The Cultural Arts Council Douglasville/Douglas County hosted its 21st Annual Chili Cook Off on Saturday, October 21st on the newly renovated O’Neal Plaza in Downtown Douglasville. Twenty chili booths hosted by political candidates, local businesses, non-profits, and area service clubs competed for bragging rights of being the best chili, the spiciest chili and the having the most sold chili. The best decorated booth was also highly competitive and a costume contest for all ages was held as the crowd happily worked their way through hundreds of gallons of chili.
An estimated crowd of 3,000 milled about on the beautiful new plaza – enjoying the first inaugural event on O’Neal Plaza and they were delighted to hear that the winners were:
- Most Sold Chili – Ark Restoration
- Best Tasting Chili – The Vine Café and Market
- Spiciest Chili – Infused Bath & Body
- Best Decorated Booth – Ark Restoration
- Best costume infant – age 5 category was Little Miss Vera Perkins “Scarecrow”
- Best costume 1st grade – 5th grade category was Miss Julian Lunceford “Steam Punk”
- Best costume 6th grade – 12th grade category was Miss Diamond Green “Wonderwoman”
- Best costume adults category was Mr. Tony Dennis “Dracula”
Little Miss Vera Perkins “Scarecrow”
Miss Julian Lunceford “Steam Punk”The Chili judging was done by Chef Scott Lamphere form Gordon Food Services, Chef Josalyn Holmes from Proof of the Pudding, and Chef David Mata from Texas Roadhouse. The booth decorating judging was done by Mausi, owner of TUOIA Frame and Art Shop. The costume judging was done by CAC volunteer June Keen, Tina Mattox and Jude Patterson. Awards were generously donated by MoJoBas Fun Factory and Blu Rose Art Bistro.
Miss Diamond Green “Wonderwoman”Sunday after the event volunteers dutifully counted all the ticket stubs redeemed for chili and the tickets revealed that Most Sold Chili was Ark Restoration.
“After a few hot days like summer, the Chili Cook Off had a nice breeze and utterly pleasant cool weather, which added a nice touch to the large crowd on the Plaza,” said Emily Lightner, Interim Executive Director. People came to downtown Douglasville to chow down, visit with friends, show off their creative costumes (and creative chili titles), and end with a race through the streets with the Douglas County Rogue Runners Moonlight Run.
Mr. Tony Dennis “Dracula”The 2017 Chili Cook Off 2017 was generously sponsored by John Bleakley Ford and joined by Georgia Power and Chapel Hill News & Views.
Thank you to everyone that participated and attended the 21st Annual Chili Cook Off which helped raise funds for the arts education programs in our community.