An Exciting New Festival is Coming to the Greater Cleveland Area That is All About Chocolate

For all the festivals and events that the Greater Cleveland area has hosted there hasn't been any specializing in chocolate for nearly thirty years. Well finally that dry spell is over - the Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival is coming to town.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) February 28, 2008 -- For all the festivals and events that the Greater Cleveland area has hosted there hasn't been any specializing in chocolate for nearly thirty years. Well, finally that dry spell is over, the Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival is coming to town.

The Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival activities take place over three days in the month of May. It starts Thursday May 8, 2008 and continues Saturday and Sunday May 10 and 11, 2008. The Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival is held at the Cleveland Heights Community Center Pavilion, 1 Monticello Blvd., Cleveland Heights, OH. The festival includes vendors specializing in chocolate; chocolate-making clinics; Fudge Brownie eating contests; demonstrations; chocolate trivia contests; chocolate competitions; special activities for moms and all the ladies attending the festival; a kid's and family area with games and other activities; a special raffle to benefit the Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival Grant Fund; visits from Willie Wonka, Jungle Terry and other local celebrities. There will be a variety of contests, prizes and so much more.

Among the highlights of this three-day event include the film premier of the independent film "Death, Taxes….and Chocolate" presented by: A Levinson Film and Sheffield Entertainment Television. The film is a black comedy about a group of friends coming to terms with aging and life as they go on a soul-searching journey on board a yacht that is reported missing. The film premier takes place Thursday May 8, 2008 at the Cedar Lee Theater on Lee Road with two showings, and a wine and chocolate reception to follow. Attendees to the premier will receive tickets to the chocolate festival. Dr. Andrea Levinson, the film's Executive Producer is a former resident of Cleveland. She will be participating at the chocolate festival to promote the movie. She will be joined by cast members from the film.

The first ever National Fudge Brownie Eating Championship will take stage in Cleveland, OH during the Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival. This is sanctioned by The Association of Independent Competitive Eaters (AICE) and is the first ever National Brownie Eating Championship. The Association of Independent Competitive Eaters which has sanctioned contests across the United States and as far away as Japan will be bringing a group of elite "Food Warriors" with big chocolate appetites to the two day festival.

AICE Chairman, Arnie "Chowhound" Chapman states, "Cleveland is not a bashful city and they will not be bashful on Mother's Day weekend when they celebrate the delicious return of all things chocolate. Also, adds Chapman, there won't be a better example of the legendary "Cleveland confidence" than the National Fudge Brownie Eating Championship."

The contest is also open to first timers and amateurs who can qualify for a spot at the National Title on Saturday and earn the right to compete against the Professionals on Sunday. Some of the top Eaters that are expected to compete are Cleveland's number one competitive Eater "Tiny Tim" Rauscheder who has also distinguished himself on the national competitive eating stage and is ranked 17th in the Nation by AICE. In addition, Columbus OH native Mark Lyle "The Human Vacuum, the Nations 6th ranked Food Warrior, and PA Burrito Eating Champ James "The Food Prowler" Fowler and Pittsburgh Wing Bowl and Sausage Eating Champ Pete "Broken Wing" Maurizio will all compete for the honor of being the National Fudge Brownie Eating Champion. Also, Competitive Eating personality and Eating Legend and Cuyahoga Falls native Dave "Coondog" O'Karma will be Master of Ceremonies.

Bev Shaffer, chef, instructor and author of "Brownies to Die For" will be at the chocolate festival on Sunday May 11, 2008, to conduct a special cooking demonstration, and will sign her popular cookbooks after her demonstration. She is also a celebrity judge for the chocolate competitions.

There are special Mother's Day promotions and activities for all attendees coming to the festival on May 11, 2008 including low-cost massages and free makeovers.

Tickets to the Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival and the film premier of "Death, Taxes…and Chocolate" are on sale now. Pre-show tickets for the chocolate festival are $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for children 12 and under. Tickets at the door are $12.00 for adults and $10.00 for children. Discount coupons for the chocolate festival will be available throughout the Northeastern Ohio area. Tickets for the film premier are $25.00 per person. The tickets include attendance to the movie, invitation to the reception after the film and a free ticket to the chocolate festival. Tickets for all activities can be purchased on the Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival website.

For more information on the Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival, the National Fudge Brownie Eating Championship, "Death, Taxes…and Chocolate" Film Premier and to obtain tickets, find out about sponsorship, exhibiting and volunteer opportunities please visit the chocolate festival website at www.neochocolatefestival.com; or contact Adrienne Roth, Director of the Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival at (216) 321-5253.

Contact: Adrienne Roth, Director
Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival
E-mail: ahroth1 @ yahoo.com
http://www.prweb.com

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