# Event Details - **Event Name**: 2026 Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival - **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 06 Nov, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Sat, 07 Nov, 2026 at 05:00 pm (-05:00) - **Event Description**: Two days of chocolate.Taste, shop & learn. Meet cacao farmers, taste chocolates from over 25 vendors, and learn in hands-on classes!About this EventTwo days, two ways to experience the festival:1) Friday Night Chocolate Experience - VIP Preview: Taste - Explore - Discover Friday 6-8 pmSee the Friday Experience Details below!2) Saturday: All-ages festival with vendor tastings, classes and family fun. Just $10 for adult entry; kids 12 & above are $5, kids age 11 and under are free! Entry includes chocolate samples & classes. 9-5 pmYour list of speakers, workshops & exhibitors below & on our website!Visit the festival website: Midwest Craft Chocolate FestivalFRIDAY DETAILS:Your Friday Night Chocolate Experience includes:Guided wine, bourbon & chocolate pairingsTea & chocolate pairing experienceFind Your Chocolate Match: taste with an expert and discover which chocolate styles fit you bestTaste freshly-made liquid chocolate, straight from the stone grinderRegional Bar Challenge: vote for the People's Choice Award. Taste special-edition bars from 12 makers around the world!. Each chef started with the same recipe but added an ingredient from their region. Vote for your favorite!Learn how you can make chocolate at homeMeet the makers & cacao farmers behind what you are tastingCome curious, taste something new, and spend an evening experiencing chocolate—not just eating it.Make a night of it in Rushville: At 8 PM, pianist & composer Cristiana Pegoraro performs at the historic Princess Theatre downtown. Visit Cristiana's website to learn more about her music.Buy the festival -AND- concert package: Experience the festival Friday from 6-8 pm, then head downtown to continue your evening at the Princess Theatre.Wine & bourbon available to guests 21+. Davis Food truck on site to purchase food.Friday VIP tickets also include free all-day Saturday access to shop your favorites!-All proceeds from Friday VIP tickets benefit the Love Community Center-SATURDAY DETAILS:Join us for a full day of chocolate discovery at the brand-new Love Community Center!Explore the world of fine chocolate with 25+ vendors from the Midwest and beyond—including cacao farmers, chocolate makers, and chocolatiers.Your entry ticket includes:access to all tasting tablesfree chocolate-themed speakers & classes throughout the day!🍫 Taste your way through an incredible range of artisan chocolates🌱 Touch a fresh cacao pod and meet the people behind the bean🎓 Learn the secrets of chocolate making in engaging, hands-on sessions🧒 Kid-friendly fun! Visit the Children’s Activity Center for crafts, play, and chocolate-themed activities all day long🛍️ Shop your favorites and support small-batch makers from around the worldGrab an early bird ticket while they last—and come join us to experience chocolate like never before.Friday, November 6th VIP Night, 6:00-8:00 pmSaturday, November 7th, 9:00-5:00 pmLove Community Center, Rushville, IndianaTickets Available Now - Click HereSaturday Program Speaker Schedule:From Farm to Flavor: Discover Where Chocolate Begins10:00-10:45 Inside Apoy Benit’s Award-Winning Filipino Cacao Farm: A Story of Excellence, by Ronee de Guzman, Cacao, Coffee & TeaTake a trip to the Philippines with certified chocolate educator Ronee de Guzman as he shares his visit to Apoy Benit’s award-winning cacao farm. Through his experience on the farm, Ronee will give us a closer look at how cacao is grown, the people and practices behind it, and what makes this farm stand out11:00-11:45 Keep Growing: Adapting Old Family Farms to the New Generation by Leila Carvajal Erker, CocoaSupplyHow can generations-old cacao farms continue to thrive in a changing world? Born and raised in Ecuador in a multigenerational cacao family, Leila Carvajal Erker shares how cacao families are finding new ways to build on their agricultural traditions through agritourism, innovation, and new approaches to farming.12:00-12:45 From Our Family Farm to Our First Chocolate in El Salvador: The Tierra Bendita Story by Laura Cruz, Finca CoWhat does it take to start a cacao farm? Hear firsthand from a young farmer/entrepreneur in El Salvador as she shares the challenges, surprises, and lessons of building her farm while learning to make chocolate. Then taste some of the chocolate she's been making and discover the work behind every piece.1:00-1:45 Unwrapping the Botany of Cacao by Karla Schade, Opening ChocolateThe fruit of the Cacao tree is one of the