan, Manager of Salem Main Streets, says, “This event is the highlight of the season and sells out quickly!”
Salem Main Streets, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, and Destination Salem, along with local retailers, restaurants and businesses also invite you to attend events within Salem leading up to Valentine’s Day.
This year there will be more than 14 large ice sculptures, chocolate samplings and great discounts around downtown Salem the weekend of February 8-9, with some continuing until February 16th in celebration of Valentine’s Day!
The beautiful ice sculptures will grace downtown Salem starting February 8, with themes including a seahorse, a rubber ducky, a sailboat, a film projector, and more!
The Salem Trolley will be offering trolley rides around the festival route (weather permitting) on February 8 & 9 for a minimal fee. More information about trolley routes, times, and price will be available closer to the festival.
Many downtown businesses will offer discounts and special offerings during the festival. With over 60 places in which to dine, downtown Salem is the perfect place to have a romantic dinner or casual lunch.
In celebration of the chocolate festival, many of Salem’s finest restaurants will feature special chocolate offerings on their menus, including desserts, cocktails, and inventive sauces. Participating Salem retailers will offer in-store promotions, innovative displays and items geared toward chocolate and Valentine’s Day, ranging from a chocolate fondue fountain to discounts on diamond jewelry.
Specific store and restaurant offerings will be available on brochures distributed throughout the downtown or online at http://www.salemmainstreets.org.
Once again, Golden Tickets will be available in downtown Salem for a chance to win the Salem’s So Sweet Gift Basket. Pick up your Golden Ticket at a participating location and have it validated at participating businesses (no purchase necessary) to enter to win a Salem’s So Sweet gift basket which features many fine items from area retailers.
