The Dahlonega Chocolate Crawl is a weekend when downtown shops and restaurants hand out chocolate samples to people carrying a passport. It is run by the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau, not by this guide, and the Bureau’s Chocolate Crawl page is where new dates will appear first. As of Oct 19, 2026, the 2027 dates are not posted.
How the crawl works
The Visitors Bureau first launched the crawl in 2021. Its page describes the 6th annual crawl on the weekend of March 5-8, 2026: visit shops and restaurants and sample all kinds of chocolate, from hot chocolate and pies to fudge, cookies and drinks. Your passport comes from the Visitor Center.
The Visitors Bureau's 6th annual Chocolate Crawl ran March 5-8, 2026, with a passport from the Visitor Center and chocolate samples (hot chocolate, pies, fudge, cookies and more) at downtown shops; 2027 dates are not yet posted. (Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026)
The Visitors Center is at 13 South Park Street, just off the Square, and is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., per the Visitors Bureau. Its phone numbers are (706) 864-3711 and (800) 231-5543. If you are planning for 2027, that is the number to call for dates.
Who took part in 2026
The Bureau’s page lists the participating businesses for the crawl. Six of them are places this guide could confirm as operating on Oct 19, 2026:
- Paul Thomas Chocolates, 102 Public Square N. The Bureau’s listing says it gave a free chocolate-covered caramel to each participant.
- The Dahlonega Fudge Factory, 8 N Park St. The listing notes the free fudge samples it offers every day.
- Kilwins Dahlonega, 40 Public Square S.
- Connie’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop, 18 North Park Street.
- Picnic Cafe & Dessertery, 30 Public Square South.
- Bourbon Street Grille, 90 Public Square N.
The list also included Crown + Bear, upstairs on the Square. Its own website returned a 404 when we checked on Oct 19, 2026, so we could not confirm its hours or what sweets it sells, and we do not recommend it here. A few other listed participants are shops and restaurants whose own sites name no baked goods or sweets, so they fall outside this guide. Participants can change from year to year; the 2027 list is not out.
Do your own chocolate walk any weekend
You do not need the crawl to eat chocolate on the Square. The same counters are open most of the year, and you can build a route from their own menus and hours. Here is one way to do it on a Saturday, with hours as listed on each business’s own site, checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Start at Paul Thomas Chocolates, which opens at 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Its catalog lists Black Cherry Truffles, Blood Orange Caramels, Almond Butter Crunch toffee and Cacao Fudge. The shop says about 90% of what it sells is made on location, per its own site.
- Cross to Bourbon Street Grille for brunch, served Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Its menu lists the Paul Thomas Beignet, a powdered-sugar beignet filled with melted, locally made dark chocolate and finished with a strawberry reduction, per Bourbon Street Grille. Note that the restaurant lists Tuesday and Wednesday as closed.
- Walk to The Dahlonega Fudge Factory on North Park Street, open from 11 a.m. It names more than 15 varieties of fudge and items such as Peanut Butter Cups and Cloud 9 Pretzels.
- Stop at Connie’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop on North Park Street, open from 11 a.m. on Saturday. Its menu lists a Hot Fudge Brownie and an Affogato.
- Finish at Kilwins Dahlonega on the south side of the Square, open from noon. It makes Mackinac Island Fudge in the store and offers samples on request.
On a Sunday, flip the order. Paul Thomas does not open until 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, so start with brunch at Bourbon Street Grille at 9 a.m., walk to the Fudge Factory when it opens at 11 a.m., then Kilwins and Connie’s from noon, and end at Paul Thomas in the afternoon. All four counters list 8 p.m. Sunday closings, so an afternoon start still leaves room. On a Monday the same route works, but Connie’s closes at 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Picnic Cafe & Dessertery, also on the south side, sells whole cakes, and its catering page lists German Chocolate among the flavors. Whole cakes need 48 hours’ notice, so plan ahead if you want one.
For a version of this route timed to the day and hour you will be here, use the Sweet Walk Planner. For a closer look at the three fudge counters, read Dahlonega fudge, side by side.
Chocolate
Paul Thomas Chocolates
Family-owned chocolate shop on the square that handcrafts its chocolates in small batches and says about 90% of what it sells is made on location, including soft caramels cooked in a copper kettle.
- On its own menu: Almond Butter Crunch – Toffee · Black Cherry Truffles · Blood Orange Caramels · Cacao Fudge • Chocolate Covered · Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Mon–Thu 10 am–8 pm · Fri–Sat 9 am–9 pm · Sun 12:30 pm–8 pm (as published)
- 102 Public Square North, Dahlonega, GA 30533
- (706) 864-6333
Source: paulthomaschocolates.com, checked Oct 19, 2026
Donuts and beignets
Bourbon Street Grille
Cajun restaurant on the square whose own menu lists beignets (French Market doughnuts in powdered sugar), a Paul Thomas Beignet filled with locally made dark chocolate, seasonal bread pudding and Bananas Foster.
