About Chocolate Fest

In 2006 the Hartley's started the Paradise Chocolate Fest as a fundraiser to benefit youth in their community, via the local Boys and Girls Club. This festival has raised approximately $250,000 in the last 4 years for youth causes. Pam said, "One of the projects of the Chocolate Fest was a very successful Chocolate Cookbook that featured chocolate recipes from community members as well as local artist's chocolate-themed art."

The festival includes a chocolate pancake breakfast, fun run/walk, ice cream sundaes and floats for sale, children's games, chocolate pie-eating contests, cookie-stacking contests and the chocolate cuisine challenge. Some years the festival has raised as much as $75,000 for the Boys and Girls Club on the Ridge. The week-long event also involves a queen's contest, chocolate and wine tasting, and a motorcycle poker run; it attracts more than 8,000 people to its activities.