Guess what? It's chocolate time! That's right, the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival started on Saturday complete with chocolate house, sculptress extraordinaire Prudence Staite and cooking lessons with Judith Cullen. The event, which began in 2000, has grown from a three-day affair to seven days of fun and it’s not all for primary school kids. You too can participate! Georgie Fenwicke highly recommends buying a Jaffa and trying to beat the 49,999 other red and purple balls plummeting down Baldwin St.
How did the festival get going?
There were a number of things. The Dunedin City Council wanted an event that would incorporate the winter season. We didn't have anything in Dunedin that we could do over the winter, so they wanted an event where we could celebrate chocolate and bringing them together you got that.
So what can expect over the next week?
On Saturday, we have got the gala opening at the three city malls – Meridian, Golden Centre and Wall Street. Lots of family entertainment and our chocolate sculpture, Prudence Staite, over from the UK.
Does she sculpt chocolate?
She will be doing live sculpting of chocolate during the carnival on Saturday and Monday through until Thursday. She tempers the chocolate, melts it down and then uses it a lot like clay. Here in Dunedin she will be doing all local themed sculptures; a penguin, an albatross, all things that mean something to Dunedin.
How would you describe the spirit of the Festival this year?
It’s an opportunity to celebrate our factory here in Dunedin. It’s about enjoying chocolate, celebrating Dunedin and getting people to Dunedin to come and celebrate with us. Family fun and lots of low cost and free activities.
What sort of events do you think University students can get involved in?
Well, obviously the opening day if you want to see someone working with that much chocolate! We have ordered in about 400 kilos, and there’s also a chocolate house which is going to be in the Dunedin Golden Centre Mall. The house is framed in timber and then painted in chocolate, and that is being done with the Otago Polytechnic. Prudence is going to be sculpting things to go inside; she has made paintings to hang on the wall, a fireplace out of chocolate and a little chair. I think we were talking about a chess set as well, so I’m not sure what she will come up with next.
How is the Jaffa race, which is this year celebrating its tenth anniversary, shaping up?
Huuuge event. We have two events of 25,000 Jaffas. We sell the tickets to raise money for Parents Centre New Zealand and for Cure Kids; they get all of the funds raised. Obviously with students in mind, it's a fantastic event that they have to see. Who would want to miss that? We do one set of red Jaffas and one set of purple. Tickets are only at $1, we have them at Cadbury World and also at Rebel Sport and Briscoes. That's on Friday 29.
What happens if it rains?
We have held it in the drizzling rain before but we are usually pretty lucky and have good fine weather. But the show goes on, as they say. The other thing that might interest the students are the free cooking classes with Judith Cullen. They are running throughout the week, but will be at Dunedin North Intermediate on Thursday. All you have to do is pick up a ticket from Cadbury World.
How would you describe the logistical support that goes into putting an event like this together?
Quite big, we are organising a group of 72 volunteers. We also run competitions around the country; I'm up to 24 winners now. So coordinating the winners and their families is important.
How closely are the secrets of the Cadbury chocolate making process guarded? Is it anything like KFC or Coca-Cola?
Absolutely, that's how each chocolate tastes different. On a Cadbury World tour, you find out how our chocolate is made but obviously without seeing some of the machinery or how we do certain aspects of certain jobs.
Have there been any petitions to bring back any Snifters or Tangy Fruits recently?
Not recently, no.
Or the Cadbury Creme Egg?
Not to my knowledge.
What is the most popular chocolate bar?
Dairy Milk.
Cadbury