- On its own menu: Beignets (4) · Paul Thomas Beignet · Seasonal Bread Pudding · Bananas Foster
- Mon 11 am–9 pm · Thu 11 am–9 pm · Fri 11 am–10 pm · Sat 9 am–10 pm · Sun 9 am–8 pm · closed Tue–Wed (as published)
- 90 Public Square N., Dahlonega, GA 30533
- (706) 864-0086
Source: thebourbonstreetgrille.com, checked Oct 19, 2026
Fudge
The Dahlonega Fudge Factory
Second-generation candy shop at the corner of North Park and Main, open since 1982, making hand-dipped chocolates, Southern confections and more than 15 varieties of cream and butter fudge, plus caramel-dipped apples in fall and winter.
- On its own menu: Dahlonega Nuggets · Pecan Pralines · Peanut Butter Cups · Cloud 9 Pretzels · Divinity
- Mon–Thu 11 am–8 pm · Fri–Sat 11 am–9 pm · Sun 11 am–8 pm (as published)
- 8 N Park St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
- (706) 864-3988
Source: dahlonegafudgefactory.com, checked Oct 19, 2026
Ice cream
Connie's Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop
Ice cream and sandwich shop by the square serving scoops in cups, cake cones and waffle cones, milkshakes, floats, sundaes and espresso-and-ice-cream drinks, plus cookies and brownies.
- On its own menu: Banana Split · Hot Fudge Brownie · Espresso Shake · Affogato · Milkshake
- Mon–Thu 11 am–6 pm · Fri–Sat 11 am–9 pm · Sun 12 pm–8 pm (as published)
- 18 North Park Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533
- (706) 864-1382
Source: conniesicecream.com, checked Oct 19, 2026
Fudge
Kilwins Dahlonega
Franchise chocolate, fudge and ice cream shop just off the square that makes Mackinac Island Fudge in the store on marble tables, dips caramel apples in made-in-store caramel and scoops Original Recipe Ice Cream in fresh waffle cones.
- On its own menu: Mackinac Island Fudge · Caramel Apples · TUTTLE™ Nut Caramels · New Orleans Praline Pecan · Sorbetto
- Its own menu marks: dairy-free options
- Mon–Thu 12 pm–8 pm · Fri–Sat 12 pm–9 pm · Sun 12 pm–8 pm (as published)
- 40 Public Square S, Dahlonega, GA 30533
- (706) 203-3100
Source: kilwins.com, checked Oct 19, 2026
Bakery
Picnic Cafe & Dessertery
Family-recipe cafe on the square, started in 2001 as The Dahlonega Dessertery, serving breakfast and lunch plus homemade muffins, scones, pastries, whole cakes and whole pies.
- On its own menu: Vegan Muffin · Large Baked Goods Platter · Whole Cake · Whole Pie · Quiche Plate
- Its own menu marks: gluten-free · vegan options
- Mon–Sun 7 am–6:30 pm (as published)
- 30 Public Square South, Dahlonega, GA 30533
- (706) 864-1095
Source: thepicniccafe.wixsite.com, checked Oct 19, 2026
Things to know before a March visit
- Shipping. The Dahlonega Fudge Factory ships chocolate only between November 1 and February 28. A crawl in early March falls just after that window, so plan to carry chocolate home rather than ship it.
- Parking. Parking on and around the Square is free, with about 300 spaces plus three free lots, per the Dahlonega DDA. The 3-hour spaces are enforced 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. On weekends the UNG deck off South Chestatee Street is open to visitors all day. Details are on parking and getting here.
- Weekend hours. On Friday and Saturday, Paul Thomas, Kilwins, the Fudge Factory and Connie’s all list 9 p.m. closings.
When is the 2027 crawl?
Not announced. The crawl has run on an early-March weekend in 2026, but the Visitors Bureau has not posted a 2027 date as of Oct 19, 2026, and we will not guess one. Our sweets calendar will show it once the Bureau publishes it.
Questions people ask
When is the 2027 Dahlonega Chocolate Crawl?
The Visitors Bureau has not posted 2027 dates as of Oct 19, 2026. The 6th annual crawl ran March 5-8, 2026.
Source: Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026
Where do I get a Chocolate Crawl passport?
The Visitors Bureau's crawl page says passports come from the Visitor Center, which is at 13 South Park Street and is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Source: Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026
Who started the Dahlonega Chocolate Crawl?
The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau first launched the Chocolate Crawl in 2021.
Source: Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026
Can I do a chocolate walk in Dahlonega outside the crawl weekend?
Yes. Paul Thomas Chocolates, Kilwins Dahlonega and The Dahlonega Fudge Factory all publish hours seven days a week on their own sites, checked Oct 19, 2026, so you can walk your own route any weekend.
Source: Paul Thomas Chocolates, checked Oct 19, 2026
What kind of chocolate samples were offered on the 2026 crawl?
The Visitors Bureau says participants could sample all kinds of chocolate, including hot chocolate, pies, fudge, cookies and drinks, at downtown shops and restaurants.
Source: Visitors Bureau, checked Oct 19, 2026
Written by the Dahlonega Bakery Guide Editorial Team. AI tools help us draft; people check every fact against its source before it publishes.
