STEUBENVILLE — The streets of downtown Steubenville were filled with consumers looking for a sweet treat and sweet deals Saturday when the Historic Fort Steuben sponsored the Sweetheart Chocolate Walk.

To participate in the walk, consumers purchased a ticket and map of participating businesses in Historic Downtown Steubenville. Participants then visited each participating shop, got their ticket stamped and received a chocolate treat. Once they had completed the entire walk, they dropped off their tickets at the fort to be entered into a drawing for a dinner for two and $100 gift card to JC Wine Cellars. The dinner and gift card were donated by Tri-State Financial Services.

Patrick and Alecia Ford, Weirton, participated in the walk today and said it was “wonderful.”

“It’s doing its job,” Alecia Ford said. “I shopped.”

“I found places I did not know were here, “ Patrick Ford said. “It is a fantastic and festive idea. I was not ready for the holidays to be over. I hope they do more events like this.”

“It was worth every penny – and you get chocolate,” Alecia Ford laughed.

Mary Beth Allen, Wintersville, was another taking part in the event.

“It’s wonderful,” she said. “What’s bad about chocolate?”

Allen also said she used the tour of the area to do some shopping.

“I found a couple of places (to purchase items),” she said.

“It’s a great way to meet the retail people of a lot of places,” Marjean Sizemore of Wintersville said. “It’s the way Steubenville used to be.”

Ken and Becky Perkins were both participants and sponsors of the event. Ken Perkins is the owner of Tri-State Financial Services.

“I think it’s great to have people in downtown Steubenville on a Saturday in winter, “ he said.

Becky Perkins said her favorite stop was the Grand Theater where they got their picture taken.

“It is great to see how far (the theater) has come,” Ken Perkins said.

Mike Strean of Mike’s Sweeper Center was another business to take part in the event.

He said people came from all over to participate.

“I though it was great,” Strean said. “We had people from in town, and out of town. One couple came from Cleveland. They saw it on Facebook. They had been here this year to see the Nutcracker Village. I hope there are more (events). “

He said all the events in downtown Steubenville, including the First Fridays events and the Nutcracker Village, are really helping small business owners in the area.

“I lot of people would say I never knew you were here,” he said.

According to officials, other events being planned include a Shamrock Walk in March and a live Clue game for April at the fort.

Half of the proceeds from Saturday’s event will go toward education programs at the fort, officials said.

There were 11 businesses taking part, including BookMarx Bookstore, Leonardo’s Coffeehouse, Steubenville Popcorn Company, Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker Shoppe, the Prodigal Daughter, Ashley’s Decor and More, Mike’s Sweeper Center, Yorgo’s, Malta’s Pizza, the Grand Theater, and the Antique Warehouse.