Thousands to indulge at 2007 Chocolate Fest

Chocolate has filled the streets of Bloomington all week, but as the six-day Chocolate Festival comes to an end, the role of chef is up for grabs.\nMore than 60,000 samples of chocolate creations will fill the Bloomington Convention Center Saturday evening as guests are invited to sample, indulge and create, said Melissa Copas, director of volunteer and fundraising for Options for Better Living, the organization benefiting from the event.\nWhat makes tomorrow's event unique is a Chocolate Creations Contest. Chefs of all ages and skill levels are invited to bring their handiwork to face a panel of local celebrity judges, Copas said.\n"Anyone can enter. Even the day of the event you can bring your entry into the convention center in the morning," Copas said.\nAside from professional chocolate creations, these "amateur" submissions will also be available for public sampling.\nIn a way, this inclusion directly relates to the work Options for Better Living does.\n"Options for Better Living helps people with disabilities, and their communities, to bring about better lives," Copas said. More specifically, residents of surrounding counties are offered, free of charge, assistance in gaining places to live, jobs to perform and skills to maximize their lives.\nThe organization also aids families of those with disabilities. Proceeds from tomorrow's events will directly benefit one of these programs, known as Respite.\nRaising children with disabilities can be very consuming, Copas explained. In response, Options for Better Living provides a couple hours each week for parents to step away from taking care of their children, Copas said.\n"Respite gives them a couple hours to get away, focus on their other kids, focus on their marriage or focus on their selves," Copas said.\nThe program is very in demand right now as there is currently a six-year waiting list for families with children with disabilities to get state funding.\n"It's really about community living," Copas said.\nBut tomorrow night is also about chocolate. There are 300 vendors expected at the Convention Center, each with about 200 samples on hand, Copas said. As the 10th anniversary of "Chocolate Week" Copas also said to expect new vendors.\nXocai, a chocolate-making company, is starting what is called a "healthy science revolution," Copas said. Xocai's anti-oxidant chocolates will be available for nibbles as well as standards like Godiva. Local beverages will also be on-hand to cleanse the palette. Oliver Winery will have samples of its wines, Upland Brewery will serve its chocolate stout and Kroger will provide milk and soft drinks, Copas said.\nLive entertainment will be provided along with a silent auction featuring an autographed Colts helmet, Copas said.\nTwo thousand people are expected to attend, but Copas insists that the chocolate will not run out. Tickets are $12 in advance for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 10. At the door, admission costs $15 for adults and $6 for children. Admission for children ages 1 to 5 is free.\nAdvance purchases can be made at Bloomingfoods, Chocolate Emporium, Kroger, the Sunrise Box Office at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, Koffee House of Spencer and Options for Better Living in Bloomington or by calling (800) 875-9615.