Chocolate lovers rejoice as famed Portugal festival makes return

Óbidos, Portugal, Apr 2 (EFE).- The Portuguese town of Óbidos has returned to the roaring 20s for the relaunch of its famed international chocolate festival following two intense years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Less work, more chocolate,” cries one of the actors in period clothing who is taking part in the celebration of all things chocolate, an annual springtime tradition in this medieval village some 90 kilometers north of Lisbon.

Organizers expect up to 100,000 sweet-toothed visitors to descend on the festival, which this year marks its 20th anniversary.

The 1920s theme was chosen due to the parallels that can be drawn between then and now.

“We had come from Spanish influences and now we are emerging from Covid-19,” Ricardo Duque, an organizer, tells Efe.

The theme is not lost on the chocolate, either.

Thanks to the talent of Brazilian artist Abner Ivan and his team, visitors can marvel at a replica of a 1920s Ford crafted from 400 kilograms of chocolate, which took over 500 hours to complete.

Completing the display are chocolate sculptures of Charlie Chaplin, Mickey Mouse, a gramophone and an airplane.EFE

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