"I'll go through the flavors and we'll decide,” says the man in the white lab coat.
"This is sort of a hands on affair,” teases Peter Behringer.
Peter is at the head of this class where he exclaims, “You get to make your own candy."
The sweet class this holiday season teaches visitors the secrets Peter uses at “Sweet Pete’s,” the candy factory with his name on the door. Classes are so popular, the rest of December is sold out, while reservations can now be made for January.
"I want them to learn something unique, that they cannot learn anywhere else,” Peter says.
Pete shares his knowledge several times each week from the third floor classroom inside a stately manor in downtown Jacksonville.
"We get everybody from Kindergarten to high school to senior citizens like it,” he says about his students.
Folks like Katie Leavy come together with their loved ones.
"It's a lot of fun because you get to make lolly pops, and I have never made one before,” Katie says.
Katie and others learned how basic ingredients become suckers that resemble candy canes.
"It's a little bit difficult shaping it," says the young candy maker from Maryland.
Part chemistry.
Part cooking.
All sweet.
"The kids. Even their eyes light up,” Peter concludes.
Besides candy classes, Sweet Pete’s is known for being home to two floors of fresh-made candy and hard to find candies from around the world.
Family classes at 'Sweet Pete's start at around $15 per person. Classes for January are now forming. Valentine's Day classes will open for reservations in early January.
To plan your adventure, click here.