For people who love chocolate (and who doesn't?), Oxford United Methodist Church (OUMC), will present its ninth annual Chocolate Festival on Saturday, March 9, from 1 to 3 p.m.

The event will include chocolate tastings and a baking contest. "People can join us as a baker or a taster," said Patty Reese, event chairperson.

During the Chocolate Festival, which is being presented by Women of Faith (formerly the Oxford United Methodist Women), visitors will pay a fee and receive five tickets. Each ticket will allow that person to select a chocolate treat to enjoy. Additional tickets may be purchased for a nominal fee.

"(Attendees) will get a free takeout container and that enables them to go around and collect their chocolate," said Reese, noting that no outside containers will be permitted.

For the baking contest, each entry must include chocolate as one ingredient. Categories to be judged are cakes, cookies, cupcakes, candy/fudge and other chocolate desserts. There will also be a children's category for bakers age 16 and under. No items that need to be refrigerated will be accepted.

All entrants are asked to bring a complete batch of their favorite chocolate dessert, such as a whole cake and an entire batch of candy, cookies or cupcakes, in a disposable container. There is no fee to enter, and there is no limit on the number of entries per person.

"If you wish to enter the competition, please bring your chocolate entries between 8:30 and 10 a.m., where local professional chocolatiers will begin judging promptly at 10 a.m.," Reese explained.

After judging is complete, the entries will be broken down into separate servings for ticket holders to select.

At 2 p.m., ribbons will be awarded for first, second and third places, as well as honorable mention, in each category. The Best in Show winner will be awarded a gift basket.

Those who attend the Chocolate Festival will also have an opportunity to win prizes. "We will fill different glass containers with candies or some type of chocolate and people can guess the amount," Reese said. "Whoever gets the closest wins that container."

Proceeds from the Chocolate Festival will be used by the Women of Faith group, which distributes funds to different mission projects throughout the year both locally and internationally. Past recipients have included the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center and people affected by the war in the Ukraine. "We also helped victims from the fire in Oxford in September," Reese noted.

OUMC, 18 Addison St., Oxford, is located at the corner of Market and Addison streets. For more information about the event, call the church office at 610-932-9698 or visit http://www.facebook.com/PastorBern/events.