Entries Wanted For Chili Cook-off

Local chili experts will soon have a competition to show off their twist on a staple cold weather comfort food.

The second annual Woodstock Great American Chili Cook-off will be held the first weekend of November in conjunction with another popular festival. 

The competition, hosted by the Woodstock Police Foundation, will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, the first day of the fourth-annual Woodstock Art & Wine Festival. The festival will be held 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 3 and Sunday Nov. 4. Both events will take place at the Park at City Center in downtown Woodstock. 

Due to corporate and individual charitable donations, the foundation was able to increase the cash prizes for the competition. First-place winners will receive $1,500, while second place recipients will get $750 for second-place and third-place winners will garner $500. 

Two competitive divisions--open division and commercial division--will encompass the event. The open division is reserved for teams, organizations or individuals where the entries will be judge by executive chefs from local restaurants. Teams are required to prepare five gallons of chili and pay an charitable entry fee of $100. 

The commercial division will include local restaurants in which the competition will be judged by the Woodstock Police Foundation and the public.  Teams are also required to prepare five gallons of chili and pay a $200 charitable entry fee. The commercial division contestants will compete for the Woodstock People’s Choice Award in which the top three teams will be presented with a trophy.

"We are excited about expanding Woodstock’s Great American Chili Cook-Off after the success of our 2011 event," said Woodstock Police Foundation President John Bevilaqua.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the foundation, which raises money for the department and the foundation. Donations also fund the foundation's educational and charitable initiatives such as Shop With A Hero, community oriented partnerships, an explorer post for teenagers interested in a law enforcement career and to support public safety nonprofit programs. 

Entry forms must be completed and submitted by Oct. 24. For questions, email atljpb@gmail.com or call (404) 307-9317.