Chili Cook-off is Oct. 13-14

For those native to Blytheville the fall season brings about a yearly celebration for the town. This year is no different and so October 13 and 14 mark the dates for the 37th Annual Chili Cook-Off and Harvest Festival.

The Chili Cook-Off is an annual festival facilitated by Main Street Blytheville (MSB). The festival includes a chili cooking competition as well as vendors all along Main Street.

“They’ll be selling food, drinks, arts and crafts pretty much everything you can think of. There will be activities for the kids, as well as some local entertainment,” Main Street Blytheville Director Mindi Rice said.

Rice said that some of the beauty queens that recently finished competing will be performing Saturday, along with Kevin Winstead, who is formally of Blytheville.

“It’s just a way for the community to come together and celebrate fall and kind of get the holiday season started,” Rice said.

Those attending the festival should expect to see some “mom and pop” vendors selling things like food and crafts.

Rice stated that some of the local businesses will typically enter the chili competition to engage in a bit of friendly competition. Trophies will be given to the winners of the chili contest.

All the planning for the event is done by MSB.

“It’s to bring the community together and get everybody down to Main Street and hopefully they’ll see everything that Main Street has to offer and come back,” Rice said.