Created in 2005 and organized by the City of Versoix, Festichoc is a family festival showcasing quality chocolate and its crafts. It allows its visitors to taste the creations of the best chocolate makers in Switzerland!
25-26 March 2023: Make sure to go to this 17th edition of Versoix's Chocolate festival! It's a great day out and you will see some spectacular works of chocolate art as well as taste some great combinations. You might even find some new chocolates that become your favorite! There are 100s of little chocolate shops around Switzerland but Versoix only has room for the ones listed below. This exhibit might change your mind about industrial chocolate forever!
A few years ago I bought a chocolate ring: the ring was metal but they "glued" a fancy chocolate to it and I gave it to a friend (see photo below). Other non-chocolate items included beautifully-colored macarons, bags and calculators (chocolate-themed), and candies. One artisan had a box of 10 different chocolates, each accompanied by the name of the best wine to drink to enhance the flavor, another made the biggest easter egg I have ever seen, while another had chocolate truffles the size of footballs!
For this 17th edition, sustainable development is the key word. In order to continue waste reduction and to banish the use of single-use plastic, all the catering stands will henceforth use only reusable tableware. A deposit system will help manage the return of these as it has been the case for several years with cups and glasses. The public are encouraged to come with their own dishes and utensils if they prefer.
ARTISANS' FAIR
Saturday 10am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Free admission
On a surface of more than 2'100m2, demonstrations, tastings and sales of chocolate specialities from 34 craftsmen from all over Switzerland.
THE LAPICHOC
Artisans' fair
Saturday 10am 6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm
The festival's mascot Lapichoc will be present during this gourmet weekend to take pictures and to offer some chocolate gifts!
ESPACE CRÉATION MÉRIGONDE & CARAN D'ACHE
Artisan's show
Saturday 1pm-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Free animation
Children will be able to personalize their chocolate bar with multicolored pencils and will leave with their own unique creation.
CHOCOLATE PORTRAITS
Artisans' fair
Saturday 10am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Free animation
A professional artist will draw your portrait (about 7 min. per person) in a few pencil strokes and... chocolate squares! The chocolate-scented work will then be offered to you.
THE CHOCOMATON
Artisans' fair
Saturday 10am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Free animation
In partnership with UBS, come and take a picture of yourself in a chocolate decor of your choice and leave with a souvenir photo.
THE HIDDEN WORD
Artisans' fair
Saturday 10am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm Free animation
Discover which word is hidden on the Chocolate Wall (composed of more than 600 chocolate plates from Chocolaterie Carole et Joël Mérigonde) and try to win a very tasty prize.
WHAT IS ITS WEIGHT?
Artisan's show
Saturday 11am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Free animation
Try to guess the weight of the impressive chocolate sculpture, made by Chocolaterie Rohr, to win a delicious surprise prize.
FAVARGER TREASURE HUNT
Information stand
Saturday 11am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Free animation / for children up to 12 years old / participation while supplies last.
Answer questions about Festichoc and about chocolate thanks to clues scattered around the festival site and win a chocolate gift from Favarger.
THE APPRENTICES' KITCHEN
Espace Lachenal
Saturday 10am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Free animation
Come and discover the work of chocolate apprentices from the canton of Geneva. They will make chocolate creations in front of you that you can also taste!
EXHIBITION OF CHOCOLATE SCULPTURES
Espace Lachenal
Saturday 10am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Free admission
Exhibition of chocolate sculptures made by apprentice confectioners from the canton of Geneva. Presentation of the "City of Versoix" prize as well as prizes awarded by professionals in the industry on Sunday at 3:30 pm in the community hall.
BICHET WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN
Espace Lachenal, lower ground floor
Saturday 10am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Registration on site / duration 20 min / price CHF 8.00
Chocolate bunnies and chickens workshop for children proposed by the chocolate maker Guillaume Bichet.
CAROUSEL FOR CHILDREN
Espace Lachenal
Saturday 10am-6pm / Sunday 9am-5pm, Paid activities
Enjoy a few rides on the merry-go-round or try your luck at duck fishing for a chance to win the big prize!
EGG HUNT
Near the Salon des artisans Sunday at 11:30am, Free animation
Egg hunt open to all children up to 12 years old. Distribution of a chocolate gift to each participant.
Here are some of the artisans who will be present at the festival.
- A. Pougnier, Carouge, Genève
- Boulangerie Oberson, Vernier, Genève
- Bretzel & Gretel, Grand-Saconnex, Genève
- Canonica, Vernier, Genève
- Carole & Joël Mérigonde, Genève
- Chocolat Artisanal Hochstrasser, Meinier Village, Genève
- Chocolats Rohr, Carouge, Genève
- Chocolaterie de Bernex, Bernex, Genève
- Chocolaterie du Bugnon, Lausanne, Vaud
- Chocolaterie La Bonbonnière, Genève
- Chocolaterie Micheli, Genève
- Christian Boillat, Saint-Prex, Vaud
- Confiserie Dominique Gremion, Genève
- David Banchet, Versoix, Genève
- Du Rhône Chocolatier, Genève
- Favarger, Versoix, Genève
- Guillaume Bichet, Versoix, Genève
- Jorge Cardoso Chocolatier, Fribourg
- Julia au cœur du chocolat, Monthey, Valais
- La Chocolaterie Genthod, Genthod, Genève
- La Chocolatière, Lausanne, Vaud
- La Loba Chocolatière, Pully, Vaud
- Les Délices de la Ruche, Charmoille, Jura
- L'Espace Chocolat, Lausanne, Vaud
- Mademoiselle Zizou, Saxon, Valais
- Manuel, Crissier, Vaud
- MR Chocolat, Moncherand, Vaud
- Mr & Mrs Renou, Carouge, Genève
- Philippe Pascoët, Carouge, Genève
- Poncioni Chocolatiers, Meinier, Genève
- Sisao, Bursins, Vaud
- Taillens, Crans-Montana, Valais
- Wolfisberg, Carouge, Genève
- Zenhäusern, Sion, Valais
FOOD
Enjoy hot and cold foods and drinks served all day outside the tent by about 7 local societies. There is also a little merry-go-round carrousel here. Of course there are many restaurants in Versoix as well.
LOCATION
Main event is at the Espace Lachenal which is behind the Aldi about 1 minute's walk.
Parking is difficult so best to arrive by train. Click here for train schedule from Geneva or go to www.cff.ch for more options
Official Website https://www.festichoc.ch
1290 Versoix (GE) click here for map of Versoix
Veroix website info http://www.versoix.ch
Program
Festichoc 2023
Versoix, GE
25-26 March 2023
Saturday 10h to 18h
Sunday 9h to 17h
The entrance to the festival is free, no need for tickets but just a good mood! The Festichoc proposes several animations, most of which are free during the whole weekend, for the young and not so young.
