Sweet! Calgary's charity hot chocolate festival returns in February
Hot chocolates from Calgary's 8 Cakes (left) and Hertiage Park (right) are seen. (YYC Hot Chocolate Fest)
Dozens of vendors will be selling specialty hot chocolates for charity for the month of February during Calgary's annual YYC Hot Chocolate Fest.
The charitable competition sees cafés and restaurants sell creative and specially-crafted hot chocolates, some boozy and some not, with a portion of the sales going to Calgary Meals on Wheels.
Last year was the event's biggest year yet, with more than 60,000 hot chocolates sold and over $79,000 raised for the charity.
This year, there are just under 100 vendors signed up to participate, according to the website.
If you have dietary restrictions, don't fret – there are dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan hot chocolates available.
After the event wraps up at the end of February, awards will be handed out for the city's best hot chocolates.
Last year, the winners were:
- Cornerstone Music Café, which had the top rated hot chocolate.
- Hexagon Café, which had the best selling hot chocolate; and
- Kristi YYC, which had the top rated spirited hot chocolate.
Participating vendors include:
- Black Sheep
- Vendome Cafe
- Rosso
- Holy Cow
- Calgary Heritage Roasting Co.
- The Bullet Coffee House
- Abbey's Creations
- V Burger
- Fringe Coffee
- Chocolate Lab
- Mr Sun Tea
- Stable
- D6 Tabletop Cafe
- Canyon Meadows Cinemas
- Light Cellar
- Heritage Park Historical Village
- Shoe & Canoe Public House
- Distilled Beauty Bar & Social House
- Community Natural Foods
- Good Trade Coffee Company
- Calgary Climbing Centre
- Bragg Creek Bakery & Cafe
- The Pharm Drugstore
- Regal Cat Cafe
- 8 Cakes
- 723 World Bier Haus
- Pocket Coffee
- Kaffeeklatsch
- Odyssey Coffeehouse
- Kristi YYC
- Deane House
- 1600 World Bier Haus
- Master Chocolat
- Cacao 70
- The Cheesecake Cafe
- Paradigm Spark
- Caffe Beano
- Bono Coffee
- Milano Coffee
- Hexagon Cafe
- Oolong Tea House
- Alforno Bakery
- Canela Vegan Bakery & Cafe
- Euphoria Cafe
- brühe
- Sucre
- JusFruit Canada
- Pablo Cheese Tart Calgary
- For Goodness Bake
- Bike and Brew
- Analog Coffee
- Lina's Italian Market
- River Cafe
- Fonda Fora
- Cravings Market Restaurant
- Eighth Avenue Trattoria
- Sauce Italian Market
- Good News Coffee
- Mini MRKT
- AGGÜDO
- Boogie's Burgers
- Holy Cannoli Coffee Company
- Amato Gelato
- Seasons of Bowness
- Monogram Coffee
- Peanuts Public House
- Cafe Jindo
- Aroma Cafe Bar
- Higher Ground
- Cornerstone Music Cafe
- Neighbour Coffee
- Element Cafe
- Amaido Cafe
- Prairie Grounds Coffee House
- Yann Haute Patisserie Ltd.
- Monki Breakfast Club & Bistro
- Velvet Cafe
- Caffe Artigiano
- Hutch Cafe
- Sips Avenida and Sips at the Market
- Ollia Macarons & Tea
- Popping Dragon Tea House
- Lazy Loaf and Kettle
- Socality House
- Flower & Wolf
- Ladybug Bakery and Cafe
- Good Bread
- Made by AKB Bakeshop & Cafe
- Inner City Brewing Company
- T2722 Luxury Barista Experience
- TELUS Spark
- The Inn on Officers' Garden
- Prologue Cafe | Cocktail
- Our Daily Brett Market & Cafe
- Schwarzwälder Cherry Bomb
- Love sugar and dough
- Pixie's Candy Parlour
For more information you can visit the YYC Hot Chocolate Fest website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Walking pneumonia is surging in Canada. Is it peaking now?
