MONTICELLO - If there is one substance that has the power to draw people out on a cold winter night, without benefit of an enclosed mall, it's got to be chocolate.

Downtown shop owners in Monticello are gearing up for one of the biggest nights on their calendar - a homage to the products of the humble cacao bean.

The idea is for participants to wander from shop to restaurant to shop, receiving some kind of chocolate treat at each stop.

"There will be all kinds of candies and baked goods, everything will be chocolate," said Harlean Swing, owner of The Brown Bag restaurant. "Everybody's decorating this year. It should be festive and a lot of fun."

When the event was first held three years ago, it drew about 60 people on an unpleasant winter evening.

"The first year we had a sleet storm, but people came anyway, about 60," Swing said.

After the word got around that chocoholics had their own night in this small Piatt County town, the event more than doubled in attendance in succeeding years, with about 350 showing up in 2006.

In the interest of keeping the event low-key and intimate, while helping the merchants to plan with more certainty, it was decided to limit the number of tickets sold this year to 400.

"It's gotten so big," Swing said. "We never dreamed it would get this large. It's been a tremendous success."

Donna Catlin, owner of the Boka Shoppe, specializing in floral arrangements, said she has provided different treats each year: chocolate popcorn, layer bars and oatmeal fudge.

"I like it because it is in February," Catlin said. "People are looking for a way to get out. We play jazzy music. I'll probably have some coffee, also."

Linda Miller, director of Monticello Main Street, the event's sponsor, said the chocolate event helps merchants during a traditionally slow period.

Huey Freeman can be reached at hfreeman@herald-review.com or 421-6985.