November 15 & 17, 2022

ETHEL M CHOCOLATES FACTORY & CACTUS GARDEN

2 Cactus Garden Dr, Henderson, NV 89014

“Founded in 1981, Ethel M Chocolates is So. Nevada’s very own gourmet chocolatier for 30 years. Free self-guided factory tours showing every step of candy-making in the chocolate factory and guests enjoy free chocolate samples at the conclusion of the tour. The company’s founder and creator of M&M’s, Mars bars Forrest Mars Sr., retired from the family’s business, Mars Inc. and created Ethel M Chocolates as a tribute to his mother and chocolate-making heritage. Explore the Botanical Cactus Garden and enjoy the cactus lighting display making a "sweet" and magical experience during the holidays.” – visitlasvegas.com

Being an amateur candymaker, I love visiting candy factories.  Along with the free tour of the factory (a walk of about 150 feet along a glass wall), I decided take part in a chocolate taste testing.  Besides getting to taste four different kinds of candy made in the factory, the hostess gave us a little history of the museum and the process of making the candy.  The candy was delicious. 

Mr. Mars, besides loving chocolate and candy had a passion for cacti which led him to developing a four-acre cactus garden outside the museum.  It was interesting to walk through the garden looking at all the different cactus species.  Walking around the Christmas lights on the cacti were quite evident.  It seems the factory decorates for Christmas with over a million lights and other Holiday décor.  I returned two nights later to experience the Christmas Garden and was not disappointed.  Usually, I try to avoid Christmas displays until after Thanksgiving, but I’m glad I experienced Ethel M’s Holiday Cactus Garden Lights.