Toledo, Southern Belize
Toledo CacaoFest May 21-23, 2010 featuring the "Three Kings of Belize" (When is the next one? If you know, please tell us…either by using our Contact page so we can update the facts or submit information and pictures using Share with Us yourself on the Chocolate Festivals page. Thank you, Gloria, editor for Everyone-loves-chocolate.com) The Festival opens with its signature Wine and Chocolate evening, held on the rooftop terrace of the University of Belize. Guests will enjoy fine wine and food, chocolate delights from Belize's four chocolate producers - Kakaw, Goss, Cotton Tree, and Cyrila's - live music, and a specially-commissioned performance by the Belize Dance Company - choreographed by Gregory Vernon, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts. Then the return of the Taste of Toledo cookery and craft fair, with its seafront location at Petillo Park and the Grounds of the Father Ring Parish Hall. The Fair showcases local and national artisans work, local food and cookery demonstrations, as well as music and dance performances and masterclasses, and a special screening of the newly released award-wining "Three Kings of Belize" DVD. Cacao for Kids activities include a sock-puppet class, and also creating the longest rainforest mural in Belize, with a chalk pavement art scene along Front Street. We can't hope to compete with the current world record 75,000 square feet creating, but will be setting a record for Belize! The Sea Toledo kayaking, snorkelling and boat trips will depart from the Fisherman's Co-op wharf, giving everybody the chance to appreciate the beautiful coastal waters of Toledo. The inland Cacao Trail tours take you through the organic cacao orchards in Toledo, to learn how the pods are grown, harvested and processed before being turned into chocolate - the food of the Gods! One evening activities include a Teen Dance held in aid of the PG Library, and Beya Suites will once again be hosting "Culture in Harmony". Held on their rooftop terrace from 7pm until midnight, there'll be music from Mario and the Umalali Group, and the BZ$10 entrance includes conch ceviche, and the Avila's special fevergrass chocolate drink. Enjoy the live music at Earth Runnin's Cafe and Bukut Bar in Punta Gorda, or head out to The Lodge at Big Falls who are hosting a special chocolate dinner at their riverside lodge (advance reservations required). The focus moves inland to the ancient Maya site of Lubaantun - the place of the fallen stones - and you can learn more about the current excavations being led by Dr Geoff Braswell as part of the National Georgraphic sponsored Toledo Regional Interaction Project. As in previous years, a Maya dance will be performed in the plaza, with a special introduction by Dr Jaime Awe, the Director of the Institute of Archaeology. This year sees the villagers of San Jose perform the Monkey Dance - a tradition that goes far back in time, and performed to influence the corn harvest. Six dancers dress as "batz" and six as "max" - howler monkeys and spider monkeys respectively - with the 13th dancer representing the devil and the father of the monkeys. Our Grand Raffle will be drawn at Lubaantun, with a host of great prizes, including weekend breaks at some of Belize's top accommodation and resorts! The Festival closes with a very special live performance by the "Three kings of Belize," along with Carlos Perotte. The thee kings - Toledo's very own Florencio Mes and Paul Nabor, and Wilfred Peters from Belize District - are the stars of the newly released DVD which shares moments from their daily lives, and offers a glimpse of three very different cultures, whilst the musicians quietly battle to preserve their musical heritage. www.toledochocolate.com View Larger Map |
