Sixth Annual W’burg Chili Cookoff Contest Saturday

Do you have a chili recipe that you think is the best in Williamsburg? Saturday is your chance to prove it and collect some prize money to boot during the Sixth Annual Williamsburg Chili Cookoff Contest.

The chili cookoff will be held in conjunction with the community yard sale Saturday at the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center.

The community yard sale will take place between 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The chili cookoff will take place from noon – 2 p.m.

Williamsburg Main Street Manager Nannie Hays said there would be $100 cash prizes awarded for both first place in judge’s choice and people’s choice in two categories of chili: traditional red chili and home style chili.

“Traditional is no beans and home style can have beans,” Hays noted.

In the people’s choice category, the crowd determines the winner.

“In the judge’s choice, it is a blind taste test. They don’t know whose chili it is. You won’t know who the judges are. They will rate them and there will be a winner,” Hays noted.

Small individual cups will be provided to the crowd for the people’s choice category.

“We don’t make them cook it there. You cook it at home and bring it,” Hays noted.

Each contestant must bring five quarts of chili, which will be used for judging. Contestants are responsible for supplying all of their own cooking supplies, such as a crock-pot, ladle and extension cords.

Contest sponsors will provide an area for each contestant and electricity for the crock-pots or other devices used by contestants to keep the chili warm.

Last year nine people participated in the chili cookoff, which was three more than the prior year’s contest.

Ron Butterfield took home the People’s Choice Award and Gail Elias took home the Judge’s Choice Award for best home-style chili.

Betty Rains took home the People’s Choice Award and Kay Martin took home the Judge’s Choice Award for best traditional chili.

“We are excited and hoping for a big crowd. It is a lot of fun. Everybody needs to come down to the civic center and see what is going on,” Hays added.

For more information about the chili cookoff or to reserve a table for the community yard sale, call 549-0530.