If somebody intentionally scheduled a giant chocolate expo and a strawberry festival on the same weekend, they deserve some kind of public service award. Because for two straight days, southeastern Connecticut is basically turning into one giant sugar-fueled celebration of bad decisions and zero self-control. Chocolate-covered strawberries alone should probably be enough to justify clearing your schedule.
The best part is how different these two events feel from each other. One leans full Willy Wonka fantasy with celebrity guests, mountains of desserts, and enough chocolate to make your dentist visibly nervous. The other feels more like the unofficial kickoff to summer festival season in New England, with fairground energy, live music, food trucks, fresh strawberry lemonade, and the kind of laid-back atmosphere where people accidentally spend the entire afternoon wandering around eating things.
> The Chocolate Expo
The Chocolate Expo is basically what happens when somebody decides self-control is optional for the weekend. Chocolate, baked desserts, specialty foods, coffee, cheeses, and sweet treats take over the event while the cast of the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory returns to celebrate the film’s 55th anniversary with appearances, photos, and a live panel. Add in giant Wonka-inspired balloon displays, live entertainment, and enough sugar to make your dentist nervous, and this might be the sweetest event happening anywhere in southeastern New England.
> Strawberry Festival
Berry Sweet Family Fun Awaits at the Strawberry Festival & Craft Show brings strawberries, food trucks, live music, shopping, and classic early summer fairground energy to the North Stonington Fairgrounds all weekend long. From strawberry shortcake and chocolate-covered strawberries to fresh lemonade and local vendors, the festival feels like one of those laid-back New England weekends where you show up for an hour and somehow stay all afternoon. Add in live entertainment, family activities, and more than 30 crafters and vendors spread across the grounds, and this one feels built for wandering around with something sweet in your hand while pretending calories don’t count until Monday.
Between the giant chocolate displays, strawberries, live music, food trucks, and enough sugar to power the entire shoreline, this weekend feels less like a normal festival weekend and more like southeastern Connecticut collectively deciding summer has officially started. Honestly? There are worse ways to spend an afternoon.
Have fun!
Note: Images created using AI.
Last modified: May 28, 2026
