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Every year, people enter the chocolate recipe contest with chocolate ice cream pies, cheesecakes, cookies, fudges, truffles and others. Entrants are judged on taste, appearance, creativity and presentation.
But the event is about more than chocolate.
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Bill Nance and Melody Morris — co-hosts of Faith and Friends’ morning show, “New Day,” from 6 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday — recently discussed the fest. The event features chocolatiers, arts & crafts vendors, food trucks, games, a chocolate recipe contest and performances from gospel big band singer Dave Boyer and local singers.
TO THE MOON
Morris: "This year's theme is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon in 1969. One of our sponsors, the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, is lending us a copy of a movie they show in their theater. We'll be showing that on a loop all day long."
Nance: "We have fun with the theme. We have certain activities that lend itself to the theme. The vendors and chocolatiers can, if they want, decorate their booth along with the theme. We'll give prizes for the best decorated booth."
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BIG BAND SOUNDS
Morris: "Dave Boyer, our guest artist on our two Kaleidoscope variety shows, is having a lot of fun with the theme as well. He's a big band singer and he's going to be doing 'Fly Me to the Moon,' 'Moon River' and some other offerings."
Nance: "Back in the '40s and '50s, Dave was associated with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and some of those at the famous 500 Club in New Jersey. Of course, he has done big band Christian music. He's focused on doing that style of Christian music but he still does the secular from time to time, if the venue allows. He's one of the few who does that style and he's done it for so long."
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Nance: "Of course, this and last year, the festival is at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds' new event center. It's a really great facility because it's 30 percent bigger than the old coliseum and it's climate-controlled. It has air conditioning so it's perfect. People really love the facility."
Morris: "The festival has a multiple-pronged approach. It is a fundraiser for Faith and Friends Radio to help with the cost of the venue and paying for all of the various aspects of the festival. It's also our outreach into the community. We want to reach everyone regardless of their ability or their economic status. This is opened to absolutely everyone."
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WANT TO GO?
What: Faith and Friends Radio's 17th annual Chocolate Festival
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 645 Infirmary Road, Dayton
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5
Cost: Free
More info: Website or call 937-233-2484.
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