Washington to host ‘Choctoberfest’ Thursday

WASHINGTON — The Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Choctoberfest” returns to Washington Thursday for the fourth year, offering participants a chocolate sample-filled walk around town.

Washington Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator Alisha Davis said it was a popular annual event.

“We’ve had people come from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Mt. Pleasant, Fairfield,” she said “We draw a pretty big crowd for this event, it’s pretty cool.”

Davis said 22 businesses were involved in this year’s event, many of them new establishments in town. Each picks its own chocolate, and coordinates with the Chamber for the tour.

“We’ve been promoting this for quite some time, just getting the word out there on our website and newsletters, social media, advertising, just to let people know,” Davis said.

Tickets are available in advance through the Washington Chamber of Commerce website. Davis said the option to pre-order was new this year.

“We ran into the problem where we run out of chocolates because it was almost too many people,” she said. “We realized we had to cap the event at a certain number.”

The Chamber partners with Washington County Hospitals and Clinics for the event. WCHC Director of Marketing Greta Clemmons said the hospital paired it with its own event, called “VIPink, the Breast Event of the Year,” to recognize breast cancer awareness month.

While a basic ticket is $10 for Choctoberfest, a VIPink ticket costs $30 and adds a swag bag as well as two drink tickets and a buffet ticket at JP’s.

“We use it to recognize a ladies’ night out,” Clemmons said. “We promote and recognize women’s health throughout the different stores with boards and giveaways and things of that nature. You can also schedule your mammogram with our imaging team, set up outside the Village.”

Clemmons said revenue was dedicated to WCHC’s imaging department to upgrade equipment and raise awareness of breast cancer year-round.

“Women’s health and breast cancer in general is very important to the hospital, and specifically our imaging and surgery departments,” she said. “It is talked about a lot, but it’s definitely something we want to recognize and support through the hospital. It’s a big event not only for mammography but for all of women’s health, and showing that we support women’s health … and October’s a perfect month to do it.”

On top of that, Clemmons said the event was a good time.

“The events work really well together, and it’s just a fun way for the hospital to get involved in the community,” she said. “We were definitely interested in doing it again.”

Organizers said around 350 total tickets were available for Choctoberfest, which runs 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 13. Those unable to order online in advance can get register in-person the day-of, while supplies last.

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