Although the main attraction of the Oakdale Chocolate Festival is undoubtedly the chocolate, there are plenty of other things to see, taste, and experience at the 21st annual Oakdale Chocolate Festival hosted by the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce.
Several new vendors – nearly a dozen have committed to the festival, ranging from pool supplies to tasty candied treats and there is bound to be something for everyone.
One new vendor, Peggie Penney, owner of Paintbrush Peggie, creates hand-crafted painted wineglasses that are sure to become conversation starters at your next party.
“I’ve been doing wine glasses for about four years and my goal is to put a smile on everyone’s face and to have that special gift that can’t be bought in any store,” Penney said of her unique craft. “My best seller is my ‘Mommy’s Sippy Cup,’ but also Mom’s, Grandma’s, Nana’s or a name or anything to make it more personable. I do them with zebra, cheetah, dots and much more. Also I have dragonflies and western glasses that have barbed wire, boots or steer heads, etc.
“I have lots to pick from!”
Penney has lived in Oakdale for 27 years and becoming a vendor for the Chocolate Festival is something she’s really looking forward to.
“I’m very excited about the Oakdale Chocolate Festival and showing the community my hand-painted wine glasses. I think everyone will enjoy them,” Penney said, adding. “I love painting wine glasses and working at home plus doing craft shows throughout the Valley.”
Another new vendor, Crazy 4 Nuts, has some tasty, good-for-you treats to offer.
Crazy 4 Nuts, owned by Freddie and Darlene Graham, is based out of Turlock and they dare you to walk past their booth without drooling when you see their cinnamon-glazed almonds, pecans and something they like to call their Rodeo Nuts, which is a blend of almonds, pecans and walnuts.
“We chose the Oakdale (Chocolate) Festival because it is a local festival and we hope the crowds will love our glazed nuts,” Freddie Graham said. “So far, we have not seen anyone else at fairs and festivals that roast nuts the way we do. Most are pre-packaged, we roast them and package them right on the spot and the aroma is delicious.”
When asked what they enjoy the most about their new business venture, Graham said, “Both of us are retired and this is something we can have fun with and do together and meeting all the people and introducing them to the taste of our product. Sometimes they get really excited about them and that makes us feel really good.”
Graham had high praise for Oakdale, saying, “It’s a real nice town. We can’t wait for the festival. It will be so much fun. The Chocolate Festival will help our business because of the large crowds and being seen and tried by all the festival goers.”
If you’re curious, check out Crazy 4 Nuts best-seller, the cinnamon glazed almonds.
Summer is well on its way so you might want to also check out Five Star Pool Plaster Inc., for your pool and spa needs.
This new vendor is based out of Ripon and was established in 2007 but has been servicing the area since 1978 with two decades of collective and comprehensive knowledge and experience.
According to the website, what sets Five Star Pool Plaster Inc. apart from the rest is their high quality products at extremely competitive pricing. They offer free estimates and can’t wait to see if they’re right for your project so do yourself a favor and stop by their vendor booth for more information.
For information on the following new vendors, check out their website or Facebook pages.
Five Star Pool Plaster Inc.
Crazy 4 Nuts
https://www.facebook.com/crazy4nuts2
Paintbrush Peggie
http://paintbrushpeggie.com
