With the weather set to hit double digits below zero, the Hot Cocoa Trail couldn’t come at a better time.
The fourth annual event is put on by the Downtown Barrie Business Association in an attempt to get people out of the house and down to the heart of the city and the small businesses that make it that way. BIA Director Craig Stevens was one of the many on-hand today at Renegade Health Bar to make the announcement of the launch of the February campaign.
“This is a great way to beat those cold winter blues,” said Stevens. “The Hot Cocoa Trail started off as a way to kick off the Winterfest weekend put on by the City of Barrie and then grew into its own thing. It is such a fun way to enjoy a hot beverage and be involved with a community event.”
Every weekend in the month of February, the Hot Cocoa Trail allows folks to to head to participating establishments with a passport which they get stamped once they purchase the designated hot drink from that location. There are 11 different places to get a drink from, but you only need six stamps to then hand in your passport and have the chance to qualify for one of three prize vouchers. All eligible passports can be handed in to either the participating establishments or the BIA office at 93 Dunlop Street East Unit 102 before Wednesday February 28.
A part of the BIA’s Community Connects program, the Hot Cocoa Trail combines a fun event with local businesses to help out a charitable organization in town. This event will donate $2 from every hot cocoa sold on the trail to Barrie Out Of The Cold. The BOOTC program provides accommodation and meals to the city’s homeless with several different locations acting as a host for each night. BOOTC Program Director Stacey Daoust was at the BIA press conference and is very excited that such a fun event will help bring attention to a situation that is not getting better.
“It is so awesome that we were chosen as the charity to benefit from this very fun campaign,” said Daoust. “Timing wise, it obviously fits perfectly for us as the cold weather draws attention to the cause we are fighting. Our numbers are huge this year and we see that the need for help gets bigger and bigger every year. An event like this will only help the community see what is needed by our organization, but have some fun doing it as well.”
The BIA encourages everyone to post any pics of their purchases on social media with the hashtag #HotCocoaTrail and to tag the BIA, the establishment you bought from and the Barrie Out Of The Cold organization. Participating locations include:
- The Barrie Bean Counter (49 Dunlop St E) – Flavour: Coconut Cream Pie Hot Cocoa
- J’Adore Fine Cheese & Chocolate (123 Dunlop St E) – Saturdays Only – Flavour: The Neapolitan
- Ripe Juicery (118 Dunlop St E) – Flavour: Raw Peppermint Hot Cocoa (dairy free & vegan)
- TLC Bistro (41 Maple Ave) – Flavour: Old Fashion TLC
- Homestead Artisan Bakery + Café (43 Owen St) – Saturdays Only – Flavour: S’mores Hot Chocolate
- Bohemia (125 Dunlop St E) – Flavour: White Chocolate Birthday Cake Latte
- Casa Cappuccino (91 Dunlop St E) – Flavour: White Mint Hot Cocoa
- Canvas and Cabernet (72 Dunlop St E) – Flavour: Spicy Hot Cocoa
- Swirleez Frozen Yogurt (89 Dunlop St E #101) – Flavour: Raspberry White Hot Chocolate
- Renegade Health Bar (51 Collier St) – Saturdays Only – Flavour: Creamy Adaptogenic Ashwagandha Hot Chocolate
BONUS
- Flying Monkey Craft Brewery & Tap Room (107 Dunlop St E) – Available daily, must be 19+, bottle purchase to take home – Flavour: Heartbreak Breakfast Porter (Price: $6.95)
