CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL TO SWEETEN SCHOOL DISTRICT PROGRAMS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Rival kisses booths, two human sundaes and root beer float-chugging contests will be featured Saturday at the third annual Romantic Chocolate Festival to benefit students in the Lancaster School District.

Lancaster City Council members will duel with district trustees as to who can sell the most chocolate kisses candies, and Mayor George Runner and Superintendent Stephen Gocke will allow people to slather them with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

"I'm going to put on a wet suit, ready to be a human sundae," Runner said. "I can't say I'm looking forward to it. It should be a rather interesting experience, and it's for a good cause."

Gocke was not as prepared sartorially for his role as a sundae.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to wear. Maybe I'll wear some goggles," Gocke said.

The festival will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 155 E. Ave. I. The city of Lancaster and Jones Intercable are co-sponsoring the festival, which is expected to draw 3,000 chocolate lovers and more than 60 vendors.

Cookies, cakes, candies, ice creams, pastries, coffees and drinks are among some of the luscious delicacies to be sampled. Vendors include hotels, restaurants, florists, gift shops and candy and cookie companies.

Last year's festival at Challenger Hall drew more than 2,400 people. With more than 3,000 expected this year, the festival has expanded to three buildings: Challenger Hall, the old Gem and Mineral Building, and Desert Hall, formerly called the Agricultural Building.

Tickets purchased in advance cost $10 and are available at City Hall, the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, district schools, the district office, Hang 'n Java Coffee House, AV Sports and Graphics, and the Lancaster and Palmdale chambers of commerce.

Tickets at the door will cost $15. For more information, call the district at 948-4661, Ext. 211.

The festival is being held to benefit the Lancaster Education Foundation, which raises funds for programs in the 13,000-student district in the visual and performing arts, science and technology, and health and physical education.

The foundation has raised $150,000 since its formation in 1993.

Last year Councilman Frank Roberts, who was then the mayor, established a tradition by becoming the first human sundae. A children's wading pool will be decorated like a giant ice-cream dish.

For a small fee, people can select from a variety of toppings to smear and sprinkle on Runner. The sundae session will begin at 2 p.m.

New this year will be a Newlywed Game, featuring three couples who have been married less than 18 months.

In "The Great Kiss-Off," City Council members and trustees will battle over who can sell the most chocolate kisses and lay claim to the title of champion kissers.

Other events include contests in eating cheesecake, gulping down root-beer floats, stacking ice-cream scoops, and wolfing down chocolate kisses.