MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Charitable Development Group (CCDG) today announced that the 14th Annual Mount Vernon Chocolate Stroll will take place Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This chocolate-themed event features more than 30 participating businesses and pop-up vendors offering chocolate and chocolate-inspired products for sample and sale.
All attendees will receive a map featuring all participating vendors. The maps double as a “passport,” challenging attendees to visit the various locations to be entered into a drawing for gift baskets featuring products and gift certificates from Mount Vernon’s Uptown shops.
In addition, the Chocolate Stroll hosts multiple activities for kids of all ages. Kids’ games and face painting will take place in Memorial Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children’s events throughout the day will include crafts, M&M Bingo, yard games, a scavenger hunt, and will kick off with a Story Time by local performer Kim Benesh from the Pinhook Players. Benesh plans to read chocolate-themed children’s books at the event beginning at 10 a.m.
As patrons stroll, they are able to participate in several Guessing Contests. Jars filled with chocolates will be located at the Information booths at the First Street Community Center, City Hall and the Visitor Center. At each location you can stop and add your guess. Winners will be notified at 2 pm and will win the jar of chocolates.
Returning this year after a 4-year hiatus due to the pandemic is the “Make It With Chocolate” Dessert Contest. It will be headquartered at The Nourishing Root Cafe, 100 1st Street SW. The two categories for judging will be Youth (up to 18 years old) and Adult. Entries can be dropped off from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. and Winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m. Rules and entry forms are available on the website VisitMVL.com.
A Point-Five-K Fun Run will start from the City Hall parking lot at 12:15 p.m. where participants will walk, run, or stroll a third of a mile through Mount Vernon. Participants will receive an event sticker and will have the opportunity to win chocolate medals. There is a $3 registration fee for each participant and registration is accepted the day of the event. All participants should arrive at 11:45 a.m.
“Uptown Mount Vernon is the perfect place for a festival and we all love Chocolate! Chocolate Stroll is unique because it invites attendees right into our 41 shops and restaurants and really showcases all that our town has to offer” said Chocolate Stroll Committee Chair Sherene Player. “This year’s event will include such specialties as chocolate raspberry scones, macrons, artisan bon bons, cheesecakes, as well as the more traditional chocolate truffles, cupcakes, shortbreads and caramels. We will even have other chocolate-themed products such as chocolate mint plants and cocoa butter lotion bars.”
Download the Food Vendor Application for Chocolate Stroll here:
Download the Chocolate Dessert Contest Flyer here:
Volunteers are still needed for the event. If interested in helping out, please sign up here:
Download the Point-5-K registration form here:
Download the Point-5-K map here:
About the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group exists to improve the social and economic well-being of Mount Vernon and Lisbon by capitalizing on their unique identity, assets and character. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community in 2008, and practices economic development within the context of historic preservation.
About Main Street
The Main Street Approach is a copyrighted process of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation. The Program has been used in Iowa since 1986 with a total of 56 communities having participated. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community on March 4, 2008, by the State of Iowa, after submitting a comprehensive application and presenting to a selectboard of reviewers.
About Mount Vernon
Historic Mount Vernon, Iowa, is home to 4500 residents, including 1200 college students
enrolled at Cornell College. Located in Eastern Iowa at the intersection of Highways 30 and 1, 20 miles north of Iowa City and 15 miles east of Cedar Rapids, it boasts a vibrant uptown business community with numerous antique and specialty stores, restaurants, coffee houses, commercial art galleries, and three National Historic Districts.
