Press

ALBANY – Shoppers can sample chocolate treats, listen to holiday carolers and purchase hand-crafted gifts from 41vendors at the New York State Museum’s sixth annual Chocolate Expo & Holiday Gift Market on Sunday, December 4.

Both the Expo and the Museum’s first floor exhibition halls will be open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Vendors from New York State and New England will offer samples and sales of chocolates, desserts, wines and specialty foods. There also will be a variety of hand-crafted jewelry, pottery, ornaments, handmade bath and skincare products, clothing, accessories and other hand-painted gift items.

Visitors will also find free chocolate fountains, compliments of Price Chopper, presenting sponsor, and We Do Fondue. South Glens Falls High School students will sing carols throughout the day.

There will be an admission fee of $3 per person for those over the age of 12. Tickets are available at a $1 discount at local Price Chopper stores. With each paid admission visitors will receive a raffle ticket for a basket filled with items from Chocolate Expo vendors. The raffle drawing will be at 4 p.m.

Lunch food and refreshments will be available at the new Lunch Box café on the concourse level and at Big Don’s Hotdogs and More in the Student Center.

Students enrolled in the Museum’s after-school programs will sell beverages, DVDs and ornaments they have made. All proceeds will benefit the after-school program.

Many products offered at the Chocolate Expo are made using fresh, locally produced ingredients. Products will include hand-dipped chocolates, gelato, baby cheesecakes, vegan baked goods, chocolate fudge, candy, nuts, organic peanut butter spreads, and several varieties of truffles, including organic, vegan and sugar-free. Specialty foods and beverages will include cider, homemade gourmet sauces, pesto, and chocolate wine. The Village Chocolate Shoppe will invite patrons to create their own chocolate treat.

Other gift items will include gourmet dog treats, chemical-free soaps, hand creams and bath products, handmade jewelry and unique Italian glass beads, hand-painted Christmas ornaments, hand-knit sweaters and accessories, including scarves, hats and mittens made from hand-spun llama yarn.

The New York State Museum is a program of the State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is usually open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

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