Family fun on offer at Rotorua Melt chocolate festival

The MELT Festival of Chocolate kicks off with The Hits Cocoa Carnival on Good Friday. Photo/Supplied

If you're looking for activities over the Easter weekend Rotorua's first chocolate festival has plenty on offer to entertain the whole family.

The MELT Festival of Chocolate starts with The Hits Cocoa Carnival on Good Friday with a chocolate-themed street parade starting at the Arts Village at 5pm. The parade will wind along Rotorua's cycleway, led by the Amjazz dancers and The Hits team.

Everyone is welcome to join in the parade and can enter the fancy dress competition with chocolate prizes up for grabs.

The parade will finish with a party in Kuirau Park. Families can bring a picnic to enjoy and explore the park.

Amjazz Dance Studio principal teacher Nikki Wilkinson said she was looking forward to seeing her students lead the parade.

"We have around 35 of our students excited to dress up and dance their way through town, then we will be finishing up with a group dance in the park."

The chocolate festival also has a ticketed area in Kuirau Park – Melt Central. This offers chocolate-themed food vendors, demonstrations with celebrity chefs, chocolate products, kids play area, entertainment and various activities each day.

For the ultimate chocolate indulgence, there is a decadent chocolate fondue breakfast on Easter Monday under a marquee in Kuirau Park.

Sweet and savoury gourmet creations will be plated and decorated in front of those dining.

Organiser Alia Ryan said "The majority of Melt will be under cover, to provide shade and or shelter from any rain".

Early bird tickets to Melt Central and the Chocolate Fondue Breakfast include access to all four days of the festival. Once these limited four-day passes are sold, daily tickets will be available.

Chocolate prize packs are up for grabs with a colouring competition available from meltrotorua.co.nz.

Tickets and further information about Melt is also available through the website.

The Rotorua Museum Easter Egg Hunt is on Easter Sunday from 9am to 5pm throughout Kuirau Park. Clue sheets will be available from The Hits gazebo.

Find all the clues, hand in your sheet and collect your prize.

Easter Monday has an entertainment packed afternoon at Rotorua Racecourse's Donelley's Natural Wood Products Race Day. Entry to the racecourse is free for the whole family, with the first race at 12.05pm.

Melt Opening Times:
Good Friday: 5pm to 9pm
Easter Saturday: 9am to 9pm
Easter Sunday: 9am to 5pm
Easter Monday: 9am to 5pm
The Rotorua Museum Easter Egg Hunt:
Sunday, April 1, 9am to 5pm in Kuirau Park