All of your garden and chocolate dreams can come true.
Credit: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Chocolate lovers, clear your calendars. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is bringing back one of its most delicious signature events with the 19th Annual A Festival of Chocolate, taking over the lush 83-acre garden on Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 2026. Running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, the festival blends decadent cacao creations with blooming tropical scenery for a weekend that is indulgent and educational.
Guests can wander an artisan chocolate marketplace filled with handcrafted truffles, bonbons, caramels and specialty bars from local and international chocolatiers. Live cooking demonstrations spotlight chefs preparing chocolate-forward dishes while sharing tips on flavor pairings and technique. Educational talks and seminars dive into chocolate’s bean-to-bar journey, touching on history, ethical sourcing and the science behind what makes chocolate so craveable. We can go on and on, folks.
Beyond tastings, the festival leans into hands-on fun. Separate ticketed experiences include chocolate-making workshops, chocolate and wine pairings, bourbon and chocolate tastings for guests 21-and-over and a mini chocolate martini flight. Families can head to The Candy BAR to decorate custom chocolate bars, hop on the Choco Choco ChooChoo train or explore scavenger hunts, games and chocolate-themed crafts throughout the garden.
General admission to the festival is included with regular garden entry. Tickets are free for members, $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors, $11.95 for children ages 3 to 11 and free for children 2 and under. With butterflies, botanical collections and live entertainment also in the mix, this is a weekend where flowers and chocolate happily coexist.
For complete event details and tickets, visit fairchildgarden.org.
