Special Events

In 2012, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company will celebrate its 160th year anniversary.

Proudly manufactured in California since 1852, Ghirardelli Chocolate is America's longest continuously operating chocolate manufacturer. Help us to celebrate by indulging in one of our premium chocolate products or visiting a Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop today!

Jan 19 - Mar 31, 2012 San Francisco, CA	Hyatt Regency Culture Club Ghirardelli Chocolate is celebrating its 160 Anniversary this year! We will have many exciting things happening throughout our retail stores to help celebrate our anniversary. Our first celebration will be in partnership with the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, SFMTA and Beach Blanket Babylon in San Francisco. We have been fortunate to be selected by the Hyatt Culture Club as one of their San Francisco Icons to take part in an exciting display at the Hyatt Embarcadero beginning January 19th. Visit the Hyatt Regency at the Embarcadero to view our display, now through March 2012.
Feb 11, 2012 Dallas, TX	Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Race Sponsored by Ghirardelli Chocolate Will you run for chocolate? Join your fellow runners, walkers and chocolate lovers for the most scrumptious post race party in the nation! Participants will indulge in Ghirardelli chocolate samples, Ghirardelli hot chocolate and Ghirardelli chocolate fondue while one of Dallas's premier live bands keep the party rockin' all day long. Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. Click here for registration and more information.
Feb 23 - 26, 2012 Miami, FL	The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Ghirardelli returns to this star-studded, four-day event showcasing the talents of the world's most renowned culinary personalities. Stop by the Ghirardelli booth for tempting chocolate samples and tips for wine and chocolate pairings. Click here for general admission tickets and more information.
Mar 25, 2012 San Diego, CA	Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Race Sponsored by Ghirardelli Chocolate Will you run for chocolate? Join your fellow runners, walkers and chocolate lovers for the most scrumptious post race party in the nation! Participants will indulge in Ghirardelli chocolate samples, Ghirardelli hot chocolate and Ghirardelli chocolate fondue while one of San Diego's premier live bands keep the party rockin' all day long. Bring the entire family for post-race fun at the Kid Zone which will include stilt walkers, magicians, face painting and more! Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. Click here for registration and more information.
April 27 & 28, 2012 Monterey, CA	2012 Big Sur Marathon Health and Fitness Expo Look for Ghirardelli at the 2012 Health and Fitness Expo at the Monterey Conference Center at 1 Portola Plaza. Ghirardelli will be the sweetest booth, handing out samples and raffling off prizes! Hours are Friday, April 27th from noon to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Click here for more information.
May 19, 2012 San Francisco, CA	7th Annual Uncorked! Wine Festival at Ghirardelli Square Enjoy live music, wine seminars, chef demonstrations and Ghirardelli Chocolate samples at this epicurean event to benefit the Save the Bay organization. Tickets must be purchased to participate in wine tasting but the event itself is free for all to enjoy. Hours are from 1 to 6 pm. Click here for more information.
May 26 & 27, 2012 San Francisco, CA	A Tribute to the Golden Gate Bridge presented by Ghirardelli Chocolate Visit Ghirardelli Square for a special exhibit in celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary. For two days only, take a self guided historical walking tour exploring the history of the Golden Gate Bridge! The first 750 participants will receive a FREE miniature solid milk chocolate Golden Gate Bridge courtesy of Ghirardelli Chocolate.
June 3, 2012 Monterey, CA	9th Annual Cannery Row Block Party The summer season kicks off with the annual Cannery Row Block Party! A lively family favorite that includes Ghirardelli Chocolate samples, continuous live music, live animals, balloon artist, stilt walker and more! This is one party you won't want to miss! Hours are from 11 am to 5 pm. Click here for more information.
June 9, 2012 Monterey, CA	36th Annual Monterey Wine Festival and West Coast Chowder Competition The 36th Annual Monterey Wine Festival will celebrate another exciting line-up and a plethora of traditional favorites from the past. Wine and food lovers will savor the best in white wines, chowders and, of course, Ghirardelli Chocolate! For the 3rd year, the West Coast Chowder Competition will join the festival on Saturday and guests will be able to sample and savor the Best of the Best with local restaurants competing for the coveted Copper Pot Award and cash prizes. Guests. Click here for general admission tickets and more information. Click here for general admission tickets and more information.
July 21, 2012 San Francisco, CA	Ghirardelli Chocolate Cruise with the SS Jeremiah O'Brien Join us on the Ghirardelli Chocolate Cruise with SS Jeremiah O'Brien on July 21st! Celebrating Ghirardelli Chocolate's 160th anniversary as San Francisco's premier chocolate company, the day will feature a special "Chocolate School" presentation conducted by Ghirardelli's head chocolate maker Steve Genzoli. Your ticket also includes a continental breakfast, a boxed lunch served on the main deck at noon, beverages, live music and a tour of the engine room as seen in the blockbuster hit "Titanic". LIMITED TIME OFFER: Order your tickets before March 1, 2012 and pay only $99 (Regularly $125 for adults)! Click here for tickets and more information.
