The 17th Annual Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival Food & Drink Event / Food Festival Sep 8–9, 2012

Two full days of unapologetic chocolate gluttony await at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival, an annual free event held in early September inside the famed Ghirardelli Square near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

Since the first Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival took place in 1996, organizers estimate more than 40,000 people show up during the festival, which allows visitors to sample chocolate and confections from more than 30 vendors.

Although it is free to eyeball the goodies, anyone wanting to satisfy their sweet tooth during the Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival needs to buy a sampling ticket, which costs $20 for 15 samples.

Local bands the Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival provide a live music backdrop and several chef demonstrations take place for those looking to heighten their dessert-making prowess. Meanwhile, Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival contests offer folks the chance to showcase their best cookies, cakes, and other creative concoctions the dentist probably won’t be too happy about.

If a sampling isn’t enough, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival also includes an ice cream eating contest with both adult and child-only categories.