CTVNews.ca spoke with various medical experts to find out the latest situation with the typically mild walking pneumonia in their area and whether parents should be worried.
Minister calls GST holiday, $250 cheques for 18 million Canadians 'a targeted approach'
Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien is calling the federal government's proposed GST holiday and $250 rebate cheques a 'targeted approach' to address affordability concerns.
'Her shoe got sucked into the escalator': Toronto family warns of potential risk of wearing Crocs
A Toronto family is speaking out after their 10-year-old daughter's Crocs got stuck in an escalator, ripping the entire toe area of the clog off.
NEW
NEW Thinking about taking an 'adult gap year'? Here's what experts say you should know
Canadian employees are developing an appetite for an 'adult gap year': a meaningful break later in life to refocus, refresh and indulge in something outside their daily routine, according to experts.
Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archeological treasures
Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki, is getting a brand new subway system that will showcase archeological discoveries made during construction that held up the project for decades.
Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer's disease
An 81-year-old Quebec man has been sentenced to prison after admitting to killing his wife with Alzheimer's disease.
Canada Post quarterly loss tops $300M as strike hits second week -- and rivals step in
Canada Post saw hundreds of millions of dollars drain out of its coffers last quarter, due largely to its dwindling share of the parcels market, while an ongoing strike continues to batter its bottom line.
'Immoral depravity': Two men convicted in case of frozen migrant family in Manitoba
A jury has found two men guilty on human smuggling charges in a case where a family from India froze to death in Manitoba while trying to walk across the Canada-U.S. border.
Prime Minister Trudeau attends Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Toronto with family
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a Swiftie. His office confirmed to CTV News Toronto that he and members of his family are attending the penultimate show of Taylor Swift's 'The Eras Tour' in Toronto on Friday evening.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Edmonton
-
Man armed with knife arrested in west Edmonton: EPS
A man armed with a knife was arrested in west Edmonton Friday afternoon, police said.
-
Santas, sports and shows: Here's what's happening in Edmonton this weekend
If you want to get out and enjoy the weather, or get inside and warm up, there's plenty to do in and around Edmonton this weekend.
-
Drake's clothing brand launches NHL collection including Oilers merch
Drake's October's Very Own (OVO) clothing has launched an NHL collection.
Lethbridge
-
Lethbridge’s Ron Sakamoto honoured at Country Music Awards in Nashville
Lethbridge’s Ron Sakamoto is bringing home the hardware from this year’s Country Music Awards.
-
Snowfall warning issued for Lethbridge as organizations, businesses prepare for winter weather
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a snowfall warning for Lethbridge and parts of southern Alberta, with about 20 to 30 centimetres of snow expected to fall by Sunday.
-
Hurricanes kick off U.S. road trip with a loss, falling 4-0 to Silvertips
The Hurricanes launched a three-game road trip south of the border Wednesday dropping a 4-0 game to the league-best Everett Silvertips.
Vancouver
-
SPS one week away from taking over Surrey policing
It’s been a long and drawn out process, but we are now a week away from Surrey’s new municipal force formally taking over policing responsibility in that city.
-
Abbotsford residents fed up with noise from provincial project so loud it 'shakes the house'
Residents of a rural Abbotsford neighbourhood are fed up with the noise from a provincial project that has meant hundreds of dump trucks rumbling up and down their street in the middle of the night.
-
Jodi Henrickson’s ex-boyfriend Gavin Arnott charged with assaulting woman in Alta.
The ex-boyfriend of missing B.C. teenager Jodi Henrickson was recently charged with assaulting a woman in Alberta, but the charges were withdrawn due to an unco-operative witness, CTV News has learned.
Vancouver Island
-
Victoria police face being understaffed amid proposed budget cuts
Layoffs could be imminent for the Victoria Police Department if it adheres to the requests of the City of Victoria, and cuts over $2 million from its budget.
