Taste
Chocoholics unanimous
The fifth annual Colorado Chocolate Festival is 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 12. Highlights include Andrew Novick’s X-Treme Confection Creation at 7 p.m. Friday, a chocolate-pudding-eating contest for kids at noon on May 12 followed by an adult competition at 3 p.m. to see who can eat the most Hershey’s Kisses in a minute. Chocolate therapist Julie Pech hosts two “Chocolate and Beer Pairing” demonstrations, at 6 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. May 12. The Chocolatier Championship begins at 2 p.m. May 12. There’s also a handful of Mother’s Day gift booths. Admission is $5, free for kids under 12. Taste tickets ($10 for 12 or $20 for 25) are also available. Denver Merchandise Mart, 451 E. 58th Ave.,
Go
Lucky for you
Today marks the beginning of the third season of the a showcase of more than 100 vendors selling handmade accessories, clothing, jewelry, art, bath and body products and more, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The first 25 visitors at both entrances receive a free souvenir tote. Next dates: July 14 and Oct. 6. Olinger Moore Howard Chapel parking lot, 4345 W. 46th Ave. (at Tennyson Street, across from Berkeley Park),
Tour
Make yourself at home
Touras part of the 14th annual Wash Park Home Tour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 12. Visitors may start the tour at any of the featured homes: 1190 S. Franklin St. (historic Craftsman cottage), 1010 S. Gilpin St. (a new build), 938 S. Williams St. (a renovated Craftsman), 1187 S. Gilpin St. (midcentury modern) and 1251 S. Williams St. (historic Colonial with modern interior). Tickets are $20, $25 day of the tour. Proceeds benefit Steele Elementary School and the Denver Public Schools Educational Outreach Program, whose mission is to stop the cycle of poverty for homeless DPS families.
View
To infinity and beyond
The Adams State College Astronomy Club hosts at the Great Sand Dunes campground amphitheater. Activities begin at 8:30 p.m. with Robert Astalos, director of ASC’s Zacheis Planetarium, who will present “Star Gazing 101: Expanding Your Universe.” Telescopes and binoculars will be available and the club is bringing cameras for those who would like to try their hand at making star trails or taking photos of Saturn. (Bring a USB thumb drive or an SD card to take your pictures home with you, or you may download them from the planetarium website within a few days). Park staff, Astalos and club members will answer questions. Great Sand Dunes National Park, 11500 Highway 150, Mosca, 719-378-6344,
