Clermont County Park District recognized several local restaurants for their chili-making skills Saturday, October 15th at the Chilo Lock #34 Park and Museum Center as part of the inaugural Chilo Chili Cook-Off and Fall Festival to benefit the Clermont County Park District’s Naturalist Programs. Trophies were provided by J & S Trophies & Awards of Bethel, Ohio.
“Most Heat” (spice) was awarded to Fat Boy’s Dream Floating Restaurant & Ryan’s Run Campground, both of Felicity. Green Kayak Market & Eatery of New Richmond took home “Most Unique”. The crowd favorite “People’s Choice Award” was given to Cedar Fishing Lake of Loveland, Ohio, which also won the top prize of “Best Overall Chili”. Each competitor had their own booth space, from which to dispense their chili. Felicity’s Feed Mill took special recognition for “Best Themed Booth”.
Official judges from the New Richmond Fire Department had their work cut out for them, revisiting booths for seconds and thirds to make sure they got the results just right. The closest race proved to be the People’s Choice Award (voted on by all in attendance), with special recognition going to Fifty West Brewing Co. on Wooster Pike (who had already won over the crowd with their specialty craft beers), Uncle T’s Lakeside Restaurant of Sardinia, and Uncle T’s Eatery in Owensville.
The day’s weather proved excellent for the festivities, which kicked off with crowd pleasing tunes by Russell Up Some Grub!, a Batavia-based string band made up of Russ and Barb Childers, Rob Kranz, and Mark Alexander. Children in attendance could not get enough of Ms. Childers’ collection of ‘dancing’ limberjack jig dolls.
Cornhole boards and scoring towers were provided by the American Cornhole Organization of Milford for those who wished to play. Ticket holders also had the opportunity to step back in time at the Leonard D. Gibson Memorial Scholarship Fund’s Vintage Photo Booth.
The younger set enjoyed pumpkin bowling and decorating (courtesy Shaw Farms of Milford), and looked seasonally festive with their faces painted as super heroes, pumpkins, and more, compliments Faces by Lisa. Reardon’s Over the Hill Mini Farm charmed the crowd with their Angora goats—kid goats included–and the Felicity FFA served cold drinks.
The crowd cheered for the raffle prize winner who was the recipient of the “Williamsburg Waterfall” oil painting by local artist Robin Ewers.
Some in attendance took the chance to visit and tour Chilo Lock #34 Visitor Center and Museum, just beyond the festival grounds. The site of a former US Army Corps of Engineers lock and dam, the lockhouse building dates to 1925, and following a 2005 refurbishment holds three floors of exhibits and interactive displays focusing on the history of the Ohio River and locks and dams, with a sweeping view of the Ohio River from its observation deck.
According to Jana Marshall, a Naturalist with Clermont County Park District, there are hopes to make the Chili Cook-Off and Fall Festival an annual tradition going forward.
“On behalf of the Clermont County Park District,” Marshall says, “we thank our guests, participants and donors–and to all of the local restaurants that came out to enjoy the day and took the time to make chili and decorate their booths: we could not have done this event without your support!”
County Park District Naturalists Programs provided nature-based learning to over 5,000 students and adults in 2015, and are available to schools, scout groups, homeschoolers and the public in outreach programs like summer camps. You can find them online at clermontparks.org.