most prominent indigenous contributions of the New World to today's global food economy. But often not much is known about the plant that it comes from. Come on a journey as we learn about this amazing plant and the miraculous steps it went through to become chocolate in your hands.3:00-3:45 "Cocoa Ecotourism, an Under-Explored Opportunity: How Can We Leverage Technology? by Nana Aduna, Ohene Cocoa.What happens when a cocoa farm becomes a destination as well as a place to grow cacao? Nana Aduna offers visitors a firsthand look at cocoa farming on his farm in Ghana, along with the chance to experience chocolate at its source. He’ll share how cocoa ecotourism can connect visitors more closely with farmers—and how technology could help farms like his reach more people.More Saturday Workshops:9:30-10:30 Holiday Time Eats, Treats and Chocolate!Healthy perks in traditional holiday foods?! You’re in for a surprise with culinary registered dietitian nutritionist Kim Galeaz as she shares positive nutrition perks for all your holiday season favorites - from Thanksgiving sides, pies and potatoes, to party-time cheeseballs, shrimp, dips and oh yes, all the decadent craft chocolate! Speaker: Kim Galeaz, RDN LD10:30-11:30 The Art of Chocolate: A Hand-Painting ClassJoin our truffle painting workshop! See how we create gloss, color, and design on each truffle. Learn how to hand-paint truffles at home. Speaker: Denise Steele, Lohcally Artisan Chocolates11:30-12:30 Tasting Chocolate History: Origin of Chocolate in South and Central AmericaExplore chocolate and learn the history of cacao from the first archeological evidence 4,500 year ago to today. Taste how 4 different origin chocolate makers are preserving cacao. Speaker: Brook Johnson, Yahara Chocolate12:30-1:30 The Creative Act, Bringing Out the Good StuffFinding a deeper well of creativity that is unique to each person and the source of deeper joy. By Susan Brown, Mademoiselle Miel (Apiarian, Artist & Chocolate Maker)1:30-2:30 Holiday Time Eats, Treats and Chocolate!Healthy perks in traditional holiday foods?! You’re in for a surprise with culinary registered dietitian nutritionist Kim Galeaz as she shares positive nutrition perks for all your holiday season favorites - from Thanksgiving sides, pies and potatoes, to party-time cheeseballs, shrimp, dips and oh yes, all the decadent craft chocolate! Speaker: Kim Galeaz, RDN LD2:30-3:30 You Can Make Chocolate at Home! By Bhavani, DCMEver wondered if you could make your own chocolate? Bhavani from DCM will show how small tabletop chocolate grinders make it possible to turn cacao into chocolate right in your own kitchen. Learn what you need to get started, how the process works, and what you can create at home. Works for homemade nut butters, too!PLUS: This year: SPECIAL SATURDAY EXPERIENCESWant to do more? Add one of our special ticketed tastings with industry experts. Additional fee and advance registration required.1) Taste Award-Winning Chocolate with an International Chocolate Judge, 11:30 am Karla from has been judging global chocolate competitions for years and will walk you through some of the considerations (and secrets) a chocolate judge makes as you sample several of this year's award-winning chocolate bars together. $20 add-on to your ticket for a personalized experience, 11:30 Saturday. (Karla also shares her chocolate knowledge on the YouTube channel, Opening Chocolate)2) The Weirdest Chocolate You Might Actually Like - How adventurous are your taste buds? 2:30 pm Come explore the sometimes weird, always unique chocolate inclusions from around the world. Sample unexpected tastes and unique techniques in this tasting with Karla from . $20 add-on to your ticket for a personalized experience, 2:30 Saturday.3) Hops & Nibs: A Tasting of Craft Beer-Infused Craft Chocolates 1:00 pmCraft beer and craft chocolate belong together. Join journalist and Bean to Barstool host David Nilsen at the Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival for a 75-minute guided tasting of chocolates made with beer or its ingredients.Along the way, David will walk attendees through the ingredients and flavors of beer, with sensory examples of the actual ingredients on hand to see, smell, and touch. You'll learn about both beer and chocolate, and gain a deeper appreciation for both as we taste through these bars. You don't have to love beer to enjoy tasting these amazing chocolate creations!