Moneta, VA – The Fifth-Annual Smith Mountain Lake Fall Chili Festival was a flurry of activity on Saturday morning, November 3, as the cooking teams set their tents, decorated their booths and began concocting their secret recipes on-site at Bridgewater Plaza.
Winning teams take home trophies, crowds largest ever at lakeside event
Moneta, VA – The Fifth-Annual Smith Mountain Lake Fall Chili Festival was a flurry of activity on Saturday morning, November 3, as the cooking teams set their tents, decorated their booths and began concocting their secret recipes on-site at Bridgewater Plaza.
The Fifth-Annual Smith Mountain Lake Fall Chili Festival provided a great day for the entire family with plenty of chili to taste, crafters to visit and entertainment to enjoy. It’s estimated that more than 2,500 chili-lovers attended the event.
Among the judges was popular morning radio personality Dick Daniels of Q99 – FM radio’s “Breakfast Club”. Daniels was also emcee, announcing the winners to an enthusiastic crowd.
“Mayberry YMCA Chilly” captured the judges taste buds and was awarded the coveted “Smith Mountain Lake’s Best Chili 2007.” Jody, Polly and Joey Lyons stirred the pot and Downtown Moneta at Smith Mountain Lake / Mayberry Hills sponsored the team. The judges ranked their chili highest scores for taste, consistency, aroma, color and bite.
Second Place in the “Best of” category was awarded to “Lions Roar-N Chili” sponsored by Food Lion. “Here’s Your Sign Chili,” created and cooked by Westlake Signs and Graphics, captured third place in the overall competition. This was their second year capturing an award.
Voted favorite by festival-goers and receiving “People’s Choice Chili Award” was “Smokin’ Heat Dock House Chili.” Dillon Docks and Rhonda Blankenship, Long & Foster co-sponsored the team.
For the second year in a row, “Outstanding Showmanship” was awarded to the bagpipe-playing “Bernardo O’Higgins Celtic Chili” team. Their trophy was earned for having the most imagination in ‘winning the crowd’. Led by Frank King and his family and friends, the O’Higgins crew cooked their Celtic chili in a huge black cauldron under a tent replete with animal skin rugs, jugs and skeleton bones.
Last but not least, “Wayne’s Belly Buster Black Skillet Chili” took home the honor of the “Last Chili Standing.” Sponsored by Wainwright & Co Realtors, the belly bustin’ brewers were the best prepared with the most extra chili available for the crowds at day’s end.
Essence Aesthetics was Platinum Sponsor for the festival. Gold Sponsors were Bridgewater Pointe and Carilion Clinic. Silver Sponsors included SunTrust Bank, Franklin Community Bank, Floyd Enterprises, AEP, Martinsville DuPont Credit Union, Member One Federal Credit Union, and BB&T. Bronze Sponsors are Franklin County Respiratory Rentals, Faber CPA Firm, LLC, Turner’s Dock Building, Salem Financial, Leisure Publishing, State Farm Insurance – Casey Morgan, Vogel & Cromwell, LandAmerica Lake Settlement, Donna Ashbery, Authorized Representative and SML Boating Association.
Plans are already underway for the Sixth-Annual Smith Mountain Lake Chili Festival which will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008.
Additional information is available online at
www.visitsmithmountainlake.com or call the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce at 540.721.1203.
Photo gallery for this event is now available:
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