Back for the first time since 2019 York Chocolate Festival returns as a larger event with broadened focus encompassing York’s entire chocolate and confectionary heritage. Founder Sophie Jewett, of York Cocoa Works, said “Following 2 years of sending Easter eggs far and wide for our customers its exciting to be able to look forward this year to welcoming so many visitors back in person to this year’s York Chocolate Festival.”
The event runs from the 14th to the 18th April, including the Easter weekend.
The Team from the York Food Festival have helped widen this year’s event with the assistance of Make it York. Festival Director Michael Hjort said “We have truly bounced back better with both more chocolatiers and a more diverse program”.
Highlights include:
Parliament Street Market:
More than 40 stands featuring specialist origin chocolates, truffles, eggs, and other chocolate creations. Alongside chocolate specialists will be cakes, brownies, macarons, and other baked items. More stands selling confectionary will be joined by chocolate flavoured drinks, liqueurs, and other sweet treats.
Festival Bar:
Alongside the market is the innovative York Chocolate Festival Bar. This collaboration features The Yorkshire Explorer who will have a range of dessert cocktails to enjoy as well as their range of spirits featuring Chocolate Gins. Also in attendance will be Zzinga who will be showcasing their unique Honey Cider in unusual and inspiring ways!
The Bar includes seating to allow visitors to enjoy hot snacks like churros & chocolate and sweet crepes available in the market.
Hands on Chocolate Making:
Every day there’ll be the opportunity to have a go at making your own Easter Egg as York Cocoa Works will be joining us on Parliament Street running their unique and welcoming workshops. To buy tickets (for the workshops and other items at the festival) follow the links in the program.
Eat and Walk:
Discover sweet samples from retailers and other artisan producers across the city. Our Chocolate Sampling trail will introduce you to some of York’s sweetest highlights, with a small treat to enjoy at each of roughly a dozen stops for only £3 per person. There’s limited availability so don’t hesitate to get your place reserved.
Demonstration Area:
We’re delighted to be bringing back our demonstration area featuring some of York & Yorkshire’s most talented chefs and chocolatiers at work.
We’re particularly proud to be featuring Ashley McCarthy, from Channel 4’s ‘Extreme Chocolate Makers’, to showcase one of his extraordinary creations…with a York twist of course! Ashley will be demonstrating how to make a bit of his sculpture day by day, while you can view the finished creation nearby.
In addition to the regular demos there will be comparative tastings of single origin chocolates and for adults, chocolate paring events like chocolate & wine and chocolate & whisky matchings.
Location: Parliament Street
Dates: Thursday 14th to Monday 18th April
Times: 10am to 5pm
Price: Free entry to the festival, with some ticketed events
