Do you make a mean pot of chili? Is your homemade chili made from a family’s secret recipe? If so, the Arts Council of Plant City wants you to be a contestant in their upcoming Chilifest on January 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. “The Chili Cook-off began way back in 1990, and it continued for many years before ending its run and taking a hiatus around 2010,” said Arts Council of Plant City’s board member, Dodie White. “We resurrected the event, calling it Chilifest in 2015. The Arts Council wanted to support all art forms, and we realized that culinary art was missing; hence, the chili cook-off was established and Chilifest was resurrected.”
The Arts Council of Plant City is hoping to recruit some new chefs this year for Chilifest.“Prizes are awarded for first and second place in each category, Mild, Novelty, Spicy, as well as a People’s Choice Award. Winners receive a trophy and a cash prize,” said Art Council’s board member, Marsha Passmore. “Winners in the three categories are chosen by a panel of three judges who are only told what category they are judging at the time and not what team made the chili.” Money raised from Chilifest goes to the various Arts Council projects, including scholarships, sculptures, and banners.
As in years past, Chilifest coincides with RailFest at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum in downtown Plant City. “After the many years of hosting Chilifest at the Railroad Museum, members from the Railroad Museum and the Arts Council boards began talking about the possibility of joining forces since Railfest and Chilifest were typically held within a month or so of each other,” Passmore said. “After several discussions between the two organizations, it was decided to give it a try for one year and see how things went. It was a huge success.”
If you ask White and Passmore what they like most about Chilifest, they will tell you the camaraderie. “What I like best about Chilifest, is that it brings the entire community together,” Passmore said. “Downtown is packed with people during the few hours of Chilifest, including the teams who are competing, the people who come to enjoy the chili, those who are part of the entertainment, and those who come to watch the entertainment. It’s a festive affair, and everyone is in a great mood.”
If you are interested in competing in this year’s Chilifest, you can stop by Plant City History & Photo Archives to pick up an entry form. The cost to enter Chilifest is $25 per chili (mild, spicy, or novelty). Entry forms must be received by January 16. Contestants must bring six quarts of chili for each category they enter. For more information on entry and Chilifest rules, contact Chilifest Chair Libby Hopkins at 813-754-1578. Plant City History & Photo Archives is located at 106 S. Evers St. in the historic downtown district. Their office hours are Tuesday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
