Since 2014, this Ada festival in the church parking lot has gathered hundreds and thousands of people to taste a little chili and drink a little beer. Last year was cancelled due to Covid so everyone was fired up for this year's event. On Thursday the tents were set up.
After the walls were up, it was time to install the fence.
Lights and tables made an appearance on Friday.
Saturday morning at 5:30 am, cooks and volunteers arrived to get things started.
(Above Photo by Martin Waalkes)
One doesn't often see chili being cooked in a beer keg but it seemed pretty perfect for this day.
Chili aromas were floating on the breeze, or maybe on the brisk wind 😊
A returning contestant brought its previous years' trophies, one of them repaired with duct tape 😊
When the Santa Parade was over and the Health Inspector approved the chilis, the festival officially opened. And people showed up, over 3,000 of them.
If you were lucky enough to volunteer for beer pulling or pouring for one of the breweries, you either got to hang out with old friends or make new best friends.
Other volunteers checked ID's, sold tickets for the tastings of beer and chili, kept the peace and/or made sure things stayed organized.
(Above photo courtesy of Waalkes)
The band, Highway 22, played on through the festival and was fantastic.
Finally the votes were tallied and the trophies arrived.
But first, we had a few comments from Andrew Grashuis (Festival Chairman) and Billy Norden (The Community Church pastor).
Then Edward Kuo, the Event Director, announced the winners of each category.
Judges Vote, Open Division
1st place - Coconut Curry Chili (New Union Brewery) - #401
2nd place - Chili'n Like a Vili'n - #202
Judges Vote, Professional Division
1st- Good Mooed Chili (Railtown) - #307
2nd - Pork Green Chili (Broad Leaf Brewery) - #302
Popular Open Division
1st place - 52nd Street Smokers - #102
2nd place - Team Cropduster's Hot Chicken Chili - #104
Popular Vote, Professional Division
1st- Green With Vandy (Vander Mill) - #103
2nd - Texas Style Cowboy Chili (Cork) - #105
These are the sponsors, chili contestants, and breweries that participated:
And then it was all over, except for the clean-up.
Big thanks to the chili makers, the breweries, the sponsors, the 23 judges, and the 100+ volunteers for making this happen!
(Photo below by Andrew Grashuis)
(Next seven photos by Sheila Kyllonen)
Hope to see you all next year!
