By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
There is no way to lose at the Win, Wine & Chocolate event set for June 25-26 at Monmouth Park.
Greater Media Newspapers is partnering with the horse track for the second summer in a row, joining the already established Win & Wine weekend. The newspaper chain is celebrating its fourth chocolate-themed event in the past two years, coming on the heels of its own Chocolate & Wine event in February 2015 and January 2016.
“Food is hot right now,” said Advertising Manager Lauren Simons, noting that Greater Media is the only company she knows of that offers a chocolate-themed show, whereas beer, wine and even bacon festivals abound.
“Food festivals have really taken off,” added Lisa Marie Stecker, event sales coordinator for Greater Media Newspapers. “I think they are more ‘touchable.’ A ticket actually buys an experience.”
From 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. both days, The William Hill Race & Sports Bar will be renamed The Chocolate Lounge.” Visitors will be treated to limited chocolate sampling, unlimited wine sampling and horse racing throughout the day. Other vendors inside the enclosed, air-conditioned space will offer cakes, cookies, Kosher chocolate, gourmet dips and handcrafted jewelry. The bar inside the lounge will feature a special signature chocolate drink.
In addition, a new service called the Chocolate Valet will offer attendees the ability to purchase products to take home without the burden of carrying them around all day.
The partnership with Monmouth Park began after Marketing Manager Brian Skirka saw an ad for Greater Media Newspapers’ Chocolate & Wine event last year and decided he wanted to add chocolate to the already established event at the racetrack.
“Monmouth Park is the perfect setting for a festival like this because we have so much to offer. Wine and chocolate are pretty exciting in their own right, but we also of course have live horse racing which is tons of fun for all ages. The heart-pounding excitement of live horse racing is second to none and really makes for an incredible experience,” he said.
“At [other events], it was one hour of shopping and then going back to your day,” Stecker said, “whereas at Win, Wine & Chocolate, it is your day. … [Monmouth Park] is a destination.”
It has proved successful, as special events at Monmouth Park can bring in upwards of 60,000 people, even though the average season attendance is approximately just under 10,000, according to Skirka.
Last year, Simons said there were 1,500 wristbands sold for the event. This year, as of May, there were already 53,000 “likes” on Facebook, so she expects the attendance to increase dramatically.
“Now it seems people are getting more interested,” she said.
The planning by Greater Media for the Win, Wine & Chocolate event began months ago, just after the Chocolate & Wine event at Branches in West Long Branch wrapped up.
Skirka said that putting on special events is a great deal of work.
“From brainstorming a concept, to advertising, to logistics, paperwork, setup, etc., it’s a very long process with the end result hopefully being a great experience for the public. Over the years we’ve put on many different types of events and festivals here at the track so we feel pretty good about what we do. But it’s still a ton of work each year putting on each event,” he said.
Skirka said he appreciates the partnership that has developed between the two local organizations.
“Greater Media Newspapers has been a great advertising partner with Monmouth Park for a long time, and we’re very happy to now broaden our partnership to work together to put on an event like this. Both Monmouth Park and Greater Media Newspapers are extremely well known in this area so by combining powers we definitely strengthen that awareness even more,” he said.
Simons and Stecker said the effort and hard work is worth it for all involved.
“We are the local connection,” Stecker said.
“We know readers appreciate everything. And it does feel good when the vendors say they had a good show,” Simons added. “We hope [everyone] has fun and has such a great time they want to go back.”
Tickets for Win, Wine & Chocolate cost $7 for chocolate only, $10 for wine only or $15 for a combination ticket that includes a commemorative wine glass. Admission to Monmouth Park is an additional $5 entrance fee, although Greater Media Newspapers will publish an ad for free admission.
There will be live music on both days. On June 26, Family Fun Day will include a clown, face painting, pony rides and a bounce house for children.
For more information, visit www.gmnews.com or www.monmouthpark.com.
The sponsors of the event are: Fords Jewelers, 449 New Brunswick Ave., Fords, NJ 08863, www.fordsjewelers.com; European Homemade Provisions, 301 Old Bridge Turnpike, East Brunswick, NJ 08816, www.europeanhomemadeprovisions.com; and Amboy Bank, www.AmboyBank.com.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].