By Marcella Peyre-Ferry
Contributing Writer

The very popular Oxford United Methodist Church Chocolate Festival will return on Saturday, March 1.

Bring your best chocolate creation to enter in the competition, or purchase tickets to select your favorite chocolate temptations to enjoy.

“It’s amazing how much excitement it generates,” Committee member Patricia Reese said of the event. “It’s a great big event. People from all over come.”

The Chocolate Festival takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the church located at 18 Addison St. in Oxford.

There are six categories for competitors to enter: Cakes; cupcakes; candy/fudge; cookies; other deserts (including brownies); items made by children age 16 and under.  All entries must include chocolate, and all entries must be a whole batch such as a whole cake, a dozen cupcakes, etc.

The competition is free to enter. Just bring your uncut, homemade creation on a disposable plate or container to the church between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. on the morning of the competition for check-in. No containers will be returned.

Volunteers will cut the entries to size (if necessary) and judging begins at 10 a.m. with professional artisans judging along with last year’s cupcake category and grand prize winner, Haley Mara.

After judging is complete, entries will be separated into portions and set on display along with a wide assortment of other chocolate items contributed to the event by church members and local residents.

Cakes will remain in one piece with only the judges’ portion removed. They will be put up for auction at 2 p.m. along with the winners of the other categories. Acting as auctioneer will be United Methodist Church pastor Larry Kipp.

Winners will be announced at 2 p.m. with winners receiving ribbons. The best in show will receive a grand prize gift basket with baking supplies and kitchen items.

This is an event that is even more fun for the visitors than it is for the contest entrants. 

Doors open at 1 p.m. Ticket sales are at the door. The cost for 5 tickets is $5 and each additional ticket at $1.  For each ticket you can select an individual size  portion from the rows of tables filled with all kinds of chocolate treats. Disposable containers will be provided. Outside containers are not permitted. Tickets are cash-only, and electronic payment is not accepted.

The event is scheduled to end at 3 p.m. or when items are sold out. For the best selection, come early.

Another fun feature is the guessing games, where you try to guess the number of candies in a jar with the closest guess winning the candy.

There will also be an opportunity to order the Oxford United Methodist Church’s delicious hand-made Easter eggs. All eggs are hand-decorated and individually boxed by church volunteers. The half-pound chocolate covered eggs are available in Coconut Crème, Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Butter Cream.  These eggs are only sold in advance, at $7 each, by March 16. Eggs must be picked up by their purchasers at the church Fellowship Hall on April 9. There are no deliveries of eggs available. 

This year, proceeds from the Chocolate Festival will go to UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

For more information look for ads around town, or find the church on FaceBook at Oxford UM Church Pennsylvania or the website oxfordpaumc.org.