FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Adrienne Drew, Media Relations Specialist (p) 813-987-6080 (c) 813-842-7788 adrew@mosi.org Aileen Mand, Producer: (p) 407-497-1588 aileen@festivalofchocolate.com Join MOSI January 14-16 for The Second Annual Festival of Chocolate The Ultimate All-Chocolate Shopping, Educational and Interactive Experience Tampa, FL (November 30, 2011) – Attention Chocoholics! For anyone that has wanted to be a kid in a chocolate store…you now have your chance! MOSI will host Tampa’s second annual Festival of Chocolate, Saturday, January 14 until Monday, January 16. The Festival of Chocolate is Florida’s largest all-chocolate themed event! Hours of the festival are Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The event features the area's best chocolate and confection companies selling tastes and treats of everything chocolate from truffles, cakes and cupcakes to cookies, brownies and ice creams. Chocolate savory items including chocolate bbq sauce and meat rubs will also make a debut this year. For the littlest chocoholics, Kids-4-Chocolate is the perfect place for children to create edible masterpieces while, Tampa Bay families can learn together about the incredible journey the cacao bean takes from the tree to become their favorite chocolate bar. Award-winning pastry chefs and chocolatiers will host interactive demonstrations, sharing techniques and tricks of the trade, and a live chocolate showpiece competition will give breathtaking artistic sculptures a tasty twist. Chocoholics of all ages will love making chocolate lip balm and the more adventurous can try their hand (or armpit) at creating armpit fudge. The Festival of Chocolate will also include chocolate wrapper fashion for the couture crowd and history buffs can become a chocolate detective as they tour through a unique chocolate-themed museum. Guests will be amazed with the hands-on science of chocolate and chocolate gamers can try their luck and chocolate knowledge in Brownie Bingo...you can even eat the playing pieces! Chocolate University taught by Chocolate Masters, A Double-Dare You of unusual items dipped in chocolate including crickets and jalapeños, cookie stacking contests, chocolate mustaches, a book signing and a complimentary chocolate raffle make The Festival of Chocolate weekend at MOSI the Sweetest weekend in West Florida from January 14 - 16. Entrance into The Festival of Chocolate is complementary with your MOSI admission. Each adult advance purchase ticket will receive two dollars in chocolate coins to spend in The Festival of Chocolate. MOSI Members receive discounted entry pricing at only $10 a ticket for adults and member children 12 and under can attend for FREE. Advanced ticket purchases are available at www.tampa.festivalofchocolate.com. To enter to win a spot as a chocolate judge or for more information, visit www.festivalofchocolate.com or call 813-438-4066. About MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) MOSI is a not-for-profit, community-based institution and educational resource dedicated to advancing public interest, knowledge, and understanding of science, industry, and technology. With a total size of over 400,000 square feet, MOSI is the largest science center in the southeastern United States, and home to the only IMAX® Dome Theatre in the state of Florida. Kids In Charge! The Children’s Science Center at MOSI is the largest children’s science center in the nation. Disasterville, featuring WeatherQuest, combines education and 10,000 square feet of interactive exhibits on the science behind natural disasters. MOSI’s newest permanent exhibition, The Amazing You, explores the fascinating world of birth through end of life. Conquer your fears and experience an adrenaline rush like no other on MOSI’s newest permanent attraction, the Sky Trail® Ropes Course, featuring 36 elements on a 12 – 36 foot high, multilevel structure. MOSI is the proud winner of the 2009 National Medal for Museums by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s highest honor for museums. For more information on MOSI, visit www.mosi.org. About The Festival of Chocolate Former Walt Disney World Producer and owner of Indigo Creative Productions, Aileen Mand, partnered with third-generation Chocolatier Edgar Schaked to create The Festival of Chocolate-the ultimate interactive, educational chocolate experience. Marrying her specialty in unique, large-scale public events including Coca Cola’s Olympic City, Political Conventions and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week with his expertise and outreach in the Chocolate Industry, they have traveled The Festival of Chocolate to Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach and are expanding the successful event into other cities. -###