-
Campbell River high school closure extended due to fire
Carihi Secondary school in Campbell River is closed due to a fire on the property overnight – drawing a firefighting response from multiple departments and a crowd of onlookers.
-
Grey Cup streaker fined $10K, banned from BC Place
The woman who ran across the field wearing nothing but her shoes at last weekend’s Grey Cup has been given a fine and banned from BC Place.
Saskatoon
-
Why isn't Saskatoon's new downtown shelter open yet?
Saskatoon's new downtown shelter must undergo renovations before it can open, according to the operator of the site.
-
Sask. principal has sexual assault conviction overturned in light of 'butt-grabbing game'
A Saskatchewan principal sentenced to six months behind bars for sexual assault has another chance to prove he’s the victim of a middle-school prank that escalated out of control.
-
Prince Albert food bank faces soaring demand
The Prince Albert Food Bank is grappling with a significant surge in demand, with the number of hampers doubling since 2017.
Regina
-
Ministry of Highways releases annual snow campaign as Sask. braces for more snow
Snowplows will be on standby ready to go as the province is expected to get more snow over the weekend.
-
Chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting 7 women denies all allegations as part of second day of testimony
Ruben Manz, a Regina-based chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting seven women from 2010 through 2021, denied ever touching any of the alleged victims in a sexual nature while under oath.
-
Here's a look inside the Globe Theatre before it reopens
The format is the same, but the venue looks very different from the last time audiences were inside Regina's Globe Theatre after extensive renovations.
Toronto
-
'Still working full time on it:' One year later police continue to search for gunman in Caledon double murder linked to ex-Olympian
One year after a couple was shot and killed in their Caledon home in what investigators have described as a case of mistaken identity, Ontario Provincial Police say they are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger.
-
Colleges and universities face job cuts, deficits amid international student cap
Ontario's colleges and universities say the federal government's cap on international students is taking a toll on the higher education sector as some schools face growing deficits, layoffs and, in at least one case, a temporary campus closure.
-
Man charged with murder in stabbing death of father in Scarborough
A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of his father in Scarborough on Wednesday.
Montreal
-
3 arrested at pro-Palestinian, anti-NATO protest downtown Montreal
As NATO officials met up in Montreal, pro-Palestinian protesters flooded downtown in solidarity with those in Gaza.
-
Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer's disease
An 81-year-old Quebec man has been sentenced to prison after admitting to killing his wife with Alzheimer's disease.
-
Montreal family doctor admits to fathering child with 19-year-old patient
A Montreal family doctor has vowed to stop practicing medicine after he admitted to fathering a child with a 19-year-old woman who was his patient.
Atlantic
-
P.E.I. teen sentenced to 2 years in custody in death of Tyson MacDonald
A teen who pleaded guilty in the death of 17-year-old Tyson MacDonald on Prince Edward Island last year has been sentenced to two years in custody.
-
Taylor Swift Fan brings souvenir home to Nova Scotia from the Eras tour
Annie Gallant, a 10-year-old from Nova Scotia, brought home a special gift from her first concert.
-
New Brunswick government re-evaluates construction of $66-million jail in Grand Lake
The New Brunswick Liberal government says construction of a new $66-million jail in Grand Lake is under review, and could possibly be cancelled.
Winnipeg
-
Semi leaves Winnipeg overpass, hits train, causes derailment
Winnipeg police are responding to a train derailment and semi collision that has closed the Perimeter Highway and a section of Fermor Avenue Friday afternoon.
-
The Thriftmas Special: The benefits of second-hand holiday shopping
The holidays may be a time for family, joy and togetherness, but they can also be hard on the wallet.
-
Manitoba reports first case of mpox, province says risk to public is low
The Manitoba government is reporting the first confirmed case of mpox in the province, noting it is also a strain that has not been seen in Canada before.
