The delicious scent of cocoa was in the air as locals strolled from shop to shop with chocolate samples in hand. The Marion Chocolate Walk was originally initiated by the Chamber of Commerce and Uptown Marion. This unique walk is a market event created over twenty years ago to display local businesses by handing out some sort of chocolate treat. However, in 2012, challenges arose; road construction made the occurrence nearly impossible. Nonetheless, the city council rose to the occasion and adapted it to fit perfectly into testing circumstances.

     This year, more than 35 local shops participated, making it one of the most engaging events since it started. Occurring on the first Friday of October, the Chocolate Walk was held in the perfect fall weather to listen to a live band and eat chocolate. This event was designed to allow the Marion community to experience after-hours shopping in uptown stores and introduce new customers to the local shops, and it lives up to its promises. Ultimately, it drums up business for shops while giving people a reason to enjoy tasty treats.

     Additionally, each year the city council creates a detailed map of Uptown Marion to display participating businesses. Each blue dot on the map represents a chocolaty treat waiting to be eaten. The city council also added a hundred-dollar prize based on a drawing from the receipts of customers’ purchases. Stores handed out snacks such as truffles, cheesecake, and hot cocoa. Participating stores ranged from The Marion Chocolate Shop to Noah’s Archive, a local Christian book store, usually only open on Thursdays because of get-together interferences. Sarah Mally is the owner of Noah’s Archive and the founder of Bright Lights, an organization mainly dedicated to encouraging young girls in their walk with Christ. Mally has participated in The Chocolate Walk for about ten years and usually hands out chocolate chip cookies and flyers for her business. She said, “It is a good time to meet new people and glorify God at the same time.” Noah’s Archive has received more customers since taking part in the walk; they have found that people are interested in contributing to their Bright Lights operation after having conversations with Mally during the event. In past years, Mally even got a friend to play the harp during the Chocolate Walk, which further advanced the whole experience for customers. She said, “A lady stopped in specifically because she saw the harp. She was going through a rough time, and I was able to talk her through it.” She and Mally became close friends after that encounter.

     Overall, the Marion Chocolate Walk has impacted participating customers more than just getting a sweet treat. It provides an opportunity for positive human interaction and influential experiences, just like Mally and her newfound friend. In this event’s twentieth occurrence, it has changed countless people’s lives for the better. It started as a way for shops to drum up business, but ended up as one of the most valuable events that the city holds.