BOURBONNAIS – The Village of Bourbonnais announced Wednesday the cancellation of the 2021 Chocolate Tour scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2021.
The annual event is co-hosted by Village of Bourbonnais and Bourbonnais Township Park District in conjunction with Sweet Street. It will return Saturday, February 6, 2022. Following notification to the 2020 Chocolate Tour business stop participants and sponsors, the committee acknowledged due to COVID-19 and the uncertainties of the months ahead, the 350-person event could not be safely executed.
“The Chocolate Tour brings together hundreds of participants to explore the village’s diverse small business community,” explained Village of Bourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore,” a business community that has been hit hard by the continuing effects of these unprecedented times. The ongoing success of the event is a direct result of bringing our residents and business together, something that we cannot accomplish right now.”
“Upon virtually meeting with the committee, the difficult decision was made to cancel the Chocolate Tour for 2021,” said Hollice Clark, Executive Director for the BTPD. “We have a responsibility to our community to protect their health and safety, and it quickly became evident that was not possible during the upcoming winter months. We look forward to the excitement once again in 2022.”
The sold-out 2020 Chocolate Tour welcomed 350 participants visiting 40 business stops on Saturday, February 1, 2020, before the pandemic hit. Event proceeds from the popular winter event totaled over $11,800 and are assisting with funding the 1837 log schoolhouse reconstruction project and new programs for children and families at Perry Farm Park.
Proceeds from the 2017 and 2018 Chocolate Tour events benefitted the Event and Skate Plaza, a collaborative effort between the Village of Bourbonnais and Bourbonnais Township Park District. The 2019 proceeds contributed to facility improvements and new programming at the Children’s Safety Center.
Information for the 2022 event will become available in the fall of 2021 at www.villageofbourbonnais.com and www.btpd.org.
