Shriners Auditorium — Attraction in Wilmington

Went to the Chocolate Expo 2023 first time and the last time. Nothing to do with the Shriners they are amazing in what they do and provide. But this show needs a lot of improvement. Over priced VIP tickets really gives you nothing except a free 2.00 tote bag. It is crowds of people gathered at a vendor booth and you wait ridiculous amounts of time while a lot of people are just taking samples to fill up on, standing there chatting not buying anything. Some Vendors literally just stand at their booth collecting money and handing you your purchase no comments, not asking customers questions and discussing their products making suggestions to purchase. Absolutely not a word from at least 6 different vendors we purchased from, nothing encouraging customers to visit them online for future purchase or even discussing their products. Very crowded, long long lines to some of the vendors stretching across the main isle to walk, forcing you to continually cut thru the lines and receive chocolate death stares. Absolutely not worth over 80.00 for 2 VIP tickets which doesn’t really do much with exception of a very cheap tote bag. I’ll stick to the yearly craft shows and save over 80.00 and leave with chocolate...

Spacious exhibition space with friendly, all-volunteer staff, a surprisingly-good takeout/sitdown restaurant for lunching there or en route home...and plenty of easy parking off Rte. 93.

My only criticism may seem odd: This non-profit fraternity, the Aleppo Shriners, while running a wonderful childrens' hospital in Boston, appears to have done nothing to help the real Aleppo: the devastated city in Syria for which they name themselves.

If you''d like, gently, to help change that parochial attitude: While you're there, ask one of those proud men in their Muslim-symbolled costume, "What are you fine people doing to help Aleppo?"

Thugh they may look perplexed (They'll have no idea what 'Aleppo' really means) ypur gentle prod may give pne of them to give a chance to start realizing they're truly using the name of others' real city and real religion without license!

If they're going to continue to do that, don't they feel some moral duty to provide Aleppo a little recompense? As it is niw, they're using an old 'brand' name without any franchise-recompense payment to its truw owners at all. Is that fair, or is it respectful of others' religion and civilization? What does that say about...

Overall the performance was good. Not something brilliant, as I was used to see in my childhood, just good. There were 3 scenes, the actors performed on all 3. I was really impressed by the motorbikers riding inside the sphere. The popcorn, cotton candy and slush sellers were extremely annoying, walking continuously between the rows. Poor parents had to spend more extra and extra money on all the existing trash in the world. I absolutely understand that it is a part of their business, so if you plan to visit circus, just take a lot of extra...