By Fawn Porter/Staff Writer

The first-ever chocolate festival may be the sweetest way yet that the Friends of the Mustang Public Library have chosen to raise money for their cause.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Mustang Friends couldn’t think of a better time to host this event, which will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Town Center.

Noreta Grady, who helped organize the event, said the local Friends group entertained the idea of a chocolate festival after seeing another state friends’ group do it and thought a festival just before Valentine’s Day would be sure to draw a crowd, especially at $6 per ticket and six free chocolate samples once inside.

Also, there will be a raffle for a chance to win a dozen chocolate-dipped sugar cookie roses.

Grady said much of the chocolate will be homemade and samples include fudge, chocolate-covered strawberries, truffles, petit fours and chocolate cake to die for.

The festival boasts about 18 booths of chocolate by local businesses, organizations and individuals including: Body Trends, Emerald Square Assisted Living, Jill Thorpe and Michelle Clair, Marolyn Pryor Realtors, Mustang Chamber of Commerce, FAA Credit Union, Century 21 Realtors, Kelly Landrith, Mustang Library Board, Isn’t That Kute Tearoom, Mustang Rotary Club, Sunshine HCE, Kiwanis, Signco, Friends of the Mustang Library, Calumet Winery, El Chico and Dragonfly Soap.

HeartStrings will be the musical entertainment.

Trophies will be awarded by popular vote to the best chocolate and best decorated table. Boxes and ribbons will also be available.

The Friends of the Mustang Library recently took home the “FOLIO Best Friends” award for libraries in cities with populations greater than 10,000, excluding Tulsa and Oklahoma City systems. The Mustang Friends formed five years ago as the Mustang Public Library moved into Town Center and increased its circulation and programs.

The third Best Friends award came in a landmark year for Mustang’s Friends. Last year, the library supporters reached a long-range goal to create a $20,000 endowment for Mustang Public Library programs a year early.

Klepper said the group raised almost $14,000 in 2005, allowing them to continue supporting library programs while reaching the $12,000 mark to qualify for an $8,000 matching grant from the Kilpatrick Family Foundation to begin the endowment.