The Chocolate Party Benefit showcases local sweet shops which bring treats to distribute to attendees.

This year, eight vendors from Greater Lansing lined the hall, passing out treats from local pastry and candy shops. Attendees sampled items such as cupcakes, cookies, chocolate truffles, tarts and washed it all down with glasses of milk.

“There’s nothing like marketing what you do, if you can’t put it in their mouth to try,” MSU Museum Facilities Manager Mike Secord said.

Each year, the event brings in about 300 to 400 attendees, Secord said.

The events usually raises nearly $10,000, and all proceeds support the MSU Museum.

Vendors weren’t the only attraction at the event. Six sculptures made entirely of chocolate were placed in the middle of the room for a competition. The sculptors carved the chocolate into a bouquet of flowers and different intricate designs.

This year, the first place “Chocolate Masterpiece” winner was Grand Haven, Mich., resident Justin Raha. His sculpture, “Long Live the Spartans,” primarily featured a green Spartan head.

Raha said it took him about 40 to 50 hours over the course of a few weeks to complete the sculpture.

Raha, a baking and pastry arts instructor at the Culinary Institute of Michigan, won $2,000, the second-place winner received $1,000 and the third-place winner took home $500.

This was Raha’s second year competing in the masterpiece competition. He said he appreciates that everyone is competitive and works hard on their pieces.

“It’s not a joke making chocolate sculptures,” he said. “Everyone puts in 110 percent of perfection, so I always look forward to what my competitors bring to the table.”

Doctoral student Nicole Quinn went with Lansing resident Emily Fraser for a few hours of chocolate-themed fun.

Fraser, who has come to the event for years, said she continues to come to honor her great uncle who passed away. Her uncle was on the board of directors for the MSU Museum so she often supports the organizations he was involved in.

This year was Quinn’s first Chocolate Party Benefit.

She said she enjoyed how it not only puts emphasis on delicious chocolaty treats, but it also supports the museum.

“Good cause, good chocolate — so it’s hard to resist,” Quinn said.