Chocolate Fest and Coates Esplanade both returned to Trinity’s campus on Valentine’s Day. By 12:30 p.m. there was already a line that stretched from the reopened esplanade to Miller Fountain — all for an event that wouldn’t start for another hour and a half.
The annual spring tradition from the Student Programming Board boasted a line of over 300 people by the time the event started. Several different student organizations, from Fraternity and Sorority Life to Chapel and Spiritual Life, prepared various chocolatey treats to hand out to the student body. This year, Chocolate Fest doubled as the grand re-opening of the Coates Esplanade, which Trinity had closed for renovation since the summer.
Some students chose to make Chocolate Fest a part of their Friday afternoons, even in light of Valentine’s Day. SPB leaned into the holiday spirit, incorporating the themes of Valentine’s throughout the event, most notably in the pink hoodies. Madeline Gonzalez, senior psychology major, spoke on the merchandise that Chocolate Fest offered this year.
“I love the merch. I’m so happy that they went with pink hoodies this year,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve been telling every person I know in SPB that they should be pink.”
This was Gonzalez’s first time at Chocolate Fest in her four years at Trinity, and she said she enjoyed other aspects beyond the hoodies.
“I was abroad last spring and before that I had a class conflict, so this is my first one,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve loved meeting new people, and of course there’s chocolate and they’re giving it away. That’s scrumptious.”
Many of the student organizations showed up with chocolate treats to hand out at the event. Of all of the student organizations that showed up with chocolate treats, the Trinity University Players table stood out. TUPS ran out of their intricately decorated chocolate strawberry roses in about 20 minutes. Lyndee Pinkerton, junior political science and philosophy double-major, is the president of TUPS and said they enjoyed the lead-up to the event.
“We were up until about four in the morning last night making these, but it was such a good time,” Pinkerton said. “We did the roses because we have the wooden roses which we give to TUPS members after a production. We wanted to provide that to the Trinity community and Chocolate Fest is so fun. It’s a great way to get involved in your organization.”
Chocolate Fest is one of many events that SPB puts on throughout the school year. Simmi Chadha, coordinator for Student Organizations and Leadership, was the brains behind this year’s Chocolate Fest. She said that this was the second Chocolate Fest that she had planned, and she was excited to see students excited.
“My favorite thing about Chocolate Fest is seeing the campus community come out and enjoy their time mingling with different student organizations and departments,” Chadha said. “It’s a good time to get some well-deserved treats.”
When asked about the hoodies and crewnecks, Chadha said that an additional 200 pieces of merch were ordered this year compared to last year. Even so, all of the hoodies were claimed within the hour.
“Hopefully a lot more students will get sweatshirts,” Chadha said. “I know it’s really exciting, and it’s the reason that people line up two hours before the event starts. They were designed by our wonderful PR and Marketing associate Clarissa [Garcia], and she did a great job.”
This spring SPB will hold plenty of on-campus events like Chocolate Fest for students. Chadha gave insight into what’s next for SPB.
“In a few weeks we will have flower bouquet making during the day, and we have some bingo nights coming up as well,” Chadha said. “We are also in the process of planning a larger scale block party at the end of the semester. Think food trucks, think inflatables, think mechanical bull vibes. Be on the lookout for celebrating the end of the year with some fun stuff.”