Firehouse Chili Cook-Off Festival Fires Up Saturday, Oct. 7

Best Chili in the Land?
If you believe your chili recipe is the best in the Grand Lake area, the South Grand Lake Lions Club invites you to put your best chili up against others as its annual Firehouse Chili Cook-Off Festival Saturday, Oct. 7. This year's annual event will honor local volunteer fire departments in the club's service area.

How do you like your chili?

Red, verde or white with chicken?

With beans or no beans whatsoever? Should it be made with beef chuck, ground beef, brisket or turkey? Or, should it be a vegetarian chili with no meat at all?

These are just some of the questions judges and guests will be answering for themselves as they sample their way around the Firehouse Chili Cook-Off Festival Saturday, Oct. 7.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., cooking teams will square off at the Langley baseball field park as they compete to answer the most important question of all — who makes the best chili on Grand Lake?

Presented by the South Grand Lake Lions Club, the Firehouse Chili Cook-Off Festival will feature two separate chili competitions, a salsa competition, live music, vendors and a free kids zone.

An annual event of the South Grand Lake Lions Club for the past nine years, this year’s chili cook-off festival will honor local volunteer fire departments in the club’s service around around Grand Lake.

In addition to being recognized, these fire departments have been invited to participate in a separate chili cook-off.

Competing against each other, the firefighters with the best chili will take home cash prizes. The first place fire department will win a grand prize of $1,000, second place will win $500 and third place will take home $250.

“This is the 10th anniversary of the South Grand Lake Lions Club’s service to Grand Lake, and it’s the first time we’ve designated the monies raised to an organization that needs it. It’s our way of giving back,” said Virginia Gibson, South Grand Lake Lions Club vice president. “The cash prizes awarded in the fire departments’ competition are a way to support our local volunteer fire departments and to thank the men and women who devote their lives to keeping our communities safe.”

Competing for Bragging Rights

Although the fire department competition is invitation only, anyone can enter the second Firehouse Chili Cook-Off Festival chili competition.

No cash prizes will be given in this cook-off, so cooking teams will be competing for plaques and, more importantly, bragging rights. These awards will include first, second and third place in Best All Around and People’s Choice, as well as Spirit and Showmanship.

First, second and third place winners will also be named in the salsa competition.

The chili and salsa competitions will be blind judged.

In determining a winner for Best All Around Chili, the judges will consider all participants, including the fire departments.

The Spirit and Showmanship awards will be given to the teams that exhibit the most spirit and showmanship at the festival through booth decorations, costumes, etc.

People’s Choice will be determined by which cooking teams receive the most tickets and cash donations in containers at their booths.

Tasting kits will include a ticket to vote for the People’s Choice Award. Guests are encouraged to vote for the chili they like the best by dropping their ticket or cash donation in that cooking team’s container.

The cost to enter the chili cook-off is $25, and the salsa competition is $10. The last day to sign up a cooking team for either competition is Wednesday, Oct. 4.

Fun for All Ages

In addition to sampling tasty chili entries, the Firehouse Chili Cook-Off Festival promises to be a fun event for the whole family.

“Everybody makes chili that tastes good to them,” Gibson said, “so we’ve had some awesome chili. And, we always have an all-around good time.”

Phil Bethel will be providing live music during the event. Joining Bethel on stage will be Kenny Babb and John Hoff.

Children won’t want to miss the large free kid zone at this year’s festival. Grand Slam Inflatables will be setting up two bounce houses and an obstacle course for children to play on. There will also be face painting and assorted games and prizes.

Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) will once again be on hand to provide free fingerprinting of children.

According to Gibson, members of the Leo Club will be monitoring and overseeing the kid zone. The Leo Club is a Lions Club program for high school students.

The Firehouse Chili Cook-Off Festival will also have a variety of vendors on hand.

Lakewood Ace Hardware has donated 50 smoke alarms to be installed by local fireman. Applications for the smoke alarms will be available for those who need them.

Advance tickets for the festival are $5. They can be purchased at the Langley Tag Agency, Southern Darlins Boutique or Valley National Bank.

At the gate on the day of the event, tickets will be $6 or $5 with the donation of a canned good. All food items collected will be donated to the Blue House for distribution. Children under four are free.

The ticket price includes admission, a tasting kit and a ticket to vote for People’s Choice.

Set-up for the chili and salsa competitions starts around 9 a.m. with the chili tasting beginning at 11 a.m.

Vendors are still being accepted. Booths are $25 for a 10x10 space.

To enter a team, inquire about vendor space or for additional information, contact Virginia Gibson at Valley National Bank, (918) 782-3265 or email vgibson@bankvnb.com.

You can also visit the South Grand Lake Lions Club of Langley Facebook page.