FAIRFIELD — Andrea Hopkins took away lots of goodies Saturday from the Fairfield Chocolate Festival, just as she does every year.
Peering into a large white plastic bag she was toting, she named them.
“I think we bought something from every table,” said Hopkins, 46, of Clinton. “We’ve got chocolate and peanut butter potato chip snacks, oatmeal cookies with Craisins and coconut — and of course, mountains of fudge. It is for the whole family.”
Hopkins, boyfriend Kim Parker and their sons, Brady and Austin Parker, 11 and 17, respectively, were enjoying the festival at the Fairfield Community Center with Hopkins’ parents, Steve and Donna Hopkins, of Belmont.
“We come here every year, Andrea Hopkins said. “It’s not quite as big as it used to be, but it’s always fun and I love the fact that they put in the children’s games.”
The gymnasium at the community center was busy Saturday, the day before Valentine’s Day, with about 20 vendors selling all kinds of chocolate treats. They included moose-shaped chocolate, chocolate cake, cupcakes, cookies, pies, fudge and candy. Booths sold jewelry and crafts, and the stage was animated by children of all ages playing games.
Hosted by the Fairfield Council of Churches, the festival raises money for the council’s emergency heating fund, which helps those who fall through the cracks heat their homes, according to Eric Larsen, the council president and pastor of Fairfield Church of the Nazarene, one of five churches in the council.
By about noon, some 200 people had come through the doors, Larsen said.
“Super, fantastic,” he said of Saturday’s event. “We’re very happy. The turnout’s been good. The vendors are having a good time. The kids have a blast with the games.”
The annual festival has been held many years, but the council has hosted it for only two. The other churches in the council are Shawmut Chapel, Fairfield United Methodist Church, Fairfield Center United Methodist Church, Riverside Baptist Church of Pishon Ferry and First Baptist Church.
With the temperature in the teens and snow falling Saturday, the turnout was a little smaller than usual, according to several vendors.
Lacy Menchen, of Benton, was seated at a booth selling hair accessories for Lilla Rose, a direct sales company based in California. Menchen, an independent consultant for Lilla Rose who sells at various fairs and other venues, said Saturday was her second time at the festival and she loved it. While the patronage was smaller than last year, it was fun, particularly with the addition of children’s games, she said.
“Last year was my best (sales event) of the entire year,” she said.
A lot of people were buying hair accessories for Valentine’s Day gifts, she said. The accessories include hair clips that conform to the amount of hair a person has.
“They make a great gift — something really unique, different,” she said.
Barbara Bailey was at the Fairfield Historical Society booth selling chocolate cookies, Needhams, peanut butter blossoms and cupcakes, as well as books, coasters with historical pictures on them and 200th anniversary historical society booklets.
“They’re buying them for presents for people,” Bailey said of the coasters, made by society member Shirley Duplessis. Bailey made the Needhams, which were all sold by early afternoon.
“I have to make some every year,” she said. “It’s an old-fashioned recipe.”
In addition to the churches, vendors included Bayside Chocolates, K.G. Tax Service and Tupperware.
Amy Calder — 861-9247
Twitter: @AmyCalder17
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