(Note: No alcohol will be served during this event.)As the host of Bean to Barstool, David has been exploring the intersections of craft chocolate and artisan drinks since 2020, and has been a food and beverage journalist and educator for a decade. At his tasting events, he makes his topics approachable, entertaining, and educational for attendees at all knowledge levels.What's included in the ticket price:- 5 chocolate samples during the guided event- Sensory guidance, storytelling, and education to make these bars come to life- Tasting sheet and informational handouts- 20% discount coupon for David's beer & chocolate pairing book, available for sale at the festival. Join us for this unique and exciting tasting!One ticket=one participantIf the paid class is cancelled by the instructor for any reason, ticket refunds will be issued, but Eventbrite fees cannot be refunded. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/81965be0-c5c5-11f1-ba03-b7505d4e7d42-rimg-w987-h740-dc080808-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/81a465a0-c5c5-11f1-ba03-b7505d4e7d42-rimg-w555-h740-dcd8c8b8-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events2/banners/81b83bc0-c5c5-11f1-ba03-b7505d4e7d42-rimg-w987-h740-dc080808-gmir.jpg Wondering how this craft chocolate festival is different from other chocolate festivals?This festival is not just for chocolate lovers, it's for anyone curious about the story behind chocolate, how it's grown, how it's made (and, of course, a chance to eat it!) In addition to top chocolatiers, there will be international cacao farmers and chocolate makers who are happy to share their samples and stories with you. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/81ca1610-c5c5-11f1-ba03-b7505d4e7d42-rimg-w883-h740-dce8e8d8-gmir.jpg Where does chocolate come from?It's not Belgium or Switzerland! We're bringing cacao farmers to you, and they can't wait to let you touch a cacao pod and show you how they grow cacao. Cacao only grows in tropical forests near the equator (plus in Hawaii and Puerto Rico), so this is a special weekend for anyone interested in learning more about the journey of the cacao bean from the tree to the chocolate bar in your hand. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/81d587c0-c5c5-11f1-ba03-b7505d4e7d42-rimg-w555-h740-dc181818-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/8208a5b0-c5c5-11f1-ba03-b7505d4e7d42-rimg-w555-h740-dcb8c8d8-gmir.jpg https://youtu.be/sxfQNP5Xyw4?si=axLckoBB4TupweUfAgenda🕑: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PMFamily Saturday: Taste, Learn & Shop Chocolate! Info: Join us Saturday for a full day of chocolate-filled fun for all ages! Sample craft chocolate, explore cacao up close, join hands-on workshops, and meet the makers behind the bars. Bring the kids—our free Children’s Activity Center is packed with chocolate-themed fun. You can even get a head start on holiday shopping with creative confections from small-batch chocolatiers and chocolate makers. Everything is included with your admission! - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/rushville/2026-midwest-craft-chocolate-festival/100001985637432011 - **Event Categories**: festivals, workshops, kids, food-drinks, art, concerts, music, entertainment, nonprofit, shopping, christmas-markets-and-fairs, holiday, contests - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 23 hours - Location: Love Community Center - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 75.98, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Rushville - **state**: IN - **country**: United States - **location**: Love Community Center - **lat**: 39.6292726 - **long**: -85.44270569999999 - **full address**: Love Community Center, 1850 North Main Street, Rushville, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: 2026 Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/0006a9e93848e64f3985e133584bf1e783293f0e38cb5e4830c981dd3417be2a-rimg-w1200-h800-dc041801-gmir.jpg?v=1774158357 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is 2026 Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival being held? - **A:** 2026 Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival takes place on Fri, 06 Nov, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Sat, 07 Nov, 2026 at 05:00 pm at Love Community Center, 1850 North Main Street, Rushville, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing 2026 Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival? - **A:** 2026 Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival is organized by The Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** 2026 Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival is ideal for festival lovers, culture enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a vibrant, immersive community experience. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Rushville, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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