Sweet Saturdays Coming to Garfield Park Conservatory

The 1st Annual Sweet Saturdays will take place during three consecutive Saturdays in February (Feb. 7, 14, and 21) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Based on the conservatory's popular Chocolate Fest event held each February, The 1st Annual Sweet Saturdays celebrates not only chocolate trees, but plants that help create the different varieties of  sweet natural flavors, such as bananas, cinnamon and vanilla.

At the events, visitors can sample the facts, flavors and fun of these plants and experience any or all of the following sweet activities at each Saturday:

* Tropical Treat Stations: Throughout the Conservatory visitors will learn a fact and sample a flavor.

* Hands-on Activity Stations: Visitors can participate in designing a scratch and sniff necklace with cinnamon and sandpaper, designing a “leaf rubbing” Valentine’s Day Card, making a Chocolate Sachet with the sweet-smelling shells of cocoa beans, and other drop-in stations, such as Sweet Reads & Candy College.

* Samples Sweets: Visitors can sample sweet offerings provided by various product partners hosted in the conservatory's "Sugar from the Sun" exhibit. The following companies will be offering samples:

- February 7 - Baskin Robbins, Starbucks Coffee
- February 14 - Divine Chocolate (fair trade chocolate company)
- February 21 - Wholesome Sweeteners (category leader in Fair Trade Certified organically and natural sugars, syrups, nectars and honeys)

The suggested donation for the Sweet Saturdays events is $2 per person.

At the Conservatory's "Tropical Café": Attendees can buy sandwiches, souvenir treats, and listen to the  sounds of tropical tunes.

There will also be a “Member’s Only” Chocolate Lounge where members of the conservatory can enjoy special perks and activities. The lounge will be open Feb. 7 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Feb. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Highlights include:

- A chance to discover your inner chocolate spirit by venturing on a self-guided chocolate “taste test” quest.
- Potting up a special chocolate mint plant to take a little bit of the Sweet Saturday event home with you.
- Entering a drawing to win your very own chocolate pod to take home.
-A free coat check in the Chocolate Lounge and hot chocolate while relaxing in the members only seating area.

Memberships may be purchased each Sweet Saturday event or online at: www.garfieldconservatory.org/join_online.htm.

Comments

[Christopher]

Oh, this sounds cool. I live in Madison now (but born and raised in Chicago) for the last few years.

Garfield Park is one of those places that's beautiful anytime of the year.

Love the site!