The Kona Cacao Association has announced the dates for its annual Big Island Chocolate Festival. This year's event, featuring the "Mystical Chocolate Masquerade," is scheduled to take place on April 26-27.
According to a press release disseminated by Big Island Video News, the "Mystical Chocolate Masquerade" will be held at the 11th annual Big Island Chocolate Festival. The venue for this gala is the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and it encourages attendees to wear costumes and masks. The masquerade is set for the evening of April 27. The release further details that tickets are available in two categories: general admission at $99 and VIP tickets at $169, both of which can be purchased online.
The press release also provides information about what attendees can expect at the masquerade. Unlimited beer, wine, special chocolate seltzers, and various other chocolate-themed drinks will be served. A select group of judges will provide culinary critiques and each station will compete in a decoration contest for "Best Booth." In addition to this, the festival offers a program featuring chocolate cooking demonstrations, seminars on cacao growing and processing, and a farm tour. The Kona Cacao Association, a non-profit organization, is responsible for organizing this event.
The Kona Cacao Association's website reveals that its mission is to promote the Big Island Cacao industry through events like the Big Island Chocolate Festival. It states that one of their main objectives is to maintain high-quality cacao production in Hawaii by working with industry members across various levels of production. Initially formed as a coalition of chocolate enthusiasts, over time the board of Kona Cacao Association has expanded its reach by incorporating new innovations from cacao experts.