Osterville chocolate festival Feb. 10: Free samples, prosecco and a dog parade

Enjoy a sweet Saturday in Osterville as the village’s annual chocolate festival returns Feb. 10 at the Osterville Village Library.

“It's something to break up the winter (and) get you into the Valentine's spirit,” said Cyndy Cotton, executive director of the Osterville Village Library.

This year’s festival, dubbed “Chapters of Chocolate,” is the first put on by the library following the Osterville Business and Professional Association’s decision to step down from organizing the event.

“It's a really tough time of year and we want to do something to bring people to Osterville,” Cotton said. “We'll make everybody happy and smiling, plus I love chocolate.”

There's also a dog parade.

Chocolate dessert competition begins at 1 p.m.

The star event, the chocolate dessert competition, is slated for 1 p.m. Dessert drop-off is from 10 to 11:45 a.m. and anyone from a home cook to a master baker, even a child, is eligible to enter.

“There's no limitations on the desserts as long as it’s chocolate,” Cotton said. “We prefer things that are just done. They can't have a lava cake where they want to heat (it) up. Just needs to be something that they can drop off on a disposable plate and go.”

Judging will begin at noon and three judges ― Lisa Raffael of Delicious Desserts in Falmouth; wine and food consultant Michael Woeste; and Cape Cod Times features editor Gwenn Friss ― will select the best desserts. The winners will be announced, prizes will be awarded, and samples will be passed around once judging is over.

Samples are free and go quickly.

Chocolate festival has events all over Osterville

Alongside the dessert competition, events will take place throughout the day across the village. At participating shops, stop in for something sweet — like prosecco and chocolate at Sara Campbell from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. — or try your hand at winning a prize — like an Oysterville Vodka Swag Bag from the Osterville Package Store. You can also make Valentine's Day cards at Pocket Full of Posies, among a handful of other activities at other village locations.

“We always like to support the stores because it's a symbiotic thing,” Cotton said.

As a chocolate connoisseur herself, Cotton said she wanted this year’s festival to not only be full of sweets but full of entertainment for the village.

“It's up to the people to bring their great chocolate things and then just enjoy a winter's day in the village,” she said. “We have lots of space. People can mill around, the kids can play. We're not a quiet library. Kids don’t get shushed here."

Dog parade begins at 11 a.m.

The library might be home to the cutest event of the day as they host the dog parade, with Dewey — short for Dewey Decimal System — Cotton’s 5-month-old puppy, leading the way.

“It's organized chaos at its best,” Cotton joked. “It's great socialization for the dogs and the people.”

“Chapters of Chocolate,” begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. on Feb. 10. The chocolate competition is free to enter, and all events are free to attend. The Osterville Village Library is located at 43 Wianno Ave.

Frankie Rowley covers entertainment and things to do. Contact her at frowley@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Osterville chocolate festival returns: What to know before you go