Wednesday, October 1, 2023–10:20 a.m.
-News Release-
The stage is set for the ultimate chili cook-off on Saturday, Nov. 4 as 26 teams will vie for the title of Rome’s best Chili at the Chili Fest Cook-Off presented by Georgia Power at Ridge Ferry Park.
Can the Chili Pros be the first back-to-back overall champion? Can Papa Dew’s Chili reclaim the belt it won two years ago? Maybe the Rome Redbacks can improve on their second-place overall finish from 2021 and wrest the belt away from the other chili titans. Don’t forget about the Outlaw Heifers with two top finishes in People’s Choice voting and back-to-back Best Cook Site set-up awards. Or maybe one of the other teams will rise to the occasion and lift the championship belt on Saturday afternoon.
Gates open at 10 a.m. with chili tasting beginning at 11 a.m. Parking is $5 per vehicle and chili-tasting bracelets will be on sale for $5. There are 1,000 bracelets but they have sold out fast in the past, so come early if you want to sample the 26 different chili recipes.
Be sure to come hungry because chili portions are in 1-ounce cups meaning you have the chance to sample more than a pound and a half of chili. Along with chili, food vendors will be on hand, including Country Cabin Treats, Meats & Sweets, and Mahi’s Uni-Pop as well as a concession stand serving plenty of ice-cold Coke products.
Among the 26 teams competing for prizes are last year’s overall winner Chili Pros, Papa Dew’s Chili, the 2021 overall winner and 2022 People’s Choice Winner, Outlaw Heifers, the 2021 People’s Choice champion, 2022 People’s Choice runner-up and winner of best cook site set up in both 2021 and 2022 and Rome Redbacks, the overall runner-up in 2021.
Cook-off teams are competing for judges’ awards, including trophies to the top teams, and cash prizes along with the coveted championship belt. Teams are also vying for people’s choice votes and trophies and for the best cook site setup and best team name.
A car show benefitting the Floyd County Special Olympics and the FCSO’s Sheriff Santa will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with awards going out in several categories. There is a $25 entry fee with registration running from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
More than 30 vendors will be set up offering all kinds of good things for sale ranging from hot sauces and homemade baked items to jewelry, soaps, candles, dog treats, and more.
Two different musical acts will also take to the Coca-Cola stage during the event with BLYSS playing from 10 a.m. to noon and TJ Cochran playing from 2 to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit rfpra.com.