Chocolate mice, chocolate fountains, chocolate cupcakes, oh my!

Dieters, beware. You're about to be in for the temptation of a lifetime.

This year's 28th Annual Firehouse Art Center's Chocolate Festival takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at its new location, the Forum at the University of Oklahoma, 1704 Asp Ave., Norman.

At this time, 30 "Chocolatiers" are gearing up for their part of the big day, which will include about 25,000 samples of delectable desserts.

New participants this year include The Melting Pot, Michelangelo's Coffee and Wine Bar, Pink Elephant Cafe and Carriage Hill Farms Wedding Event Center.

Classic vendors, such as Legends, La Baguette, Kendall's Restaurant and The Candy Basket will be there too with their yearly goodies such as Chocolate Amaretto Cream Cake and chocolate cinnamon rolls.

Norman business Fancy Cakes is keeping their chocolate sample a secret until the premier, adding suspense to the much-anticipated event.

"[The Festival] focuses the states attention on Norman," said Johnny Jazzar of La Baguette, in a release about the event. "Our hope for the future is that it goes back to what it was several years ago when it was nationally known and attracted people from many other states. The event concentrates on two areas: Chocolate and Art."

In addition to sampling, the festival will offer children's activities throughout the day. The activities are aimed at promoting arts education. A Children's Art Wall will be judged after the event, with the winner receiving scholarships to the FAC's after school program.

Demonstrations by Firehouse Art Center (FAC) faculty will also be going on during the event. Information about the various businesses that have donated goodies will be available too.

Tickets for the event are $20 for 10 samples of chocolate. The one-hour premier tickets, taking place at 10:30 a.m., are $30 and include 15 samples, a complimentary drink and a leftover container. Chocolate tasting sessions are scheduled for 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets sold at this event serve as the primary fundraiser for the FAC.

"For 27 years, local restaurants, bakeries and businesses have supported the Firehouse by donating samples of their best chocolate desserts annually for the Firehouse Art Center's Chocolate Festival," said Carla Chew, operations director for the FAC.

"Providing these samples not only makes 4,000 chocolate lovers' dreams come true, it helps provide Norman's school age children with the best visual art education chocolate can buy," Chew said.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call 329-4523 or visit www.normanfirehouse.com.

Jennifer Skinner and Jen Tregarthen contributed to the story.