22nd Annual Chili Cook-Off Winners Announced

DOUGLASVILLE, GA – The Cultural Arts Council Douglasville/Douglas County hosted its 22nd Annual Chili Cook Off on Saturday, Oct. 20 at O’Neal Plaza in Downtown Douglasville. Twenty-three chili booths hosted by political candidates, local businesses, non-profits, and area service clubs competed for bragging rights of being the best chili tasting, the spiciest chili, and 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 O’Neal plaza –and they were delighted to hear that the winners were:

Best Tasting Chili – Pray’s Mill Baptist Church

Spiciest Chili – Douglasville Masonic Lodge #289

The Chili judging was done by Chef Scott Lamphere form Gordon Food Services, Chef Rose Genter from Chopped Junior Chef, and Carlos Underwood from the City of Douglasville.

Best Decorated Booth – Whitaker Roofing

The booth decorating judging was done by Patrice Williams with the City of Douglasville.

Best costume infant – age 5 category was Little Miss Vera Perkins "Cowgirl"

Best costume 1st grade – 5th grade category was Jeri Smith "Zombie"

Best costume 6th grade – 12th grade category was James Smith "Road Warrior"

Best costume adults category was Philip Montgomery "Devil"

The costume judging was done by CAC volunteer June Keen, Tina Mattox and Jude Patterson. Awards were generously donated by MoJoBas Fun Factory, Davin Auble, and the Vine Café & Market.

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Sunday after the event volunteers dutifully counted all the ticket stubs redeemed for chili and the tickets revealed that Most Sold Chili was the Douglasville Masonic Lodge #289.

“After a few hot days like summer, the Chili Cook Off had a nice breeze and cool weather, which added a nice touch to the large funfilled crowd on the Plaza,” said Emily Lightner, executive director. "People came to downtown Douglasville to chow down, visit with friends, show off their creative costumes and creative chili titles, and dance the night away with little old school vs. new school dancing."

The 2018 Chili Cook Off was sponsored by John Bleakley Ford and joined by Georgia Power, Chapel Hill News & Views, Greystone Power, and the Douglas County Economic Development Authority. The 22nd Annual Chili Cook Off helped raise funds for the arts education programs in the community.

The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/ Douglas County, located at 8652 Campbellton Street in historic downtown Douglasville, Georgia, is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For directions or more information, visit www.artsdouglas.org or contact the Cultural Arts Council at 770-949-2787.

Photos courtesy Cultural Arts Council Douglasville/Douglas County