The 7th Radovljica Chocolate Festival has just begun, and, being the chocoholic that I am, I’m not known for having a modicum of restraint when it comes to chocolate. Since I’m lucky enough to live on the doorstep, I headed straight down to the opening to check it out for you (ahem!).
This year there are almost 50 chocolatiers showcasing their chocolates and other chocolate-based creations.
The festival takes place in Radovljica’s historic old town centre, as well as in the town park, and in Vurnik Square (Vurnikov trg).
As in previous years, there is a jam-packed entertainment programme, which has something for all the family.
Entrance to the festival, as well as (the majority of) the entertainment programme, is FREE. Tasting of chocolates takes place through the purchase of tasting coupons, which cost 0.50 cents, and come in strips of four.
I also like to check out any new and original flavours of chocolates – there are SO many, it’s mind boggling. However, one can always rely on Čokohram to come up trumps. Last year, among the unusual flavour combinations it offered chocolate with mohant cheese (a particularly smelly cheese, available this year too!), new for this year it’s chocolate with nettle. Throughout the festival, at the 50+ stalls, you can try literally hundreds of different flavour combinations.
Below are just some of the highlights of the weekend ahead.
Events taking place throughout the 3-day festival include:
- House of Experiments – make your own bar of chocolate; From Bean to Bar (Saturday from 10am-6pm and Sunday from 10am-5pm)
- Cookery workshops with Radovljica College of Catering and Tourism
- Pumptrack course for bikes and scooters
- Archery, handball and minigolf corner
- Chocolate journey with adventures through Radovljica
- Chocolate face painting
- Chocolate roulette
Throughout the festival there are also numerous FREE concerts, workshops, cookery shows and other events, including:
SATURDAY
- Creative dance day with the Waldorf School and Nursery (9am-5pm)
- Uroš Štefelin, Igor Jagodic and Marko Pavčnik, Three Chefs’ Cookery Show (10am)
- Beer Belly, Irish band (10am-1pm)
- A meeting of two clowns and circus workshops with clown Eva Škofič Maurer
- Veseli Begunjčani ensemble, concert (1pm)
- Abba Mia, concert (4pm)
- Small Tokk, concert (6pm)
The Three Chefs’ Cookery Show – Photo: Visit Radol’ca
SUNDAY
- Napoli Tango, music (10am-1pm)
- Dixie Flash Mob with the Lesce Wind Orchestra and dancers (12noon)
- Maček Muri and Muca Maca with Neca Falk, concert (2pm)
- Uroš Perič, concert (4pm)
And don’t miss the arrival of the vintage steam train on Sunday, which is always a sight to behold. The train leaves Ljubljana at 10.40am, arriving in Radovljica at 12noon. Click here for more information.
And if you are craving something other than chocolate (why would you?!), then visit the food marquee where some of Taste Radol’ca’s restaurants – Gostišče Draga, Gostilna Tavčar and Joštov hram – are cooking up some treats, too!
Gostišče Draga – something for those who prefer savoury treats!
Try ‘šmorn’, a kind of shredded pancake served with jam, at Gostišče Draga
And there’s even craft beer too, which will no doubt go down a storm in this heat, yes, heat, in April, when just a few weeks ago I was (still!) moaning about the snow!
But that’s far from all. There’s plenty more! Click here for more information and the full programme (in Slovene) and here for the English version.
So, don’t miss out, come on down. A ‘hot’ chocolate weekend awaits indeed, as the weather is, and promises to be, fab, too!
© Adele in Slovenia
Adele in Slovenia 
Well…..somebody had to cover this perilous assignment. I am glad you steeled yourself and stepped up! Is this always at this time of year? because I don’t see how I could possibly miss this and still live with myself.
Ah…..I now have their site bookmarked and in my calendar. This chocoholic thanks you.
Yes, the chocolate festival takes place in Radovljica every April for 3 days. I’d give you a run for you money on the chocoholic front!