California is not particularly known as a region in which the cocoa beans are grown and harvested. But there are many world class chocolatiers and chocolate makers from our fair state, and there are chocolate lovers every place you look. Here are a few of the countless chocolate events to look forward to in an ever-growing list as chocolate festivals become more & more popular!

• Santa Cruz - Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival Sunday, January 22, 2012, 1 to 4 p.m.  santacruzchocolatefestival.org
  Cocoanut Grove at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk hosts this event. $15.
• Lodi- Wine and Chocolate February 11 - 12, 2012, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. lodiwineandchocolate.com
  15th Annual Wine & Chocolate Weekend…sip award-winning, handcrafted wines and taste decadent chocolates at over 40 wineries in the Lodi appellation. Be the lucky one to unwrap the Golden Ticket at any participating winery and win a Wine Country Getaway or one of over 100 other prizes! $45 pre; $55 day of.
• San Francisco -  Chocolate Salon   March 2-4, 2012 sfchocolatesalon.comanswer to wine shows, this event has grown to include wine samplings with chocolate desserts and tastings. Flat fee ticket. Held at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion.
• Belmont Shore (Long Beach) -  Chocolate Festival - Saturday, March 24, 2012, 1 - 4 p.m.  belmontshore.org
  This event takes place outdoors on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore. It includes some local restaurant participants and lots of chocolate vendors. Tickets are sold in booklets for tastings. There is no entry fee for the event, only the cost of tickets used to purchase the chocolate items. Books of twelve tickets are $10 and will be sold the week of the event at the following locations: La Strada, Mail Boxes Etc., Sweet Jill's, We Olive, Salon Soma & The Beach on 2nd St. Tickets may be purchased during the festival in front of Chase Bank (5200 E. 2nd St.). Something that will not change is The Homemade Chocolate Dessert Contest for those who think they have a recipe for a chocolate dessert worthy of an award. A panel of judges will sample the desserts and choose winners in three categories: Chocolate Cakes & Pies, Chocolate Cookies & Brownies and Unique Chocolate Treats. Entry forms are available on the events page of the Belmont Shore website. It costs $10 per dessert to enter. The contest tent will be located on Corona Ave. (only judges may sample the desserts). Those who would rather eat chocolate than make it are welcome to enter the Chocolate Pie Eating Contest. Contestants will race each other to see who can eat an individual size chocolate cream pie the fastest. Winners of all contests will be announced at 4:00PM on Corona Ave. (south of 2nd St.) and will receive trophies. The following are the age categories and contest times: 3:00PM Kids 6 - 8 3:30 p.m. Kids 15 - 17 3:10 p.m. Kids 9 -11 3:40PM Adults 3:20 p.m. Kids 12 - 14 For more information on the New & improved Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival & Spring Sweets,  call (562) 434-3066. BelmontShore.org
• Kelseyville - Wine & Chocolate… and more. February 11, 2012    mtkonoctiwines.com
  Mt. Konocti Winery will be pouring our Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Lady of the Lake Sparkling Pear wine along with chocolate confections.  Noon to 5 p.m. Cost is $35. Location: 2550 Big Valley Road, Kelseyville, CA. Tickets can be purchased in the Tasting Room.
• Escondido - For the Love of Chocolate Festival & ArtWalk Saturday, February 11, 2012, 1-5 p.m. downtownescondido.com
  Bring your sweetheart or just your sweet tooth to the Downtown Business Association's 3rd Annual "For the Love of Chocolate and SweetArt Festival!" Sample locally brewed beer and wines, paired with San Diego's finest chocolates. Also, spend the day shopping at Sweet Street, enjoying live music, or taking a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride down historic Grand Ave.Downtown Escondido Admission: is free, sampling fee: $20 for 10. Call: (760) 745.8877.
• Temecula - Wine Festival & Chocolate Decadence at Pechanga Casino Resort March  2-3, 2012  pechanga.com
  Held in the Grand Ballroom, the event showcase the Valley's wines paired with the resort's chocolate desserts they are known for. Ticket: $75.
• Saratoga - Rivers of Chocolate Festival  April 29, 2012, 1 - 5 p.m.  ehclifebuilders.org
  Mountain Winery hosts the 16th annual Rivers of Chocolate Festival in Saratoga, California.

MAY 2012

• Colfax - 8th Annual Wine And Chocolate Tasting Event May 18, 2012 6 -9 p.m.  Price: $20.  Colfax Visitor Center 99 South Railroad Street PO Box 86 Colfax, CA 95713  Phone: 530.389.8880  Historic Colfax hosts a fun evening of wine and chocolate tasting. Enjoy light appetizers and browse the silent art auction items while listening to live music. Visit with local artist Kelley Quinn who has sculpted garden art which will be raffled off during the evening. Your $20 donation to Soroptimist International of Colfax also includes 5 tastes additional tastings available. Founded in 1921 in Oakland California Soroptimist International is an organization of business and professional women Improving the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.
• Paradise - Chocolate Fest  May 11 & 12, 2012    chocolatefest.us
• Oakdale - Chocolate Festival May 19 - 20, 2012  oakdalechamber.com
  20th Annual Chocolate Festival is held 3rd Weekend in May. Located at the junction of Highway 120 and 108 at Wood Park. Huge outdoor festival includes over 200 vendors with Arts & Crafts, CHOCOLATE EXPLOSION in Chocolate Avenue (fudges, truffles, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cheese cake, etc.), bands performing and more.
• Encinitas - Chocolate Festival on Saturday before Mother's Day.  sdbgarden.org/chocolate.htm

SEPTEMBER

• San Francisco - Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival September 8 & 9, 2012, Noon to 5 p.m. sresproductions.com
  Ghirardelli Square and on Beach Street between Larkin & Polk Streets, San Francisco, CA.