Cassville Chili & Salsa Cook-Off still on, “The Show” cancelled
October 21, 2020
Fall photo by Caden Swearingen
Sheila Harris
One of the Cassville Chamber’s most popular events, the Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, is scheduled for this Saturday, October 24, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“The biggest difference this year,” said Cassville Chamber of Commerce director, Rachael Selby, “is that it will be held in the Aquatic Park, instead of on the downtown square, because the Aquatic Park will provide more space for social distancing.
“Too,” she added, “we have some new chili and salsa cookers this year: owners of businesses on the square. They’re opting to cook chili this year, since the event is moving away from the square.”
Unfortunately, however, another popular Cassville event, “The Show,” has fallen a victim to COVID-19.
“Because of the large number of people quarantined in Barry County,” Selby said, “we’re opting to cancel this year’s show.
“We know a lot of people will be disappointed,” she added, “so we plan to just carry over the same performers and performances to next year’s event. Hopefully, next year, conditions will be better.”
According to Selby, Cassville’s annual fall Chili & Salsa Cook-Off is more of a fall festival than a chili-cooking battle.
“We have about 70 vendors scheduled to be there, as well as several food trucks,” she said, “so we’re expecting a good turnout.”
“Of course, we’ll have people cooking chili and salsa, too,” she added. “Right now, we have ten businesses signed up to cook chili and eight to cook salsa.
“Cooking will begin on site at 8 a.m. and the finished concoctions will be ready to eat around noon,” she added.
Tasting kits for the chili and salsa will be available at the Chamber of Commerce booth - found under the Les Jacob’s Ford banner - for $3 each. With the kit, participants will receive a variety of beads with which to vote for their favorite chili and salsa in a variety of categories, including “People’s Choice.” A panel of judges will also weigh in with their favorites.
The Cassville YMCA will sponsor several events at the Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, including a Chili Pepper 5K, beginning at 7:30 a.m., October 24, at the head of the Greenway Trail in the Aquatic Park parking lot. Registration cut-off is at 7 a.m. that morning. Preregistration price is $15 per person; the price goes up to $20 on race day.
A free Tater Tot Trot one mile fun run is also planned. It, too, will begin at 7 a.m. from the same location.
For even more competition, a Big Bowl Fling disk golf tournament is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
For more information about these events, visit the Cassville YMCA’s website at https://www.orymca.org/cassville-cause.
For more information about the Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, please contact the Cassville Chamber of Commerce at 417-847-2814.
One of the Cassville Chamber’s most popular events, the Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, is scheduled for this Saturday, October 24, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“The biggest difference this year,” said Cassville Chamber of Commerce director, Rachael Selby, “is that it will be held in the Aquatic Park, instead of on the downtown square, because the Aquatic Park will provide more space for social distancing.
“Too,” she added, “we have some new chili and salsa cookers this year: owners of businesses on the square. They’re opting to cook chili this year, since the event is moving away from the square.”
Unfortunately, however, another popular Cassville event, “The Show,” has fallen a victim to COVID-19.
“Because of the large number of people quarantined in Barry County,” Selby said, “we’re opting to cancel this year’s show.
“We know a lot of people will be disappointed,” she added, “so we plan to just carry over the same performers and performances to next year’s event. Hopefully, next year, conditions will be better.”
According to Selby, Cassville’s annual fall Chili & Salsa Cook-Off is more of a fall festival than a chili-cooking battle.
“We have about 70 vendors scheduled to be there, as well as several food trucks,” she said, “so we’re expecting a good turnout.”
“Of course, we’ll have people cooking chili and salsa, too,” she added. “Right now, we have ten businesses signed up to cook chili and eight to cook salsa.
“Cooking will begin on site at 8 a.m. and the finished concoctions will be ready to eat around noon,” she added.
Tasting kits for the chili and salsa will be available at the Chamber of Commerce booth - found under the Les Jacob’s Ford banner - for $3 each. With the kit, participants will receive a variety of beads with which to vote for their favorite chili and salsa in a variety of categories, including “People’s Choice.” A panel of judges will also weigh in with their favorites.
The Cassville YMCA will sponsor several events at the Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, including a Chili Pepper 5K, beginning at 7:30 a.m., October 24, at the head of the Greenway Trail in the Aquatic Park parking lot. Registration cut-off is at 7 a.m. that morning. Preregistration price is $15 per person; the price goes up to $20 on race day.
A free Tater Tot Trot one mile fun run is also planned. It, too, will begin at 7 a.m. from the same location.
For even more competition, a Big Bowl Fling disk golf tournament is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
For more information about these events, visit the Cassville YMCA’s website at https://www.orymca.org/cassville-cause.
For more information about the Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, please contact the Cassville Chamber of Commerce at 417-847-2814.
