The 39thAnnual Blytheville Chili Cook-off will be held Friday and Saturday in conjunction with the Antique Bus Homecoming.
Typically held in mid-October, organizers moved up the date of this year’s Blytheville Chili Cook-off to take advantage of the national bus tour coming to town.
The kick-off party for the Chili Cook-off will be from 7-10 p.m. Friday on Main Street, with live music, food vendors and a beer garden at the historic Greyhound Bus Station.
Then, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, the Blytheville Chili Cook-off will be held in downtown Blytheville on Main Street.
Patrons will be able to sample different recipes of chili and visit a variety of vendors, ranging from arts and crafts and informational booths to food vendors with such tasty treats as funnel cakes, fried Oreos and more. There will be a children’s block with inflatables and a car show in front of Hubbard and Hoke Furniture.
There is still time for chili teams and vendors to register by calling Main Street Blytheville at 763-2525 or dropping by the Farmers Bank and Trust branch on Main Street. Main Street Blytheville board president Tiffany Hoskins noted she is willing to deliver a form to those who wish to participate if they cannot make it to the bus station or bank.
A literally big addition to this year’s Blytheville Chili Cook-off is the Antique Bus Homecoming at the Greyhound Bus Station.
Some 50 busses and 114 people had registered as of Thursday afternoon, with more expected.
Buses will begin arriving in Blytheville on Wednesday and should all be parked at the bus station by Thursday night.
They will be on display Friday and Saturday, and the busses will parade down Main Street at 6 p.m. Saturday.
All are welcome and encouraged to drop by and check out the busses Friday and Saturday and watch the big parade on Saturday evening.
On Friday, some of the busses will provide free rides to the Johnny Cash Museum in Dyess.
L.C. Hartsfield of Main Street Blytheville said participants enjoy talking about their busses.
“Don’t be afraid to step up to the bus and say, ‘hey, can I get on your bus?’” Hartsfield said.
He emphasized that the parade is open to everyone and will be a fun event.
“This is a public event,” he said. “The public is invited.”
Hartsfield noted that participants have said Blytheville has been the best host community, noting they always feel welcome here.
“They are here because this bus station is here,” Hartsfield said of the building, which was built in 1939 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. “But they are here for the community.”
“We expect it to be a good time,” Hartsfield added of next weekend. “It all kicks off with the busses on Friday.”