Downtown Dublin serving up food, fun at Chili Cook-Off and Fall Festival

Downtown visitors will get a good first taste of fall as cool temperatures arrive just in time for Saturday’s fourth annual Dublin Chili Cook-Off and Fall Festival.

The event kicks off at noon and runs to 4 p.m. at the Market on Madison, with the afternoon high expected to reach just 70 degrees. However, the chili-cooking contest is expected to be as heated as ever, with 18 competitors vying for the top prize.

“That’s 18 different chilis,” Main Street Director Nichole Padgett said.

Judges will choose the champion and runners-up, but visitors will pick the People’s Choice award. Festival-goers can purchase tasting tickets and sample the chili entries to vote for their favorite.

“The whole festival and contest is free to enter,” Padgett said. “You only have to pay for your tasting tickets.”

Tasting tickets are $1 each, or for the more adventurous sampler, seven for $5 and 12 for $10.

There should be plenty of chili (at least 90 gallons) to sample, as each competitor must make at least five pounds of chili to enter.

The free fall festival will serve up lots of fun to go with the food. Padgett said she is excited about this year’s Kid Zone, which will feature rides, games, a bouncy house and other inflatables, face painting and pumpkin decorating contest. Not all of the fun and games are for the young. The activities will include a cake walk.

“Everybody loves a cake walk,” Padgett said.

The festival has drawn 42 vendors, with food trucks and entertainment from local DJ Brandon Chain.

“Forty-two vendors … that’s wonderful,” Padgett said. “You’ll have plenty to eat, plenty to drink and plenty of things to look for.”

She reminded festival-goers to vote for their favorite pot of chili before they leave.

“We’ll have a box at the entrance. On their way out, they can come by and announce who they like.”

Community Bank of Dublin-Laurens County, which also won for spiciest chili, took home last year’s top prize.