Don’t Be Choco-Late To The Lititz Chocolate Walk!

By Lindsey McIntosh

Chocolate. 

The rich, creamy, go-to delicacy that guarantees to make any moment just a little bit sweeter. 

Pennsylvania has a long-standing history with the beloved treat, and while some might immediately flock to the household name Hershey, another company was budding into the chocolate scene decades prior, Wilbur Chocolate Company. In fact, the iconic image seen throughout Lititz, PA – the Wilbur Bud – came onto the market thirteen years before the Hershey’s Kiss was manufactured. 

So, yes, Pennsylvania knows chocolate. 

Wilbur Chocolate

Established in 1884, H.O. Wilbur & Sons was the original family that created the chocolate business that would later become known as Wilbur Chocolate Company and plant its roots in Lititz, PA. Despite having an immense modern-day presence in the town, Lititz was not the original home of the Wilbur. It was first established in Philadelphia, but all operations were moved to Lititz by 1933.  

Wilbur Chocolate Co. was bought by Cargill Inc. in 1992, and sadly, the infamous five-story factory in Lititz closed its production doors in 2016. Yet, the outdoor facade of the building remains the same, now housing The Wilbur Hotel and Apartments, as well as The Blackworth Grill and the Market at the Wilbur. Guests of the Wilbur Hotel have even said that they can still smell the faint aroma of chocolate during their stay, perhaps acting as another way to keep the history of the building alive. 

Across the street from the retired factory, the primary retail storefront for Wilbur stands ready to fill tourists' pockets with their delectable Wilbur Buds, inviting everyone to bask in the town's chocolate history while visiting. 

So, Let’s Take a Walk

Twenty-two years ago, a small group of Lititz residents sat in a Kiwanis Club meeting and brainstormed fundraising ideas. Lititz was known for the Wilbur, but they realized no one had yet created an event that incorporated chocolate, so they did, and the infamous Lititz Chocolate Walk celebrated its first year in 2001. 

“In the first year, we pre-sold 100 tickets and sold 300 tickets on the day of the walk,” shared Mark Freeman, founder and co-chair of the Lititz Chocolate Walk. “For the next seven years, we grew to 2,000 tickets being sold and have kept it at that capacity to maintain a stress-free day for all Walkers.” 

When it came to choosing a home base for the annual event, hosting it in a town with a history in chocolate made sense, but how did the local businesses feel about it? Well according to Mark, they were thrilled, “Lititz is a friendly town, and the businesses have always shown support for the Walk.” This makes sense as the local chocolatiers get a moment to showcase their product, and the businesses housing them for the day also get recognition for their merchandise. It’s a day of giving, a day of keeping everything local, and a day of appreciating small businesses.  

“When we held our first Chocolate Walk, I was working in downtown Lititz but had never set foot in most of the shops. After that first year, I realized the town's incredible shopping opportunities. I remember when I needed a wedding gift, I went to one of the local shops and picked out a one-of-a-kind gift, which the recipient still mentions to this day.” 

The Chocolate Walk has also helped bring insight into the world of local eats, “I think a small part of the reason that Lititz has become a ‘foodie’ town is that the Chocolate Walk raised the awareness of the culinary treasures Lititz has to offer.” Perhaps the once-labeled Coolest Small-Town in America is indeed becoming the Coolest Small-Foodie Town in America, and we can thank the Lititz Chocolate Walk for their part in that. 

In terms of the chocolate enthusiasts, known as Walkers, their devotion to the event can be seen from the rolling coolers they bring along on the journey. Yup, it’s true, the annual Walkers sport around rolling coolers to store the many chocolate samples received on the day, turning the Walk into an event that keeps on giving. Perhaps a noteworthy tip for any first-time Walkers out there. 

However, the excitement for the Chocolate Walk digs deeper than just the surface level because, at its core, it is a fundraising event that donates all ticket sales to children-focused charities in the region of Lancaster County.

Since 2001, the Kiwanis Club, the Chocolate Walk's originators, have worked with Schreiber Pediatric Center, Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic, and the children’s programs at the Lititz Public Library and Manheim Township Public Library. “Our civic organization is focused on improving the lives of children in the community we serve,” Mark shared. 

Since its founding, the Chocolate Walk has raised close to one million for Kiwanis children’s charities. This invites Walkers to munch on some innovative treats while understanding that their ticket cost contributes to life-changing moments for children in the local community. 

A Chocolate Festival in a Chocolate-Loving Town

“We have hundreds of dedicated Walkers that come back every year.” Sure, the enticing nature of chocolate brings people in, but what makes them stay? 

“It’s the camaraderie of the groups that attend and spend a day together enjoying chocolate, shopping, and the buzzing energy of downtown Lititz. Food brings friends together, and that is what walkers love most about the Chocolate Walk.” 

The devotion speaks for itself on that famous Saturday in October, as families and friends gather to eat some tasty food, and yes, some even wear matching t-shirts, but most of all, the Walk provides a chance for people to bond over their shared love of chocolate. All because twenty-two years ago, a group of people sought to bring a chocolate festival to a chocolate-loving town, but they had no idea the scale and passion that would enshrine its history. 

In the past two decades, Mark has one memory that has stuck with him, telling him he made the right choice all those years ago. In 2004, during the fourth annual Chocolate Walk, Lititz was hit with a downpour of rain – possibly the worst outcome that could happen with a primarily outdoor event. As he passed a group of women all wearing garbage bags over their heads, he apologized for the turn of events when one of the women turned around and exclaimed, “Who cares about the rain, we’re eating chocolate!” 

The 22nd Lititz Chocolate Walk will take place on Saturday, October 7th from 10 am to 4 pm. There will be more than 25 locations for Walkers to visit, shopping in all the Lititz storefronts, and live entertainment to keep those coolers rolling and sugar highs going.