Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia’s most famous food street is making it warm and cozy for the holiday season! The 4th Annual Passyunk Ave. Hot Chocolate Crawl returns to East Passyunk Avenue on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 11:00am to 5:00pm, at 15+ participating restaurants, bars, cafes and coffee shops.
Participating eateries will offer their takes on the warm and delicious wintry treat with specially priced classic cocoas ($3), premium and boozy cocoas ($6) and ice cream infused creations ($8). Tickets include a souvenir mug and access to all the hot chocolate deliciousness. During the event, participating retailers and shops along the business strip will offer specials, sales, samples and surprises. Merry-makers will also enjoy live entertainment up and down the Avenue with Christmas carols and holiday tunes from East Passyunk Opera Company. Tickets for the event are on sale now for $12 that includes a souvenir mug and exclusive access to the cocoas and special pricing. Passyunk Ave. Hot Chocolate Crawl is presented with support from RE/MAX One Realty and the Capri Dessecker Team and Nice Things Handmade, and sponsors Milk Jawn, CENTURY 21 Forrester Real Estate, Ground Up Cafe and Coffee and DaVinci & Yu. For more information and to reserve your ticket, visit bit.y/passyunkchotchocolate2025
“Passyunk Ave. Hot Chocolate Crawl was created to bring together in our neighborhood and to support all the small, local and independent businesses along East Passyunk during the most festive time of year,” said event co-organizer Capri Dessecker. “I am excited for our fourth crawl – it is one of my favorite events of the entire year. What started as a response to help businesses during the pandemic turned into a viral sensation. Last year, we sold out and had hundreds of adults, children and families up and down the Avenue sipping cocoa out of our souvenir mugs. This year we have some new participating businesses and have the most mugs available ever. We are excited to expand the event and can’t wait to see everyone!”
“Break out your cutest scarf, warm mittens and cozy up on the Avenue,” said co-organizer Elissa Kara, Nice Things Handmade. “Sip on hot chocolate and festive drinks while you stroll through the neighborhood and enjoy everything local and small (business). We will have Christmas carols, sales, specials and holiday surprises along the way.”
Passyunk Ave. Hot Chocolate Crawl is one of the largest and most unique holiday crawls in the Philadelphia region. It started in 2022 as local businesses in South Philly came together to bring attention and foot traffic to the famed East Passyunk shopping and dining district. The event sold out in both year one and two – and this year more mugs will be available than ever before to keep up with demand.
For this year’s event, nearly two dozen restaurants, bars, cafes, coffee shops and eateries will offer a hot chocolate special – some are current favorites on the menu but for a specially discounted price, and others are one-day exclusive drinks only for the crawl.
Tickets include a souvenir mug. The ticket and souvenir cup gets you access to specially priced $3 classic cocoas, $6 boozy and premium varieties, and $8 ice cream infused varieties. Participating eateries so far include:
B2 Cafe
Classic Hot Chocolate and Classic Hot Chocolate with Vanilla Ice Cream
Barcelona Wine Bar
To be announced
Cantina Los Caballitos
To be announced
DaVinci & Yu
The “Best Spiced Hot Chocolate in Philadelphia!”
Delicious Sweets
Twist on Classic Hot Chocolate
Favors and FlavorsClassic Chocolate and a Special Snowman Hot Chocolate
Ground Up Cafe & Coffee
Nutella Hot Chocolate
Juana TamaleMexican Hot Chocolate and a Vegan Option
Lucky 13 Pub
Cocoa Cafe Hot Chocolate
Milk Jawn
Several options including their famous Candy Cane Ice Cream Hot Chocolate and Vegan Hot Chocolate
Omi Kitchen
Classic Hot Chocolate
Pizzata Pizzeria & BirreriaClassic Hot Chocolate and Boozy Variety
P’unk Burger
$3 Nutella Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
$8 with a scoop of ice cream.
$6 Single Smashburger with Cheese, Lettuce, tomato and onion
$6 Milkshakes ( selected flavors)
Pistolas Del Sur
Mexican Hot Chocolate will be available with or without booze; Boozy options will include tequila, mezcal, whiskey
Stogie Joe’s Tavern
Boozy Hot Chocolate choice of Tito or Jim Beam
Townsend Wine Bar
Look for a boozy and non-boozy option with multiple liquor add-ins
And more restaurants and bars to be announced!
