Chili Cook-Off and Red Hot Car Show Saturday in downtown Rochester

Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 12:14 PM

By Wes Dehne

It's that time of year again when everyday people can become chili connoisseurs, sampling some of Fulton County's best chili while marveling over classic and custom cars, trucks and motorcycles in downtown Rochester.

Downtown Rochester will be transformed Saturday into a maze of classic cars and food booths during the 32nd annual Chili Cook-Off and Red Hot Car Show.

Fourteen teams will vie to see who can make the region's best chili. They are: Rochester Metal Products, The Iron Chili's; Modern Materials, The Soupa Troopa; Celebrate Recovery at St. John Lutheran Church, Chain Breakers & Chili Makers; the Fulton County Public Library, The Well-Read Hot Chili Peppers; Faith Outreach Center, Far Out Chili; Life Care Center of Rochester, The Danger Zone; the Thompson Family, Squirrel & Twee; American Cherokee Paint Band, Cherokee Chili; Amber Hinderlider, Chili Nelson; Indiana Spine Group, The Frozen Spine Chiles; The Tire Store, The Tire Starters; Cardinal Services; Three Kings; and Putt's Bar & Grill, Just Winging It. Photos of some of the teams can be found in a photo album below.

Visitors may start sampling chili, and placing their votes for people's choice, at 11 a.m.

Classic cars, trucks and motorcycles start arriving at 8 a.m. Eventually, the car show will stretch from Fifth to Ninth streets on Main Street, also utilizing side streets and the parking lot of the Fulton County Courthouse.

Teams of chili cooks will start setting up their outdoor kitchens at 7 a.m. They start cooking at 8:30 a.m. and are vying for cash prizes of $300 and $200 for best chilis, $300 for people's choice award and $200 for best decorated booth.

A new award this year, Rookie of the Year, along with a $200 cash prize, is up for grabs for five of the teams.

Eight food vendors can be found in the 100 block of East Eighth Street.

The chamber will sell chili tickets at its hot dog, soda pop and water booth at the corner of Eighth and Main streets. It also will sell tote bags for $10 each, with proceeds to help fund programs in the community.

It will take a $1 ticket to sample chili, which will be available for purchase downtown. Also, punch cards for tasting will be sold in increments of $5 or $10.

Cars and swap meet

While the chamber has always hosted the Chili Cook-Off portion of the October event, it also now coordinates the accompanying car show, which has been handed over by the Fulton County Blacktop Cruisers.

Chamber Executive Director Jillian Smith says the club has been very supportive in the transition. She adds there are roughly 120 vehicle entries, with registration being $20.

Motorcycles are again included in the show this year, with three categories, American, foreign and custom

They are part of 42 judged categories, with the top three in each receiving awards.

Judging starts at 10:30 a.m. and awards are given about 4 p.m.

The entry categories include: antique, classic, foreign, original GM, Ford, Mopar, Camaro, Mustang, factory muscle, low riders, special interest, street rod, custom, modified, trucks, rat rods and six Corvette divisions. Also added a couple years ago is a category for electric vehicles.

There also are specialty awards, including mayor's, sheriff's, fire chief's, police chief's, best of show car/truck and motorcycle. There is a cash prize for the club participation award.

An accompanying swap meet is again offered between Fifth and Sixth streets during the Red Hot Car Show and Chili Cook-Off.

Rotary race

The Rochester Rotary Club's 5K Run/Walk also takes place Saturday.

It starts at 9:45 a.m. at Seventh and Madison streets and will make use of pathways around the Round Barn Golf Club at Mill Creek and Woodlawn Hospital.

There are divisions for all ages, and registration is $25 for adults and $12 for children.

For prizes, there are four divisions, trophies for first, second and third place finishers in each division and medals for age group winners.