Your Guide to the Escondido Chocolate Festival: Everything You Need to Know

The Escondido Chocolate Festival, officially known as "For the Love of Chocolate," is one of Downtown Escondido's most anticipated annual events. Capped at just 350 attendees, this intimate ticketed experience sells out every year, usually one to two weeks before the event date. Here is everything you need to know to make the most of your chocolate adventure.

What Is the Chocolate Festival?

The Chocolate Festival is a walking tasting event that takes you through approximately 20 downtown businesses, each offering gourmet chocolates paired with local wines, craft beers, champagne, or non-alcoholic beverages. You stroll in and out of restaurants, shops, and spa locations at your own pace, sampling treats and discovering businesses along the way. It is part food tour, part downtown exploration, and entirely delicious.

What Is Included with Your Ticket?

Every ticket includes a tasting glass, a drink wristband, a swag bag to fill with goodies as you visit each location, and a tasting map brochure showing every participating business. You check in at Will Call located at Maple Street Plaza and Grand Avenue, and from there the adventure is yours to design.

Truffle Making Class

For those who want to go beyond tasting, the festival offers an optional 60-minute Truffle Making Class taught by professional chocolatiers. You will learn to make beautiful truffles to take home, with a wine pairing included. This class is purchased separately from the tasting passport and space is limited, so book early.

Practical Tips for Festival Day

Attendees must be 21 or older and should bring a valid ID for check-in. The event runs from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with check-in opening at 11:45 AM. Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers since you will be walking between indoor tasting locations and outdoor stretches of Grand Avenue. The closest free parking is the lot on the southwest corner of Valley Parkway and Broadway behind Filippi's Restaurant, with additional free parking available along Grand Avenue.

The Raffle

At approximately 5:15 PM, a raffle is held back at Will Call. Every returning attendee receives one free raffle ticket, plus a bonus ticket if you show a receipt of twenty dollars or more from any participating tasting location. You must be present to win, and the raffle is exclusive to festival participants.

How to Get Tickets

Tickets are available through our Upcoming Events page. Because the event is capped at 350 attendees and sells out early every year, we recommend purchasing your tickets as soon as they become available. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the announcement when tickets go on sale.