Peace Of Mind 4th Annual Hot Cocoa Contest at Depot Jan. 31

Peace of Mind held its Fourth Annual Hot Cocoa Contest at the railroad depot on January 31, 2026, staging an afternoon of sampling and fundraising aimed at bringing residents together around homemade recipes. The event included public tasting and a bake sale, and organizers promoted entry opportunities for local cooks ahead of the contest.

Social posts used to promote the event set public-facing hours and contestant expectations differently. An Instagram post read, "It's time to mark your calendars for Peace of Mind's Fourth Annual Hot Cocoa Contest on Saturday, January 31st, 2026! 🗓️ Join us 1-4pm," while a community notice advised prospective contestants that "Each entry costs $20, or only $15 for nonprofit organizations, and the time commitment would be about 11am-4pm (including setup) this Saturday the 31st! The deadline to enter is 5pm, 1/30/26." The pre-event messaging indicated public tasting hours of 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and asked contestants to plan for additional setup time beginning around 11:00 a.m.

Entry fees were explicit: $20 per entry, with a reduced rate of $15 for nonprofit organizations. The posted deadline to register was 5:00 p.m. on January 30, 2026. Organizers also solicited local participation by name: "If you know someone with a homemade hot cocoa recipe, tell them about this contest at the railroad depot this Saturday," a community post said.

The contest format, judging criteria, prize details, registration process, and the depot's full street address were not disclosed in the promotion materials. Peace of Mind did not provide an online registration link, contact phone number, or email address in the material supplied to the community notice and social post. The event's inclusion of a bake sale and the nonprofit entry discount suggest a community and charitable orientation, but posts did not specify whether bake sale proceeds or other revenues would benefit particular causes.

For Albany County residents, the contest represents a recurring opportunity for civic engagement that supports local culture and small-scale food entrepreneurs. Events like this also help activate public spaces such as the railroad depot and create informal networks among volunteers, nonprofit leaders, and neighbors. To improve transparency for future events, organizers could clarify the depot’s exact location, outline registration and payment procedures, and publish judging and prize information so contestants and attendees know what to expect.

Peace of Mind’s hot cocoa contest has now completed its fourth iteration; residents interested in similar community gatherings should watch Peace of Mind’s social channels for updates and organizers should consider posting clearer logistical details for the next event.