During the event, merry makers can look for festive live music and Christmas carols from performers from East Passyunk Opera Project – performing at various times during the day inside and outside participating businesses. Look for dozens of businesses to participate and host performers during slots in the day, including:
August Moon Boutique
B2 Cafe
Cantina Los Caballitos
Ground Up Cafe and Coffee
Headhunters Hair Design
Juana Tamale
Latchkey
Milk Jawn
Mockingbird Salon
Nice Things Handmade
P’unk Burger
Pistolas Del Sur
Pizzata Pizzeria & Birreria
RE/MAX One Realty – The Capri Dessecker Team
Sawubona Creativity Project
Sermania Jewelry
Stogie Joes Tavern
The Pottery Spottery
Townsend EPX
Boutiques and retailers will also offer specials, sales and festive happenings – with the early list including:
A Novel Idea
To be announced
August Moon Boutique
Marshmallows for topping & cookies for dipping
Creations by Coppola
10% discount with purchases and with every purchase you get a shot gratis
Delicious Sweets
Hot chocolate inspired desserts, Christmas desserts and more
Frame Fatale
2.5×2.5 glitter encrusted tabletop frame
Good Bu y Supply
Complimentary plantable postcard with purchase for hot chocolate crawl attendees
Grow Beautiful My Darling
Surprise sale rack, mimosas for grown-ups, bubble machine for kids – plus music and games
Headhunters Hair Design
30% off all products
Latchkey
To be announced
Mockingbird Salon
Raffle for a professional blow dry
Movement Source Pilates Studio
$5 off Movement Source’s 11am All-Levels Pilates Mat Class. Advanced sign up required- use code HOTCHOC
N.R.S Boutique
11-7:30 holiday sidewalk sales with vintage and one of a kind sports designs, inside look for sales in the shop plus treats while you shop
Nice Things Handmade
Candy canes, cookies and holiday cheer to customers. (While supplies last)
RE/MAX One Realty – The Capri Dessecker Team
To be announced
Sawubona Creativity Project
Discounted ticket prices and raffling off a gift basket with a comp class, 2 tickets to a show, a Fr ee (60 minute) Improv Workshop For Corporations or Schools, an SCP T-Shirt and an SCP mug. We won’t be open from 11AM-1PM then reopen 3PM-5PM.
Sermania Jewelry
Sale on Select Sterling Silver
Souk
50% Off select Kilim Bags – comp merch tote with $250+ purchase
South Fellini
20% off all beanies
Stitch and Story Consignment
Cookies and sips
The Pottery Spottery
To be announced
Other festive happenings during the 4th Annual Passyunk Ave. Hot Chocolate Crawl will include Nice Things Handmade 15th Annual Ornament Show with hundreds of handmade, local made ornaments from local artists and makers. Look for other festive events to be announced by retailers and businesses this day as well.
The Miracle on South 13th Street is now open just off East Passyunk on the 1600 block of 13th Street – from 5:00pm to 10:00pm the day of the crawl. Refill your cocoa mug one final time and make sure to check out this epic South Philly tradition.
Purchase your commemorative Passyunk Ave Hot Chocolate Crawl mug for just $12 then pick it up. This is a pay-as-you-go event, you must purchase a mug to get these exclusive event prices. Participating businesses will sell a variety of hot chocolate (including boozy and ice cream options) while other businesses will entice you with treats!
Passyunk Ave. Hot Chocolate Crawl is presented with support of co-organizers Capri Dessecker – who founded the original crawl, and Elissa Kara of Nice Things Handmade. Special Thanks for other sponsors including Milk Jawn, CENTURY 21 Forrester Real Estate, Ground Up Cafe and Coffee, DaVinci & Yu, Pistolas Del Sur, Frame Fatale, Headhunters Hair Design, Mockingbird Salon and Sermania Jewelry.
ABOUT PRESENTING SPONSORS
* RE/MAX One Realty and the Capri Dessecker Team *
Capri Dessecker is a dedicated real estate agent passionate about empowering others and making a positive impact on her community. With years of experience in the industry, Dessecker has honed her skills in helping clients navigate the complexities of bu ying and selling homes. She finds immense satisfaction in assisting clients achieve their homeownership dreams.
A survivor of the 2008 recession and the 2012 pandemic, Dessecker’s resilience and determination have shaped her into the successful agent she is today. Her personal journey, marked by hard work and perseverance, has equipped her with the empathy and understanding needed to guide clients through challenging times.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dessecker is a dedicated philanthropist and community advocate. She has actively raised funds for various charitable causes and is deeply involved in local initiatives. Dessecker’s unwavering belief in the power of giving back inspires her to continue making a difference in the lives of others.
* Nice Things Handmade *
Nice Things Handmade, located at 1731 East Passyunk Avenue, is a South Philadelphia gift boutique and art gallery curated by artist Elissa Kara. Nice Things supports 75 top artists from around the region, and across the country, that sell handmade ceramics, jewelry, clothing, prints, accessories and artwork. While other artists have turned to the internet in recent years, Kara provides a physical space where customers can see the details of the stitches, appreciate the variations in color and, most importantly, appreciate the quality found in the handmade. Kara herself is a featured artists at Nice Things Handmade, specializing in textiles and fibers. She even hand spins and hand-dyes her own yarns! For more information, call (267) 455-0256, visit nicethingshandmade dot com or follow @nicethingshandmade