The 8th Annual West Chester Rotary Chili Cook-Off, presented by Infiniti of West Chester and hosted by the Rotary Club of West Chester, roars back into downtown West Chester from noon to 3pm on Sunday, October 10th. Chili fans will be in chili heaven as they sample and vote on their favorite recipes through out the afternoon. Count on the chili being tasty and the competition sizzling!
A whopping 60 competitive Chili teams are ready to show that they indeed make the best darn chili in Chester County. Judging takes place two ways. Event Judging occurs behind the scenes. Chili Teams are categorized in five divisions: Business, Restaurant, Non-Profit Organization, Volunteer Organization and Hometown Cooks. Each team will prepare their best chili and submit a sample cup to a panel of local “celebrity” judges who will name at the award ceremony a “Best Chili Winner” and a second and third place winner in each division. While this blind-taste judging is occurring thousands of hungry chili fans will travel down Gay Street beginning at noon to sample and vote for their favorite team’s chili.
Each wristband sold comes with three voting nickels. As Chili fans stroll down Gay Street sampling the secret recipes of local cooks they can use their nickels to cast a vote for whom they feel makes the “Best Darn Chili.” Attendees can vote in on block or they save all their votes for one favorite chili team. Once in the Chili festival, the All-You-Can-Eat wristband allows each person to sample as much chili as they want. The team with the most wooden nickels (votes) in their pumpkin bucket will be presented with the 2010 West Chester Rotary Chili Cookoff’s People’s Choice Award at the award’s ceremony at 3:30.
Chili wristbands can be purchased early this year at a discounted price of 3 for $25 up until October 7. Go to westchesterchilicookoff.com for pre-sale locations or go to the Chamber of Commerce of Greater West Chester office at 119 N. High St., West Chester, located in the same block as Jane Chalfant. After October 7, an All-You-Can-Eat-Chili wristband will cost $10 each. Wristbands will be on sale at the Cookoff on each street corner of Gay Street between High and New Streets. Children under 10 are free with an adult purchase.
For the lil’ buckaroos in the family the YMCA’s Kiddie Korral will be back to entertain children with a moon bounce, face painting and games. Find them on Church Street. Funds raised from the event benefit the good works of the West Chester Rotary and local community charities.
The 8th Annual West Chester Rotary Chili Cook-Off has an awesome 37 businesses sponsoring the festival leading off with the returning Presenting Sponsor – Infiniti of West Chester; Platinum Sponsors –Comcast Spotlight; and BrandywineRadio.com, Gold Sponsors – County Lines, Daily Local News, WC Dish, Main Line Today, and The Women’s Journal, CC North . The Silver Sponsors, AAA Mid-Atlantic, Arthur Hall Insurance, Buckley, Brion, McGuire, Morris & Sommer LLP, Elmark Signs & Graphics, Brandywine Valley Heating & Air, Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, and RBS Dumpster Co. Bronze Sponsors include DNB First, Sue Casso’s Custom Printing & Promotions, La Difference Salon & Day Spa, Taylor Rental, Pancoast & Clifford, Brandywine Hall-Genesis Healthcare, Whirl Away Travel & Cruises, , DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Wiggins Payroll Service, Alliance Bank, First National Bank of Chester County, Giunta Enterprises, Inc, Phase 1 Electric, Brandywine Coach Works, , Stancato/Abdala Greentree Associates, Rainer & Company, First Niagara, J.E Gasho, Inc. and Fulton Bank, Guinta Enterprises, Inc., Phase 1 Electric, Inc., Triton Web Studios, West Chester Parks & Recreation, and Keystone Federal Credit.
The Rotary Club of West Chester is an international service organization of business professionals who hold “Service Above Self.”
