Community Corner
Chelsea Gears Up for Fourth Annual Chocolate Extravaganza
Activities will take place in downtown Chelsea today beginning at 10 a.m.
CHELSEA — Upon taking the position as store manager of The Garden Mill in Chelsea, Maureen Tobin never imaged she would be coordinating a Chocolate Extravaganza for the entire city.
Saturday's guest list includes upwards of 4,944 people, 35 local businesses and countless chocolate treats.
“This event was started three years ago to generate a shopping event in February but also to support local businesses," Tobin explained. "Depending on Michigan winters, most people have cabin fever by February, so this event gives them an excuse to bring the family out."
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The Chocolate Extravaganza has been successful in recent years, drawing residents throughout Washtenaw County to Chelsea. Tobin said she is thrilled to have more businesses participating this year. The family-friendly event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and guests are welcome to enjoy shopping, food and lots of chocolaty fun.
“It’s truly a family event and there are activities other than shopping. There are a couple of concerts at the Chelsea Arts Center and of course chocolate sampling in many of our stores for Valentine’s Day,” Tobin said.
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In order to participate in the event, downtown businesses will be offering some chocolate-related theme.
“At the Garden Mill we have invited Janet Brown, who makes chocolates and designs custom chocolates using different molds. She will be here helping kids make chocolate molds that they can eat here or take home," Tobin said.
This year the Chocolate Extravaganza is expanding down Main Street to include the Chelsea Arts Center, McDonald's, Aberdeen Bicycles and other businesses south of The Garden Mill.
“This is no longer just a downtown event. It is very much a community event and we are happy to have more businesses south of here participating," Tobin said.
She admits her role in planning the event has been fun but stressful at times, especially coordinating plans with 35 businesses.
“Even though this is a slow time of year for retail, store managers are still busy. So to coordinate and follow up with each one can be very time consuming," Tobin said. "My biggest challenge of planning all this is has been talking about chocolate all the time but having to wait until the big event to try the samples."
For a complete list of events, call 734-475-3539.
