It's hard to explain the attraction of cooking competition chili, but right from the "get-go" in 1985,  folks have gotten it - they've understood that this "good, serious fun" is all in support of the work of the Thornbury-Clarksburg Rotary Club and will result not only in a wonderful day of food, fun and frivolity for all who attend, but will likely change the lives of people in our own community or perhaps in a faraway place in the world through the benevolent work done by the club.

This year's version of this annual affair unfolds on Saturday, July 5 -- once again in the beautiful Events Plaza at The Village at Blue Mountain.

The serious side of the cookoff is obviously there - "blind" judging, entry fees, sanctioned Provincial Championship status, deadlines and strict ingredient and cooking rules. 

But the contrasting silly side is equally engaging!!  What's not to like about chili-cooking bumblebees....or fish....or pirates.....or cavemen.......or hula-wearing girls cooking chili in a grass shack?

How can you avoid getting dragged into the fray as competitors compete for your attention and your votes for their chili?  And the aroma is....fantastic!!

 The heart of the Chili Cookoff is, of course, the CHILI!  Cooking starts at 10:30 a.m., and it's the same great fun that it's always been - a chance to get involved with the often zany chili cooks who are usually decked out in their crazy costumes and colourful booths. 

Who knows; maybe there's a secret ingredient to be shared or a chili recipe to be had!  When all of the hard "slaving over a hot stove" has ended, and each team has rushed its Official Sample of chili to the Judging Tent, matters get turned over to the people. 

At that moment - 2:01 p.m. to be exact - everyone who has purchased a $10 Official Tasting Kit is set loose to sample every one of the competition chilis - or as many as they can handle!  The plaza by this time is packed with "chiliheads", all intent on getting a taste of those "killer chilis". 

And when they vote for their favourite, they help to crown this year's People's Choice Champs!  It should be noted that only 800 kits will be sold, so visitors are wise to grab a tasting kit as soon as they go on sale at noon.  There's great value in the tasting kit -- the attractive tote bag serves well to hold both the various goodies in the tasting kit and whatever else you might be carrying that day!
 
Chili team entries have been coming in steadily - at last count 26 teams were in for sure, with a few more expected before the stoves get fired up on Saturday. Veterans and rookies alike are on the list - it's going to be a great cookoff!

Adding to all the hoopla of the chili cooking all afternoon will be some terrific live entertainment, in the form of Lemon Pepper Pickerel - a multi-talented group who are bound to keep things hopping on the Village Stage all afternoon.  Literally "back by popular demand", LPP will again provide both good music and good fun!

And, with the exception of the bargain-priced tasting kits, this entire afternoon of fun is free, thanks to the terrific partnership between The Village at Blue Mountain and the Thornbury-Clarksburg Rotary Club. 

All funds raised from tasting kit sales go toward the many benevolent works that the Rotarians take on each year, such as the large pledge recently made by the club in support of the new Medical Clinic to be built in Thornbury!

Details about the cookoff, as well as about the work of the Thornbury-Clarksburg Rotary Club can be found at its website. It's well worth a look.