July 28, 2012 Monterey, CA	15th Annual Race Night on the Row When motorcyclists roll into Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix in July, more than 5,000 riders show off their bikes at Race Night on the Row. While there admiring the pristine race bikes from around the world, stop by the Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop for a FREE chocolate sample. Click here for more information.
Sept, 2012 Monterey, CA	Cherry's Jubilee Annual Show n' Shine Cannery Row is the home of September's Cherry's Jubilee, when gleaming classic cars line the street and samples from Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop delight all in attendance. Click here for more information.
Sept 15 & 16, 2012 San Francisco, CA	Chocolate Festival Join us for the 17th Annual Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival on September 15th & 16th. The event is full of opportunities to taste chocolate from San Francisco's premier chocolate manufacturer, Ghirardelli Chocolate, along with other delectable chocolate inspired creations. Learn about how chocolate is made when Ghirardelli's head chocolate maker Steve Genzoli presents "Chocolate School" and participate in the Ghirardelli Chocolate Ice Cream Eating Contest! Proceeds to benefit Project Open Hand. Visit back for more details.
Oct 14, 2012 San Francisco, CA	2012 Nike Women's Marathon Join 20,000 women as they race together through the streets of San Francisco to raise funds and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Ghirardelli will again host the Chocolate Mile on course and offer sweet treats at the Expotique in Union Square. Click here to register or for more information.
Oct, 2012 Chicago, IL	2012 Chicagoween at Franken Plaza Witches, vampires, princesses and cartoon characters are just some of the visitors you'll see invade Daley Plaza as costumed children celebrate free Halloween fun during Franken Plaza. Ghirardelli will again participate with chocolate samples, coupons, and fun activities for all. Click here for more information.
Oct, 2012 San Diego, CA	Haunted Hotel The Haunted Hotel is packed full of spine tingling, heart pounding effects that are so real they will keep you screaming. But don't be scared, there will be a sweet treat from Ghirardelli waiting for you when you make it out. Redeem your Haunted Hotel ticket for a discount at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate in the Gaslamp Quarter. Click here for more information.
Nov 4, 2012 San Diego, CA	Fall Back Festival Join Ghirardelli as we say good bye to BBQs and say hello to cozy coats, soothing cocoa, and a cool breeze at the Union Bank Fall Back Festival. This FREE children's historical street faire is in the heart of downtown's Gaslamp Quarter. For more information, visit www.gaslampquarter.org or www.mcfarlanepromotions.com
Nov 9-11, 2012 Orlando, FL	Festival of the Masters Each year Ghirardelli participates in this vibrant, open-air art festival held each Fall in the Downtown Disney area. Come for the fun activities and stay for a World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae from the Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop. For more information, visit the Downtown Disney website.
Nov 18, 2012 San Francisco, CA	Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Race Sponsored by Ghirardelli Chocolate Ghirardelli is bringing the "sweetest" race to San Francisco! In support of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the race will span the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Then, join your fellow runners, walkers and chocolate lovers for the most scrumptious post-race party in the nation complete with Ghirardelli hot chocolate, chocolate fondue, and chocolate samples. Bring the entire family for the post-race fun at the Kid Zone where there will be stilt walkers, magicians, face painting and more! There will also be entertainment from one of San Fran's premier live bands! Click here for registration and more information.
Nov, 2012 Monterey, CA	2012 Big Sur Half Marathon Health and Fitness Expo More information to come. Click here for registration information.
Nov 23, 2012 Monterey, CA	18th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony The day after Thanksgiving, head down to Steinbeck Plaza beginning at 6:00 pm for the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and holiday festivities. Click here for more information.
Nov 23, 2012 San Francisco, CA	47th Annual Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting Ceremony Ghirardelli Chocolate will serve hot chocolate to keep you warm during this free event that includes live entertainment for the entire family and culminates with the lighting of the tree. Festivities begin at 5:30 pm. For more information, visit the Ghirardelli Square website.
Nov 2012 - Jan 2013 San Francisco, CA	Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square Skate into the holidays in San Francisco's number one shopping destination, Union Square! Sponsored in part by Ghirardelli Chocolate. For more information, visit the Union Square website.
Ongoing Monterey, CA	Monterey Bay Aquarium Member Events Ghirardelli rewards Monterey Bay Aquarium members throughout the year by participating at a number of events such as the Halloween Dance Party, Holiday Event and Sale, and New Years' Eve Party and Sleepover. Don't miss the opportunity to treat yourself to premium Ghirardelli Chocolate and ice cream while learning about the delicate ecosystem within our oceans. For more information, visit www.MontereyBayAquarium.org.

Planning a trip to a Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop or one of our Outlets? Look for special promotions and offers at one of our following partners: