The fourth annual Fairhaven Chocolate Walk highlights small businesses while providing a fun interactive experience for anyone who loves chocolate. With 18 stops around Fairhaven Village, you can sample a variety of chocolate while exploring participating shops from noon until 5 p.m.
“It’s an event that continues to grow and garners a lot of excitement within the community and outside,” said Heather Carter, executive director of the Fairhaven Association. “Who doesn’t love chocolate?”
Carter said the event grows and changes every year based on feedback from participants.
“This year, 100% of the chocolates that we are distributing in the chocolate walk have been made here in Washington,” Carter said. “Several of those are very local.”
The walk will feature chocolates from local chocolatiers like K’UL Chocolate in Bellingham and BeachCastle Sweets in Anacortes.
With a VIP add-on for wine and spirit tasting for ticket holders over 21, this event is great for a date, an outing with friends or family, or anyone who loves chocolate.
“It’s really not catered to any individual group. We want to make it really welcoming,” Carter said. “It’s for anybody.”
The chocolate walk allows small businesses to show off their stores and draw in new customers. Some businesses are offering goodies and experiences in addition to the chocolate. Whatcom Art Market, for example, is having a mini art show the day of the event, Carter said.
“I think it’s really wonderful to see people come into our store, especially people that have never been in before, to get a piece of chocolate and look around and just be amazed,” said Lauri Grove, a salesperson at The Garden Room, one of the businesses participating in the walk. “That’s a lot of fun for us.”
The Garden Room features items like fine gardening tools, tropical plants, jewelry and home decor. They also offer complimentary gift wrapping.
“Not only does it invite people in, but I think the Fairhaven stores are a really close community,” Grove said. “I think it’s very important to support the events and continue to be part of that.”
Carter said that with Fairhaven Village being so compact, the event is easily walkable and doable within the five-hour window.
“It’s awesome because at home, I have to drive a half an hour to even be able to go to the grocery store,” Carter said. “I get to come here and experience a lot of things I don’t experience in my day-to-day life.”
Guy Occhiogrosso, president and CEO of Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, believes that while both small and large businesses are important, the personalized customer service small businesses provide helps create a vibrant, thriving community and economy.
“As communities, we often need both,” Occhiogrosso said in an email. “Creating economic success through multiple small businesses will always be a good outcome for a community.”
Occhiogrosso said small businesses promote community through the creation of third places. He described third places as “those places that are not your home or your place of employment, the places where you meet with family and friends.” This includes places like restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.
The Fairhaven Chocolate Walk lets visitors and members of the community come together in these third spaces and celebrate local businesses while tasting unique chocolates.
“I feel like it’s a gift to be able to come here and support a really active urban village,” said Carter.
Sophia Raymond (she/her) is a city life reporter for The Front this quarter. She is a second-year journalism major. Outside of The Front, she enjoys crafting and cooking new foods.
You can reach her at sophiaraymond.thefront@gmail.com.
