Second Annual Portland Craft Chocolate Festival Is This Weekend

The second annual Portland Craft Chocolate Festival starts this Friday, October 2, with the main festival activity on Saturday and Sunday. It is produced by local bean-to-bar chocolate maker Ranger Chocolate Company. Tickets are $35.

I attended the festival last year—it was a robust experience and I enjoyed it. This year they’ve added some new things, including a chocolate chip cookie competition. Here’s what you should know about the event.

Second Annual Portland Craft Chocolate Festival: Attending To the Basics

The second annual Portland Craft Chocolate Festival takes place at the Olympic Mills Building on SE Washington Street and SE 2nd Avenue, where Ranger Chocolate Co. does its chocolate work. The festival starts on Friday, October 2 from 5pm to 7pm with a VIP kickoff party, which is sold out.

Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4 from 11am to 5pm each day, is when the main festival happens. They are doing timed entry this year, and I heartily approve of this message. The crowding was intense last year, and I think implementing timed entry will alleviate some of the stress that was on the space and staff.

There are three entry times: 11am, 1pm, and 3pm.

Tickets are $35; Kids 8 and under are admitted free. Buy your tickets here.

The Main Event

There are two kind of main categories for this event: the festival makers, and the festival events.

The Makers at the Second Annual Portland Craft Chocolate Festival

Over 40 vendors will participate, and you can see the list of them on the festival website. As an attendee, you will also be given a token where you can choose your favorite vendor of the day.

Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing both new and returning vendors. I also want to check in with HAB to see if they still make their excellent Kill Dill hot sauce, so I can hopefully replace my almost empty bottle. I do want to give a shoutout to M.A.D.E. Finest, a coffee roaster whose coffee I encountered earlier this year at the WasabiFest. Their coffee was a hit in our household.

As far as chocolate goes, here’s who to expect: Bees & Beans, In Pursuit of Purity, Missionary Chocolates, Oregon Bark, Ranger Chocolate Co., Stache Chocolate, Stellaris, Confectionary, The Meadow, Vehicle Mushrooms, Wildwood Chocolate, Windrose Chocolate, and Woodblock Chocolate.

The Events: Tastings, Sake, and the Senses

Here’s what you can expect on Saturday and Sunday as far as structured events.

Saturday

Note: Guided chocolate tastings are limited to the first 20 guests.

• Noon, 2pm, and 4pm: Guided Chocolate Tasting by Flavor & Form with Laurenne Hom.
• 1pm: Sunflower Sake Chocolate and sake pairing flight, onsite inside Olympic Mills until 7pm.

Sunday

Note: The Bean To Bar Cacao & Chocolate Tasting and “What Chocolate Can Tell Us About the Senses” are limited to the first 20 guests.

• Noon and 3pm: Bean to Bar Cacao & Chocolate Tasting with George Domurot.
• 1pm: Sunflower Sake Chocolate and sake pairing flight, onsite inside Olympic Mills until 7pm
• 2pm and 4pm: “What Chocolate Can Tell Us About the Senses,” with Kalei Ross.

Side Quests at the Second Annual Portland Craft Chocolate Festival

On Saturday and Sunday, there are activities just outside the vendor area.

• Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 9pm: Olympia Provisions will offer brunch and lunch onsite inside Olympic Mills.
• Saturday and Sunday, All Day: The Aybla Grill food truck and the Stumptown Coffee Roasters coffee truck will be outside on Washington Street.
• Saturday only, 3pm to 4pm: C4 Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition judging takes place. This is open to the public, outside on SE Washington Street. More details are below.
• Saturday only, 4pm to 7pm: Steven Smith Teamaker × Ranger Chocolate Co. Bonbon Launch Party. They’ll offer a first taste of the new tea-infused bonbons. This is open to the public, outside on Washington Street between the Ranger and Smith Tea factories (they are across the street from each other).

The C4 Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition

This is one of the most significant changes since last year’s inaugural festival: The inclusion of a chocolate chip cookie competition. There are three divisions—Youth, Home Bakers, and Professional Bakers. Baker registration for this event closed mid-September.

There are seven judges, from industry professionals to enthusiasts and Portland’s Mayor—they are:

• George Domurot, CEO of Ranger Chocolate Co.
• Dillon DeBauche, owner of Little T American Baker.
• Jesse Schumann, owner of Sea Wolf Bakery in Seattle (and Shorebird Bakery in Portland)
• Jessica Lesh Koehler, General Manager of The Meadow.
• Keith Wilson, Mayor of Portland.
• Mallory Santic, Host of The Morning Stampede on 98.7 The Bull, and devoted chocolate chip cookie enthusiast.
• Yvonne Smoker, Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry Liaison, Prosper Portland.

What do the participants win? “The winner in each division receives a trophy, a curated gift box featuring treats from local makers and festival vendors, and well-earned bragging rights. Second- and third-place finishers receive trophies and a selection of surprise treats.”

Photos From Last Year

Here are a handful of photos from last year (click to enlarge):

This should be a very enjoyable event, and I’m curious to see how the timed entry works out. Plus the tastings, the vendors, the chocolate chip cookie competition and bonbon release—all good things. Hope to see you there!

Second annual Portland Craft Chocolate Festival
Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4
5pm to 7pm Friday, 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday
Olympic Mills Building, 107 SE Washington Street, Portland
PDXCCF website | Instagram