NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
Craig Carolan and Dana Christensen serve up a bowl of chili Saturday, July 21, 2018 during the Chili Cookoff.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker
Chili lovers took over downtown Medicine Hat Saturday afternoon during the 29th annual Chili Cookoff held by the City Centre Development Agency.
“I think, judging off of last year’s numbers, we’ll likely see around 3,000 people downtown today,” said CCDA operations manager Robin Anton. “The event has five different categories this year: The traditional category, hot and spicy, salsa, peoples’ choice and pubs and restaurants.
“We’re really happy with the variety and quality this year.”
20 different booths were set up along Second and Third Streets with people making their way through downtown to go on a taste tour.
“This by far our most popular event,” said Anton. “I think it really comes down to people really liking chili.
“It’s a great way for families to spend some time together out of the house, and at only $5 a bowl, it’s a pretty affordable event overall.”
The city was hit with weather near 30 degrees Saturday, with a decent breeze passing through for most of the afternoon. Anton says Hatters got the perfect day.
“When it’s this nice out, it’s hard for people to stay inside,” he said. “This event has been going on for 29 years now and it’s something a lot of families have made a tradition.
“I think everyone involved, from the people making the chili to the people eating it, everyone got perfect weather.”
The ATB Chili Queens won the traditional category and the people’s choice award.
The Miywasin Centre won the hot and spicy category.
The Hat’s Olive Tap won both the salsa category and the pubs and restaurants category.
