It was chocoholic heaven.

About 200 people roamed inside the walls of the Southern Cultural Heritage Center auditorium to sample the assortment of chocolate confections offered by 10 local restaurants at the center’s 7th Chocolate Affair Thursday.

“Next to the run over the river, this is our biggest fundraiser,” SCHC executive director Stacy Massey said. “We usually average about 200 people.”

She said the restaurants and caterers participating in the event included Ameristar, Cedar Grove, Edible Arrangements, KJ’s River Town Grille, Main Street Market, Roca, Palmertree Catering, Rouxsters Home of Faydra Cakes, The Wine House and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Former SCHC executive director Annette Kirlkin said the Chocolate Affair was the result of an idea for a program to bring the community together with an event and music people would enjoy.

While Hale Baskin entertained the guests with musical selections of standards, jazz, Motown and swing tunes, they trolled the chocolatiers’ tables lining the auditorium walls sampling from a selection of such sinful and delectable treats as mocha hazelnut cupcakes, chocolate tiramisus — an Italian dessert of a light chocolate mousse mixed with lady fingers, chocolate mousse delight, chocolate mousse, assorted chocolate treats and chocolate martinis. Chocolate bread pudding and chocolate pecan pie were also on the menu.

“This is our third time,” said Scarlet Bagby, who was enjoying the full selection of treats with friends.

“We were here one year when they ran out,” she said. “So we just go and get one of each and decide which we like. When I got tickets, I got 10 percent off meals at any of the local restaurants. We had dinner at Roca. We had appetizers and now we’re having dessert.”

Faydra Baily was enjoying the distinction of being a participating caterer and a guest.

“This is my second time here,” she said. “I’m enjoying the selections. Each has a different taste and a different texture, and I’m having a good time for charity.”

Leslie Osborn and Mike Roniger of Picayune were staying overnight in Vicksburg and heard about the Chocolate Affair at their hotel.

“It’s all good,” Osborn said. “I enjoyed the tiramisus. I’ve never had it before.”

Richard and Dinah McMomas, who have been to five affairs, had a second reason for being there.

“This is part of her Mother’s Day,” Richard said. “I’m going to be on the Coast with the Special Olympics, and I’ll be gone all weekend, so we decided to celebrate early. We went to Roca for dinner.”

Mary Wilds, a confirmed chocoholic, was enjoying more than the chocolate as she sat with her mother-in-law, Annie Wilds, and stepdaughter, Amanda Wilds.

“This brings back so many memories,” she said. “I went to St. Francis. My mother went to St. Francis. I remember the first play I was in. It was on that stage in this auditorium. It was Old King Cole, and I was in kindergarten.

This was Wilds’ third affair, and her mother-in-law’s and stepdaughter’s first.

“This is the reason I come,” she said. “To enjoy the chocolate and the memories.”