Come Saturday, there will be a new chocolate favorite for the 19th annual Chocolate Festival, 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the North Tahoe Conference Center in Kings Beach.

For the first time in two years, there will be a new People's Choice award winner.

Incline resident Aaron Zendner, owner of Mr. Z's Candy Co., a former chocolate business in Incline, won the People's Choice award the past two years at the festival that benefits Tahoe Women's Services.

But with Zendner not entering the contest this year, the door for a new people's choice is wide open - and six area businesses are looking to snatch the top prize.

The six chocolatiers entering this year's festival are: Moody's Bistro and Lounge in Truckee, Plumpjack Cafe in Squaw Valley, Le Bistro in Incline Village, Lahonton Golf Club in Truckee, Mamasaki in Squaw Valley and Cocoa Bibelot in Carson City.

Erin Everett, an AmeriCorps volunteer with Tahoe Women's Services, said about 100 tickets already have been sold for Saturday's event. Ideally, Everett said TWS would like to sell another 200 tickets, but that might not be as easy this year.

"With the real estate market down, sponsorships have been down, too," she said. "There aren't as many last year, but it's still more than previous festivals."

Tickets are available for $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Advance tickets will be available until 5 p.m. today, Everett said. People can order tickets with a credit card by calling Tahoe Women's Services at (775) 298-0010 or by visiting its Web site at www.tahoewomenservices.org.

Tickets can be purchased at various venues throughout the Tahoe Basin. In Incline, citizens can buy tickets at Village Ace Hardware, located at 910 Tahoe Blvd. They also are on sale at the 7-Eleven Store in Kings Beach, Mamasake in Squaw Valley, New Moon Natural Foods in Truckee and Pablo's Gallery and Frame Shop in Tahoe City.

This year's festival also will see a new Most Outstanding Original Taste winner. Last year, Incline's Big Water Grille won the award. However, the restaurant on Diamond Peak isn't entering this year because of scheduling conflicts, a restaurant spokesperson said.

For the six participants who are entered, they will compete for Best Tabletop Presentation, Most Decadent Dessert, Most Outstanding Original Taste and the People's Choice award.

Everett said last year's festival raised more than $50,000 for Tahoe Women's Services.

"Last year was definitely was one of our most successful chocolate festivals," Everett said.

Tahoe Women's Services, which has four offices in the North Lake Tahoe/Truckee area, provides services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and to children who have been abused or neglected. Services include a 24-hour community help line, safe shelter, individual and group counseling, court and hospital accompaniment, assistance with temporary restraining and protective orders and emergency food and transportation.

The company also provides educational presentations to children, teens and adults about domestic and sexual violence prevention, as well as healthy relationships.

Everett said TWS benefits greatly from the yearly fundraiser.

"All the ticket sales and auction items, it all goes toward Tahoe Women's Services," Everett said. "To be quite honest, without this fundraiser, we wouldn't be able to continue."

For more information on how to be an auction donor or chocolatiers, please contact Michele Prestowitz at (775) 298-0169 or e-mail mprestowitz@tahoewomenservices.org.