When Forbes Magazine named Fairfax City #3 of the top 25 U.S. cities to live in, it must have had the Chocolate Festival in mind.

Every year at this time the town invites the rest of us to binge on chocolate and charming 19th century surroundings.  This year's festival will be held on February 6 and 7 in Old Town Fairfax at Main Street and University Drive.

Events will include a contest to create chocolate works of art, a Pancake breakfast (chocolate chip, of course), open house in some the district's historic buildings and a craft show.  Walk off some of those excess calories by exploring well preserved buildings dating from the early 1800's, including the site of the first Confederate casualty of the Civil War and the Fairfax City Courthouse--built in 1800 and still in use today.  The district also includes a wide variety of restaurants and boutiques.