Chocolate Walk set for Saturday in Portsmouth

Published 11:12 pm Saturday, January 29, 2011

PORTSMOUTH — Main Street Portsmouth will host the third annual Main Street Chocolate Walk on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Last year’s event brought nearly 200 people downtown for chocolate treats at different retail stores and eateries, and many purchased or pre-ordered items for Valentine’s Day.

Participating downtown and Boneyfiddle merchants will provide various chocolate experiences for shoppers such as chocolate candies, brownies, hot chocolate, chocolate-dipped pretzels, bite-size chocolate cheesecake, deep-fried Snickers bars, chocolate fountains, and more.

Email newsletter signup

“This is a wonderful opportunity for people to come downtown on a Saturday and have a fun- and chocolate-filled experience while discovering shops they may never have been in,” Main Street Portsmouth Program Assistant Krista Clark said.

“At the same time, shop owners attract new people and have the chance to show them what they have to offer and why they should come back. It’s a perfect shop local event.”

Shopping bags and maps will be available at four starting locations: Port City Café and Pub, Boneyfiddle Arts Center, Portsmouth Feed & Supply, and Morgan Brothers Jewelers. Ticket holders can to use the bags to collect their goodies.

Only those with a ticket or bag will be able to receive the special Chocolate Walk treats from participating merchants. Tickets will be available on the day of the event only at the four locations above.

However, advance tickets are now available for $5 at the following locations:

Morgan Brothers Jewelers

B Sweete Chocolaterie

Smith’s Drugs

Mr. Binn’s Antiques

Portsmouth Feed & Supply

Remember When Antiques

Ye Olde Lantern

Alterations and More

Lil’s Quilt Shop

HopeWorks

Boneyfiddle Arts Center

Primitive Corner

Southern Ohio Museum

Market Street Hardware

Additional participating businesses include: Market Street Café, Ghosts in the Attic, Journey Within, Port City Café & Pub, Goodwill Bookstore, Staker’s Drugs, Diamond Gem Lending, Boneyfiddle Boutique, Tootsie’s, and Cirque d’Art.

New this year is a children’s art activity during Chocolate Walk. Call the Main Street Portsmouth Office at 740-464-0203 for more information.

“If we have good weather for Chocolate Walk this year, we may reach our goal of bringing 300 people to downtown Portsmouth,” said Clark. “But even if it snows, never underestimate the power of chocolate.”

Main Street Portsmouth is a nationally accredited Main Street Community. The district focuses on the Downtown and Historic Boneyfiddle districts, encompassing roughly the Scioto River east to Gay Street and the Ohio River north to 11th Street.

The goal of Main Street Portsmouth is to promote the downtown and historic Boneyfiddle areas as the destination to live, work and play, while preserving its historic integrity.