Belmont Shore's Chocolate Festival Underway

It's chocolate time today as Second Street businesses host the ninth-annual Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival which will include pie eating contests, baking contests and an assortment of entertainment.

Seven businesses in Belmont Shore's shopping district will serve up an array of chocolate treats for chocolate lovers. Participating businesses include The Beach on 2nd, La Strada, Olives Gourmet, Salon Soma, Shore Business Center, Sweet Jill's and We Olive.

The festival will also include a homemade chocolate desert contest for those bakers who think they have what it takes to make an award-winning dessert. Three judges will sample the entries and determine the best chocolate cake or pie, best chocolate cookie or brownie and most unique chocolate treat.

For those who prefer to eat their chocolate pie rather than bake it, a pie eating contest will be held to see who can eat a chocolate cream pie the fastest. Winners of both contests will receive trophies.

During the event, face painters, balloon makers and other entertainers will also be set up along Second Street.

While the event itself is free, tickets will be sold to purchase chocolate and other sweet treats. Books of 12 tickets will be sold for $10 and can be purchased ahead of time at any of the participating businesses.

The festival runs this Saturday, February 9 from 1-4 p.m. along Belmont Shore's Second Street.

Chocolate Events:

• 3 p.m. | Hof's Hut Chocolate Pie Eating Contest
• 4 p.m. | Winners Announced for all contests
• 1:30-3 p.m. | The Cake and Coupon Walk (up and down Second Street)