Ottawa
-
NEW THIS MORNINGNEW THIS MORNING 290,000 speeding tickets and counting: A look at how many photo radar tickets have been issued in Ottawa in 2024
Photo radar cameras have caught nearly 300,000 speeders on Ottawa roads so far this year, as the City of Ottawa prepares to expand the automated speed enforcement camera program to another 39 locations over the next 14 months.
-
Seniors facing 60% hike for OC Transpo monthly transit pass in 2025 under new proposal
Ottawa seniors will be facing a 60 per cent hike in transit fares in 2025, instead of a 120 per cent increase, under a new plan to halve a proposed hike in fares for riders over the age of 65.
-
Ottawa Food Bank declares an emergency amid record-breaking usage
The Ottawa Food Bank is calling the record-breaking visits to its food programs "a declaration of emergency," with children and youth and newcomers accounting for more than a quarter of visits last year.
Northern Ontario
-
Senior killed in dog attack in northern Ont.
An 81-year-old was killed in a dog attack this week in Bonfield, Ont. Police believe three dogs were involved.
-
Woman stabbed multiple times in Sudbury altercation
A 30-year-old woman is in hospital in Sudbury after she was stabbed multiple times early Friday morning in Chelmsford.
-
Police investigating death in Magnetawan, Ont.
The Almaguin Highlands detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police is investigating a sudden death in Magnetawan.
Barrie
-
Highway 400 closed in Muskoka Lakes after fatal propane truck rollover
Emergency crews were called to Highway 400 in Georgian Bay Township Friday morning after a fatal tanker truck rollover.
-
Drug trafficking investigation results in largest fentanyl seizure in Simcoe County: OPP
Two people are facing drug trafficking charges after what provincial police are calling the largest fentanyl seizure in Simcoe County.
-
Barrie magic mushroom dispensary closed after company announces its shuttering Ont. locations
The doors are locked and the OPEN sign is off on Friday at an illegal magic mushroom dispensary in downtown Barrie one day after FunGuyz announced it would shutter its 30 Ontario locations.
Kitchener
-
Advocates push for anti-renoviction bylaws as Waterloo Region reports affordable housing progress
On National Housing Day, housing advocacy group ACORN continued to push for anti-renoviction bylaws.
-
Man charged in Kitchener crash involving Grand River Transit LRT
Charges were laid after a crash between an LRT train and a Dodge vehicle shut down a busy Kitchener street for more than eight hours on Thursday.
-
How University of Waterloo researchers could help charge your devices by moving your body
Imagine being able to charge your devices through your body’s movements.
London
-
Nuclear operator helps fund affordable housing project in Goderich
The operators of the Bruce Nuclear Plant near Kincardine just donated $1 million towards Huron County’s largest affordable housing project in years.
-
Wingham area raises $3.6 million for new CT scanner
Wingham will be getting its first ever CT Scanner thanks to a multimillion dollar fundraising campaign that just came to a close.
-
Next week’s weather will put the 'brr' in November
We’re off to a damp start this weekend, “Cloudy conditions to kick off your Saturday with the chance of rainfall first thing in the morning [due to] lake effect showers,” said CTV London Meteorologist Julie Atchison. “Over the next 36 hours we will see the chance for showers lingering.”
Windsor
-
Truck fire on the Ambassador Bridge
Windsor fire responded to a transport truck fire on Friday afternoon on the Ambassador Bridge.
-
4 Windsor, Chatham-Kent councillors oppose use of notwithstanding clause on encampments
Four councillors from Windsor and Chatham-Kent are among 72 municipal leaders opposing a letter from 15 Ontario mayors that supports Premier Doug Ford's push to use the notwithstanding clause to clear homeless encampments.
-
Concerns over people attempting to cross Detroit River illegally
Windsor Port Authority’s harbour master is raising concern about the number of people attempting to cross the Detroit River illegally following the most recent U.S. presidential election.
