If chocolate is your love language, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has a festival for you. This January, the lush Coral Gables landmark will host its 19th Annual A Festival of Chocolate, a two-day celebration that turns the 83-acre garden into a cocoa-fueled playground.
Taking place on January 24 and 25, the festival is an immersive and delicious experience devoted to all things chocolate. Stroll past palm trees and rare tropical plants with a handcrafted truffle in hand, pop in on a live cooking demo or enjoy a tasting that pairs rich dark chocolate with bourbon. It's more than just an indulgent day out, it's also educational.
At the heart of the weekend is the Artisan Chocolate Marketplace, where premier local and international chocolatiers set up shop. Browse inventive bonbons, bars and desserts that go far beyond your average chocolate treat. This is your chance to sample everything from single-origin cacao to creative, unexpected flavor combos.
If you're looking to get more hands-on, you can sign up for workshops and demos led by chefs and chocolate pros. These sessions dive into the history, science and ethics of cacao, tracing its journey from rainforest crop to finished confection. There’s also The Candy BAR, where you can create custom treats of your own.
For adults 21 and over, the festival offers optional ticketed experiences that include bourbon and chocolate pairings, mini chocolate martini flights and cocktail tastings designed to highlight how well cacao plays with spirits.
Families are very much part of the fun, too. Kid-friendly activities are scattered throughout the garden, from interactive crafts and games to the ever-popular Choco Choco ChooChoo train. There’s even a chocolate-themed scavenger hunt, plus bubble dance parties to burn off that sugar high.
Beyond the sweets, the festival stays true to Fairchild’s mission of connecting food, ecology and conservation. Explore the garden’s permanent collections, butterfly exhibits and tropical landscapes, all while learning about sustainable cacao sourcing and the ecosystems behind it. Live music rounds out the experience.
If you love chocolate in any form, this is one of Miami’s most delicious weekends of the year. Find more information here.
When: January 24–25, 2026, 10am–5pm
Where: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables
Cost: $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors, $11.95 for children 3-11, children 2 and under free