OLIVEBRIDGE — February here can be rough—but nothing smooths its edges like a good cup of hot chocolate, and the Ashokan Center is heating up the kettle.

Hot Chocolate Fest is Feb. 17 and 18, 2024, and it’s exactly what it sounds like, and a little more: a family festival dedicated to everyone’s favorite winter beverage—hot chocolate.

The weekend is a chance to slow down, sip a cup of chocolate cheer and drink in the beauty of the Catskills. And this isn’t some ordinary, run-of-the-mill hot chocolate. You can choose from eight flavors of hot chocolate: peppermint, raspberry, banana, coffee, spicy, coconut, orange and salted caramel.

As with most Ashokan Center events, there will be live music—acts to be announced. There will be guided trail hikes with Del Orloske on these 385 stunning acres. There will be juggling. There will be demonstrations in the blacksmithing shop, and for $20 each, you can make and keep your own heart-shaped trivet, plant hanger or fire poker.

And there will be food available—from tasty hot breakfast sandwiches to hot dogs to vegan chili—for sale in the Ashokan Center’s dining hall.

Advanced tickets are $10 per day, tickets at the gate are $12 per day, and there’s no admission cost for kids 5 and under. The first two cups of hot chocolate are included with admission. Additional cups are $3 each.

Bring the whole family for a winter hike and hands-on blacksmithing, and then warm with beautiful music and eight flavors of hot chocolate.

You can also make a weekend of it by staying on-site in one of the Ashokan Center’s lodges. If you book an overnight stay, your Hot Chocolate Fest admission is included.

Learn more at https://ashokancenter.org/product/hot-chocolate-fest-2024/. 

Event proceeds support the Ashokan Center’s ongoing work to inspire learning and build community through shared experiences in nature, history, music, and art.