Chocolate fans flock to downtown Topeka for Saturday festival

Michelle Scheidegger had one thing on her mind on Saturday when she made the trip to downtown Topeka from Mayetta for the fourth annual Kansas Chocolate Festival.

"Fudge," she said, with a grin. "I'm a chocolate fan. I love some good chocolate. Especially fudge."

As she spoke, Scheidegger stood in a line that was waiting to go into the Hazel Hill Chocolate store at 724 S. Kansas Ave.

The three previous Kansas Chocolate Festivals took place on Saturdays in September. This was the first year the event was held in June.

A steady stream of attendees strolled along the 700 and 800 blocks of S. Kansas Avenue during the event, which took place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Kansas Avenue was blocked between 7th and 9th streets, allowing for visitors and vendors to be in the street.

A number of vendors were on hand for the festival, selling everything from barbecue meats to Mexican food to shaved ice. All street vendors were required to have something chocolate-related in their booths.

Employees and volunteers from Topeka's Mars chocolate plant handed out free bite-sided Snickers and Twix candy bars at no charge.

Visitors were lined up for a good part of the festival to have their photos taken with life-sized M&M characters from Mars.

Daniela Guzman said she brought her children Lysette Hernandez, 7, and Rachel Hernandez, 3, to the event "to have some fun" and get some food.

Lysette said she was excited about coming to the event because she knew there was "going to be a lot of chocolate."

In addition to chocolate and food items, the festival included live music at the Westar Pocket Park on the southeast corner of 8th and S. Kansas Avenue, with Blazing Mojo playing rock 'n' roll favorites. A ticketed event featuring fine chocolatiers was to take place inside the Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 S.E. 8th Ave.

The Kansas Chocolate Festival was launched in 2016 by Visit Topeka Inc.

Buzz Events was the promoter for Saturday's festival, with Visit Topeka serving as the main sponsor.