If You Go
Cookers begin setting up at 7 a.m. on Monroe's Square for the 17th Annual Chili Cook-Off, organized by Monroe Main Street and sponsored by Amcore Bank and Big Radio. Other festivities begin at 8 a.m. and continue on the Square until 8 p.m., including:
• 8 a.m. - chili cooking begins
• 8 a.m. - Monroe Youth Hockey food stand opens
• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Artisans, including a broommaker, quilter, chain saw sculptor, knitter, crocheter, woodworker, chip carving, Windsor chair maker.
• 10 a.m. - Green County Welcome Center/Historic cheesemaking Center crème puff and applejack sandwich food stand opens
• 11 a.m. - chili tasting begins
• 11 a.m.-4 p.m. - Kids Korner activities
• 11 a.m.-8 p.m. - beer stand open
• Noon - chili/salsa judging
• 1-4 p.m. - Stateline Playboys live music
• 2 p.m. - Noon Optimists grilled food stand opens
• 2 p.m. - Chili and salsa winners announced
• 3 p.m. - Scarecrow contest winners announced
• 5-8 p.m. - Jefferson County Bluegrass Band
• Other activities throughout the day include silent auctions, Farmer's Market, and tractors and motorcycle displays.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Art in Action Day at Monroe Art Center
The answer to that question will be revealed at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 when judges announce their picks during the city's 17th Annual Chili Cook-Off, organized by Monroe's Main Street program.
Teams of chili cookers will set up at 7 a.m. and begin firing up equipment at 8 a.m. Chili-cooking takes four hours, but there are plenty of activities scheduled sure to entertain and interest the entire family between the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. run of the festival. A Kid's Korner, arts and crafts, live entertainment, Market on the Square, all types of food stands, a psychic reader, a beer garden and tractors and motorcycle displays are just a few of the attractions planned throughout the day.
Once the chili is cooked, judging begins at noon in both traditional and non-traditional categories. The popular "people's choice" award is selected by the public "tasters" who will have a chance to buy samples for 25 cents from any or all of the cookers and cast their own votes for their favorite chili. People can also purchase a bowl of chili from any of the cookers for $1. Proceeds from the event are distributed to local charitable organizations.
Judging also includes something new this year: a salsa-making competition.
Information is available online at www.downtownmonroewisconsin; by e-mailing monroemainstreet@tds.net or by calling 328-4203.
People who want to cook can obtain registration forms online or at das Baumhaus or The Dilly Bean located on the Square. Chili Cook-Off co-chairmen are Cherie Hughes and Barb Gelbach.