February 2019
One way the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association sends a jolt through the business community during the winter slow season is with the wildly successful Cocoa Crawl. Up to two dozen merchants team up to create this fun-filled, family-friendly day where thousands of visitors crawl out of winter hibernation to stroll around town and make memories over a hot cup of cocoa, or two or three!
“We were pleasantly surprised when a couple thousand turned out for the first Cocoa Crawl a year ago,” says Laurie Wilhoit, Marketing and Communications Manager with the Long Grove Visitor’s Center. “This year we’re anticipating more participants, more cocoa, and even more fun!”
The Cocoa Crawl celebrates the winter season and the vibrant retail scene in Long Grove. Guests who attend the free event from 12 pm to 4 pm will start at the Visitor’s Center where they’ll pick up a map of participating stores and restaurants before stopping by as many spots as they like for complimentary cocoa sampling. All Cocoa Crawl stops around town will be serving cocoa or chocolate-inspired drinks and treats – from hot chocolate bark to hot chocolate popcorn to hot chocolate Krispies. Before calling it a day, Cocoa Crawlers are encouraged to come back to the Visitor’s Center to vote on their favorite cocoa treat and be entered into a raffle for prizes donated by participants. To top it off, merchants will give visitors with more than just delicious cocoa; “they’ll provide a friendly face to help find a perfect treasure.”