CHANGE OF DATE! Great Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-off & WinterFest

PLEASE NOTE: The Chili Cook-off that was scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 19 will now take place on Sunday, February 20th from 11:30 to 4pm. Due to a high wind warning of winds gusting from 50-60 miles per hour, the National Weather Service and City of Ithaca have advised us of the public safety issues with hosting the event. So please join us SUNDAY for the same great chili's on the Ithaca Commons, just an extra day to brew.

Join us for the 13th Annual Great Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-off and WinterFest, Sunday, February 20th, 2011, from 11:30am to 4:00pm.

Over 30 restaurants compete for the titles of Best Chili and other items in the People's Choice, Vegetarian & Meat, and the Official Judging competition.

Events include Chili Tasting, Mechanical Bull Riding, Chili Idol Karaoke, Farmers Market, Wine & Beer Tasting, Music, Contests and Prizes.

Tickets to Taste are $5 for 5, $10 for 11, or our VIP tickets are 10 for $20 (and you get a special VIP line at each booth). Each ticket gets you a 2-3oz sample of chili or a comparable sample of other items from wine to chocolate. Tickets are now available for advance purchase at Autumn Leaves Used Books, 115 The Commons; Collegetown Bagels, Downtown at 203 N. Aurora St;  Collegetown Bagels, East Hill Plaza; Collegetown Bagels, Collegetown and at the Downtown Ithaca Alliance office in Center Ithaca.

Cornbread Fundraiser to benefit Ithaca Community Harvest:

At this year's Great Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-off, Ithaca's very own Share our Strength - Taste of the Nation Committee will be selling delicious cornbread prepared by Chef Leslie Muhlhahn of Just Desserts using Cayuga Pure Organics cornmeal to benefit Ithaca Community Harvest.  Ithaca Community Harvest is a collaborative effort of the Village at Ithaca with GreenStar Community Projects, the Ithaca City School District and local farms and in cooperation with Gardens 4 Humanity, Healthy Food For All and the Whole Community Project of Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County and countless volunteers to connect students, staff and families from Beverly J. Martin Elementary School, Greater Ithaca Activities Center and Southside Community Center with locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Seed funding for Ithaca Community Harvest comes from United Way of Tompkins County's Basic Needs Fund and Hunger and Food Security Grant, a grant from Share our Strength made possible through their partnership with Weight Watchers’ Lose for Good program, and by a Community Organizing Grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Chili Mustache Competition:

The 2nd annual Chili Cook-Off mustache competition returns in 2011.  The mustache competition is your ticket to free chili.  Grow it, craft it or stick it on and be spotted by the Chili photographer for your chance at complimentary VIP chili tasting tickets and other prizes.

For more information contact Matt, Marketing and Events Manager, at 607-277-8679 or email matt@downtownithaca.com.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

On the Commons:

11:30-4:00: Chili, Wine and Beer tasting.

Farmers Market featuring artisan chocolates, cheeses and more.

Chili Idol Karaoke Singing Competition.

12:00-4:00 Mechanical Bull Rides and other rides and entertainment

3:30: Chili Idol Final

Center Ithaca:

12:00 - 4:00: Wine tasting.

Bernie Milton Pavilion:

12:00 - 2:00: Live I-100 Radio Broadcast and Air Guitar Competition.

3:00: Hot Pepper Eating Competition.

3:45: Award Ceremony