Welcome Chili Cook-off lovers!

The 28th annual St. George Island Regional Charity Chili Cook-off & Auction, Inc. gets underway Saturday, March 6, the annual benefit for the St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department. More than 70 contestants are on the books, including some past winners and long-time favorites. This year, for the first time, the cook-off grounds will be fenced and a $5 admission fee collected from adults. Children under 12 enter free.

Grayson Shepard, cook-off coordinator, said new this year are Parrotheads in Perry”dise,” the Apalachicola and Lanark Village fire departments, Amanda Kollar of Garden’s Inc., two teams from the culinary program of Tallahassee’s Keiser University, and several others. Returning favorites include Three Sheets to the Wind, Just Plane Chili, Bus to Heaven Chili from Hell, Panama City Beach Bums (who won first place last year), Outlaw Chili, Laughing Pepper, 19th Bowl, Atlantic Coast Chili Company, Whack-A-Moles, Lighthouse Chili (hometown favorites), Decent Chili, Hot Lips, Dead Serious Chili (bringing four teams), Team Waterdog, Team Toilet Bowl, Red Tail Chili, Bubba and ChaCha’s Chili, Nunn Better, Atlanta and Tallahassee Parrothead Clubs, Chili Charlie, Swamp Gas, Team Oaf, Big Belly Chili, Resort Vacation Properties, Red Hot Chili Peckers and F.A.R.T to mention just a few.

The action gets underway at 8 a.m. with the annual Red Pepper 5K Run, with booth set-up beginning at 8:30 a.m. The “amateur” Crock Pot Chili contest begins at 9:30 a.m., with “anything goes” the rules for the chili, all made at home. $5.00 entry fee required. Prizes awarded to first, second and third places.

International Chili Society Rules govern the regional cook-off, with no beans, pasta etc. Chili prepared on site from scratch; no prepackaged chili mixes; meat may be cut, sliced or ground in advance, but not treated or cooked except during competition.

Stoves are officially lit at 11 a.m. with judging at 2 p.m. The auction starts at 11 a.m., with the Crock Pot Chili Awards presented at 11:15 a.m. The Booth/Showmanship judging follows, with the Miss Chili Pepper judging from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., and the Mister Hot Sauce judging from 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. The cook-off awards will be presented at 3:30 p.m

If you want to make a tax deductible donation to the silent auction, call 927-2753 or simply stop by the Jay Abbott Fire House on East Pine with your item. There will be a preview of auction items at the fire house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 5 at the firehouse. Wine and beer will be available at the preview.

For more info on the cook-off, call 653-6718.