Chocolate, Wine and Romance Are the Focus of Glendale’s Sweetest Festival February 8-10
The weekend before Valentine’s Day, Feb. 8-10, is a delicious delight for the senses as the Glendale Chocolate Affaire takes over downtown Glendale to create a chocolate-lover’s dream!
Chocolate purveyors from Arizona and around the nation gather in Glendale for this award-winning festival, which celebrates not only chocolate, but romance and the arts as well. Chocolate confections will include items such as fried ice cream with chocolate and strawberries, chocolate-covered bacon, chocolate-covered churros, chocolate-covered key lime pie, , chocolate-covered crepes and much more.
The Chocolate Affaire is sponsored by Arizona’s famous candy makers, Cerreta’s. The candy factory will offer tours all weekend, so visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at how the chocolatiers create everyone’s favorite candy.
In addition, the festival has become the largest gathering of national romance novelists in the Southwest. This symposium of literary romantics offers fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with authors, as well as the chance to attend free writing workshops given by the experts.
Families with children will enjoy myriad activities, including hands-on arts and crafts, face-painting and a rock-climbing wall. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available throughout the weekend to take couples or families on a scenic, charming ride through the historic Catlin Court district.
Event hours are Friday 5 - 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The event is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Glendale, in Murphy Park, located at 58th and Glendale avenues.
The Glendale Chocolate Affaire is sponsored by Cerreta’s Candy Company, ABC 15, The Arizona Republic, Valley Buick-GMC Dealers, Monster, KMLE, KOOL and JAMZ.
For more information on the Glendale Chocolate Affaire, including the entertainment lineup and a list of authors making appearances, visit our website at www.glendaleaz.com/events or call the special events hotline at 623-930-2299.
Sunday, Feb. 10 Noon - Ruby City Band
2;30 p.m. - Urban Country
Getting Here
Important Street Closure Information
Event Hours: Friday 5 – 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday noon – 5 p.m.
58th Drive is closed from Palmaire to Myrtle Avenue
58th Avenue is closed from Glendale Avenue to Myrtle Avenue
Glenn Drive is closed from 58th Drive to 57th Drive
Palmaire is closed from 58th Drive to 58th Avenue
Preferred parking at the two downtown garages is accessible
from 59th Ave & Glenn Drive, which is one street north of Glendale Avenue.
See directions below.
Event and Parking Garage Directions for Chocolate Affaire
Directions to Historic Downtown Glendale From Downtown Phoenix or East Valley
Take I-17 and exit at Glendale Avenue
Proceed west approximately 5 miles
Event site is between 57th Drive and 59th Avenue and Glendale and Myrtle avenues
We suggest using the preferred parking garages (directions below), but there is street parking available in the area around the event site.
Directions to Historic Downtown Glendale
From Areas West of Glendale
Take I-10 east bound to the 59th Avenue exit
Proceed north approximately 5 miles to Glendale Avenue
Event site is between 59th Avenue and 57th Drive and Glendale Avenue and Myrtle Avenue
We suggest using the preferred parking garages (directions below) but there is street parking available in the area around the event site.
OR
Take the 101 westbound to the 59th Avenue exit Proceed south approximately 9 miles to Glenn Drive or Glendale Avenue Event site is between 59th Avenue and 57th Drive and Glendale Avenue and Myrtle Avenue
We suggest using the preferred parking garages (directions below) but there is street parking available in the area around the event site.
OR
Take the western loop of the 101 eastbound at the Glendale Avenue exit Proceed east approximately 3 miles to 59th Avenue
Event site is between 59th Avenue and 57th Drive and Glendale Avenue and Myrtle Avenue
We suggest using the preferred parking garages (directions below) but there is street parking available in the area around the event site.
Directions to Preferred Parking Garages in Historic Downtown Glendale
From Downtown Phoenix or East Valley
Take I-17 and exit at Glendale Avenue
Proceed west approximately 5 miles to 59th Avenue
Turn right at 59th Avenue and proceed one block north to Glenn Drive
Turn right onto Glenn Drive
The City Hall preferred parking garage is 50 yards east immediately on your right
The Bank of America preferred parking garage is 75 yards east and then 100 yards north
Glenn Drive is just north of Glendale Avenue. If you get to Myrtle, you’ve gone a half-block too far to the north
Parking in these garages is $10 and you are just steps away from the event activities.
Directions to Preferred Parking Garages in Historic Downtown Glendale
From Areas West of Glendale
Take I-10 east bound to the 59th Avenue exit
Proceed north to Glendale Avenue
One block north of Glendale is Glenn Drive
Turn right onto Glenn Drive
The City Hall preferred parking garage is 50 yards east immediately on your right
The Bank of America preferred parking garage is 75 yards east and then 100 yards north
Glenn Drive is just north of Glendale Avenue If you get to Myrtle, you’ve gone a half-block too far to the north
Parking in these garages is $10 and you are just steps away from the event activities.
OR
Take the 101 westbound to the 59th Avenue exit
Proceed south to Glenn Drive
Turn left onto Glenn Drive
(Glenn Drive is one block north of Glendale so if you reach Glendale you’ve gone one block too far south)
The City Hall preferred parking garage is 50 yards east immediately on your right
The Bank of America preferred parking garage is 75 yards east and then 100 yards north
Parking in these garages is $10 and you are just steps away from the event activities.
Glenn Drive is just north of Glendale Ave. If you get to Myrtle, you’ve gone a half-block too far to the north.
