The 11th annual Simon Kenton Chili Cook Off Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, in Urbana will include live entertainment, children’s games and a day full of contests. Not only will the day include the 31 contestants vying for the first prize of $1,000 for the best chili, but there will also be a hot pepper eating contest, Suck, Chew and Blow contest, best salsa contest, and a corn hole tournament. In addition, you may vote for your favorite chili by purchasing “beads” for $1. The winner will receive a “Peoples Choice Chili” trophy and “bragging rights”!
For those entering the “Best Salsa” contest, entries are to be dropped off at the Courthouse Stage by 10:30 a.m. Entries must be in a disposable container, with recipe and registration form attached. Please check the web site for details and forms. [www.chilicookoffofurbana.com]www.chilicookoffofurbana.com
If contests are not your “thing,” enjoy the Hoopla parade, which starts at noon and will include a pet parade and the Dayton Antioch Shriners with their miniature vehicles, sample the contestants’ chili, watch a WPKO live remote broadcast, and rock to the sounds of the Indoorfins band. Food trucks will offer barbeque, hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, tacos, burritos, nachos, fries and much much more – something for everyone! In addition, there will be vendors selling jewelry, candles, snack foods and fall decorations.
To encourage family attendance, children’s games will be open in the 100 block of East Court St.. from 1 to 4 .pm. Games will include “fish,” the bouncy castle and face painting among others.
The “Dunk Tank,” a huge hit in 2016, is returning with Nick Mescher, Mark Perry, and Heather Downs running the show. Beginning at 1:00 pm, those volunteering to be “dunked” are Patrick Trenor, Matt Israel Brown, Emily MacKendrick, Steve Brandeberry, Fry Shokouhi, and Matt Upchurch. Don’t miss your chance to “dunk” your favorite or not so favorite person!
Main Street north of the square to Church Street will be closed to vehicular traffic at 6 a.m. The street will open for the Hoopla Parade featuring the Antioch Shriners at 12:00 pm and close again from 1-6 p.m.. The stage will be on the courthouse steps and live entertainment featuring “The Indoorfins” will begin at approximately 1:30 pm.. The emcee of the event, Taylor Armstrong, will coordinate all activities from the stage and entertain the crowd with spontaneous on the spot interviews! Committee members wearing “staff” t-shirts will be available to answer any questions. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a day of food, fun and entertainment!
Schedule of Events
7-10 a.m. Vendors and Cookers Registration/Set-up – Must enter through Church St. to access Main St.
7 a.m.-5 p.m. Welcome / Information Tent Open – Opposite the Courthouse Stage – Court/Main Sts.
8 a.m. Urbana Fire truck sirens will signal cookers to begin cooking.
Salsa contestants pick up application at Salsa table on Court House Stage or web site
10:30 a.m. Deadline for Salsa and applications to be turned in at Court House Stage
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Beer Garden Open
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Registration for Corn Hole Tournament – Limit 32 Teams
11 a.m.-2 p.m Registration for Suck, Chew and Blow Contest (limit 10 entries)
Registration for Pepper Eating Contest (limit 16 entries)
11 a.m. Judging of salsa entries on Courthouse Stage
Sale of People’s Choice Beads opens – $1.00 ea or 12/$10.00- Welcome Tent
Noon Hoopla Parade / Pet Parade Begins
1-4 p.m. Children’s area open – East Court Street –
Dunk Tank Opens
1:30 p.m. Salsa contest winners announced at Court House Stage
1:30-6 p.m. Live Music by “The Indoorfins” – Court House Stage
2 p.m Chili Contestants Turn in Chili to Judges ( Masonic Temple)
Contestant Chili Samples Open to Public (free)
2-4 p.m. WPKO radio station live broadcast
2 p.m. Corn Hole Tournament Begins – W. Court St. – behind beer garden –
3 p.m. Suck, Chew and Blow contest begins – Court House Stage
People’s Choice Balloting Ends – Containers picked up by committee
3:30 p.m. Hot Pepper Eating contest – Court House Stage
4:30 p.m. Announce winners of Chili Cook-off, Pepper Eating contest, People’s Choice and Best Decorated Booth
6 p.m. It’s a wrap…”See you next year
