by Bruce A. Smith

Orting will certainly be the place to satisfy your chocolate cravings at the first annual Orting Chocolate Stroll, scheduled for Saturday, February 11, from noon until 3 pm, and from all accounts it sounds like it will a grand Halloween for adults. 

Fifty local businesses – all located in the central commercial district along Washington Street and in the Safeway Plaza – will each be serving up something “chocolaty delicious” on the Saturday nearest Valentine’s Day. 

However, there’s a catch:  you have to pre-purchase a ticket to be able to stroll and get chocolate.  All proceeds will go towards funding the Orting community float for the Daffodil Festival Parade – an event that originated in Orting back in the 1930s.

The Daffodil Queen and her Court of Princesses, on Washington St in Orting, April, 2011.

“Only 250 tickets will be sold in advance to this fun event, so hurry and get yours TODAY!” declare event organizers.

 Tickets are available for $10 each at:

1.  Orting Bakery -212 Washington Avenue S;

2.  Orting Floral -117 Eldredge Ave NW;

3. Orting Liquor -216 Washington Avenue S.

 On the day of the big event, your chocolate adventure will begin at the Orting Business Solutions Center, located at 204 Corrin Ave NW near the Catholic Church, where you’ll exchange your ticket for a treasure bag and map.  Then, head out in any direction to locate your chocolate treasures. 

Each participating business listed on the map will have 250 chocolate treats available, so every ticket holder can get a chocolate fix at each place you visit with your map – or share with their group if consuming 50 pieces of chocolate all by yourself is too daunting. 

The entire business community of Orting seems to be involved in this event, and businesses already registered to participate are Papa Murphy’s, Union Bank, and numerous Orting resturants, auto repair yards and other trade shops.

You can take your chocolate stroll in any direction, but at 3:30 pm be sure to head back to Orting Bakery with your completed map, signed by the businesses you visited, and enter it in a drawing for an incredible Orting Gift Basket, provided by participating merchants.

 “Wow, 50 chocolates, and a stroll around beautiful downtown Orting!  It’s going to be a wonderful community event,” said Stroll Chair, Carol Goldstein, who brings the idea for the event from her former hometown of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, which has had a highly successful chocolate stroll for the past sixteen years.

“So, bring your sweetie, or your whole family and come out for the chocolate adventure of a lifetime,” says Carol.  “Remember that tickets are limited to the first 250 sold in advance only, so don’t hesitate, get yours NOW!”

 For more information, contact Carol Goldstein at: carol56@marykay.comcastbiz.net; or 360.893.0668.

©  2012  Mountain News-WA