Warm weather may already be here, but the 5th annual Chilly Chili Cook-off promises to heat up your tastebuds.
 
Walton Foundation for Independence’s 5th annual chili cook-off and tasting event is Saturday, March 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Evans Towne Centre Park, 7016 Evans Town Center Blvd. The event is a fundraiser for the foundation’s sports and leisure programs, which serve hundreds of adults and children across the CSRA through free clinics ranging from adaptive golf and tennis to waterskiing.
 
The Chilly Chili Cook-off features 15 teams from across the CSRA dishing up their best chili recipes, whether it’s beefy or vegetarian, five-alarm-hot or mild. Teams will also be vying for the titles of best stew/soup, best cornbread, most creative booth decorations and the coveted People’s Choice Award.
 
General admission is $5 (cash only), and kids 12 and under are free. Admission includes unlimited tastings of chili, soup, stew and cornbread, with soft drinks and snacks available for purchase. The public can also vote for their People’s Choice winner by dropping a dollar into canisters at each booth; each dollar equals one vote, with all proceeds going to Walton Foundation for Independence’s adaptive sports clinics.