After the Norman PTA stepped in as the new sponsor of Norman’s Chocolate Festival, sweet lovers across the state breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The Firehouse Art Center’s annual showcase of all things sweet had become an institution over the event’s 32 years, but last August, organizers announced they were discontinuing the event. However, the Norman PTA Council announced it would take over, with proceeds helping to fund educational grants across the district, supply additional resources for students and teachers and set up projects to increase family engagement.
Norman PTA Council president Annette Price calls herself “ecstatic” the event would continue to benefit education. “We’ve received tremendous support from the community for this event where individuals, couples and families can indulge in the most decadent delights the area has to offer, while at the same time making connections with local businesses and nonprofits that support our kids.”
“In a climate of state budget shortfalls, our PTAs are playing an even more important role by filling resource gaps where they can – supporting our hard-working teachers with classroom supplies, and increasing the effectiveness of instruction through targeted community and family engagement.”
This year’s event will be held at Norman North High School on Feb. 10 – and due to the smaller venue, just 1,000 tickets will be sold.
Festival-goers can expect samples of rich desserts from Amy Cakes’ decadent chocolate fudge mousse cake to the unexpected, such as The Diner’s chocolate chili. Firehouse Art Center will be present at the event they so lovingly crafted over so many years, offering family-fun activities alongside Moore Norman Technology Center, Pioneer Library System, Norman Public Schools Foundation and International Student Exchange in Oklahoma.
Tickets can be purchased online at normanptacouncil.org/news.
