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RFH 2010, Cover Stories, News

'Chocolate Wreck' Festival to Return in September

Tue, Feb 01, 2011

Quite possibly the only event to celebrate a railroad mishap -- albeit a tasty one -- is back on track, fueled by a foundation grant.

Hamilton will once again celebrate the 1955 derailment of an Oswego & Western train near Lebanon Street. It spilled the cargo of two cars filled with chocolate products from a Nestle's plant. The event -- now called the Great Chocolate and Train Festival -- organized by the Partnership for Community Development (PCD), will be held Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the village green.

PCD held the event in the past, but discontinued it and other activities when it ran short of cash. The 2011 event is being funded by a $4,750 grant New York State Council on the Arts, administered by the Stanley Theater in Utica.

“We have chosen to revive the Chocolate Festival, because it is the one event that is unique to Hamilton,” said Jill Smith, marketing development coordinator of the PCD and festival chair.  “It is our goal to attract families from the community and all over Central New York to share this special moment in Hamilton’s history and bring back one of the community’s most beloved festivals.”

Smith said PCD records show 2,000 people attended the event in 2007.

The festival will feature live music, professional artisans, historic walking tours and chocolate and train themed activities. 

“We are honored that the New York State Council on the Arts deemed this a worthy community project and awarded the PCD partial funding for this project," said Roger Bauman, managing director of the PCD. "As with any successful festival, community support and involvement is the key.”

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