Silver City’s annual February event, “Chocolate Fantasia,” was always a popular one-day event. It became a very successful two-day gathering in 2025. So, what would make this chocoholic’s dream weekend even better? Three days of luscious chocolate events!
This year’s Chocolate Fantasia will take place Feb. 13-15 in downtown Silver City. The traditional chocolate collection happens on Saturday including visits to more than 20 local businesses. The weekend will kick off on Friday night at Little Toad Creek and end with a Sunday brunch at Mick’s 33.
Mimbres Region Arts Council hosts Chocolate Fantasia. Simon Sotelo, the event coordinator who has been running the popular celebration for three years, is very enthusiastic about this year’s Chocolate Fantasia.
“My goal is to maintain the roots as a community event while making it a destination event for tourists,” Simon says. “Our great community loves participating in the annual winter event. Many out-of-town visitors plan to come to Silver City just for this Valentine weekend occasion. Last year 30 members of a Denver motorcycle group came just for this event.”
A Friday night chocolate themed dinner, curated drinks and music will start the weekend off at Little Toad Creek on the corner of Bullard and Broadway. Enjoy a chocolate-inspired dinner at 7 p.m. and the band Felix y Los Gatos at 9 p.m. While the dinner is a ticketed reservation, the band is free to everyone. Felix y Los Gatos is one of New Mexico’s most recognizable and enduring bands, known for a high-energy blend of zydeco, blues, cumbia, norteno, and southwestern roots music.
The classic Chocolate Fantasia tour in downtown Silver City takes place on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, Feb. 14 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Walk around and enjoy sampling chocolate treats at all of the wonderful host sites. Chocolatiers and bakers create these special treats for you to collect. Many chocolate collectors have dressed up in costume for this occasion and come prepared with fancy, and practical, totes to protect their delicious treats.
The Saturday fun does not end at 3 p.m. but continues in the evening at Whiskey Creek Zocalo in Arenas Valley. Another free music event will feature Frontera Bugalu. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the music starts at 8 p.m. Frontera Bugalu is a powerhouse borderland band from El Paso, Texas that plays a unique style of “musica fronteriza,” blending cumbia, mambo, and traditional borderland folk music. Its sound is heavily influenced by the cultural exchange between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
This year’s celebration includes a third day to fill out the weekend. It’s an added reason to visit and enjoy all Silver City has to offer. A Sunday brunch completes the chocolate weekend at Mick’s 33 which is included with the three-day Chocolate Fantasia ticket.
There will be three ways to purchase tickets for the weekend. The three-day event ticket includes access to all the weekend events — Friday night’s dinner, drinks and music at Little Toad Creek, the Saturday signature Chocolate Fantasia chocolate walk, plus the Sunday Brunch at Mick’s 33.
The three-day ticket also includes a box for your chocolate treats and a commemorative keychain created by local art gallery, Made In Silver City. Cost is $75.
The second ticket option, at $50, covers Friday night dinner, drinks and music at Little Toad Creek, Saturday’s signature Chocolate Fantasia event and a key chain. For Saturday’s chocolate walk only, a ticket is $25.
Sotelo stresses that this is a true community event.
“This year due to a private donation, 30 youth from Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Lion’s Club will be receive tickets for Saturday,” he said.
All funds raised this year by the Chocolate Fantasia will go back to the community in outreach programs.
Due to the popularity of Chocolate Fantasia additional tickets are available this year. In previous years, 300 available tickets sold out before the event. This year, 400 tickets are available.
Organizers recommend that tickets be purchased well in advance. Tickets are available on the website chocolatefantasia.org or by calling the MRAC office at 575-538-2505 and leaving a message. Tickets can be picked up at the MRAC office located in the Murray Ryan Visitor Center, 201 North Hudson, on the following dates: Feb. 2-6, 10 a.m.-noon and Feb. 9-12, 10 a.m.-noon. On the day of Chocolate Fantasia, Feb. 14, tickets may be picked up and any remaining tickets will be available for sale.
MRAC thanks the community, participating businesses, the chocolatiers, and the sponsors. Sponsors for the event include Town of Silver City, Gila Community Foundation, WNMU, Mick’s 33, Whiskey Creek Zocalo, and Little Toad Creek.
For further information contact MRAC online at mimbresarts.org and chocolatefantasia.org.
