Featured image: Scrumptious cupcakes from a previous Oregon Chocolate Festival in Ashland, Oregon (photo credit: Oregon Chocolate Festival)

It’s too tempting to pass, especially if you’re a chocoholic! Delectable delights return to the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites at the Oregon Chocolate Festival Friday-Sunday, March 9-11.

The festival kicks off on Friday night with a Social Hour featuring live music and chocolate craft cocktail demonstrations in the Stardust Lounge at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites. Appetizers, beer, and wine will be served.

Sample chocolates from around the world. Get tips on cooking chocolate at the chef demos. Enjoy a four-course Chocolate Maker’s Wine Dinner. At the Chocolate + Beverage Tasting Parties, discover how pairings of various chocolates and alcoholic drinks complement each other. Watch judges decide which delicacies will win the chocolate competition.

And learn about the health benefits of chocolate with Herbalist Liz Fairweather.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival offers 20% off its shows during the festival. Use the discount code, chocolate, when buying tickets online.

If you indulge too much, you can run off those calories at the Charlie’s Chocolate 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, March 11, at 10 a.m. There’s also a 400-yard dash for the kids. But be forewarned: Tasty prizes will be served to all runners, including a Charlie’s Chocolate Run Wonka Bar. And after the race, there’s more sampling on the festival schedule.

The run/walk registration deadline is Friday, March 9. Prices are $25 per person for the 5K run/walk and $7 for the kids’ dash. Combo tickets for the run/walk and festival admission are $40 per person for a one-day pass and $50 for two days.

Check out the full Oregon Chocolate Festival schedule.

Tickets to the festival are $20 per person for one day (Saturday or Sunday) or $30 for two days (Saturday and Sunday). The Social Hour on Friday night costs $15 per person. If you buy tickets in advance online, they will be available for pick-up at the door.

The Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites has an Oregon Chocolate Festival package starting at $119 per night for a king room for two people. The package is good March 9 and 10, and includes admission to the festival, continental breakfast, access to the tennis courts and Jacuzzi, Wi-Fi, and several local discounts.

Reservations for the Oregon Chocolate Festival package are accepted March 4-6. Book online or call (855) 482-8310.

The Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites are located at 2525 Ashland Street in Ashland, Oregon (get directions).

The Oregon Chocolate Festival gives back to the community every year. In 2018, the festival formed a partnership with the Children’s Miracle Network and is donating 10% of the ticket sales from the festival and Charlie’s Chocolate Run/Walk to the Asante’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

For more information, visit the Oregon Chocolate Festival’s website or call (541) 631-2004.