No excuse to stay home
The 22nd Annual Chili Cook Off at Ridge Ferry Park is just one of many Saturday fall events.
From costumed super heroes and a musical street festival in downtown Rome to a chili cook off and car show in the park, Floyd County has a full plate of familyfriendly offerings on tap Saturday.
This will be the 22nd year for the annual Trout Unlimited Chili Cook Off at Ridge Ferry Park, and teams will be arriving at their cook sites as early as Friday morning to start their slow-cooked recipes.
“We have over 50 teams registered so far, with 70-plus chilis to taste,” organizer David Bowen said.
Gates open to the public at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and the Dixie Whiskey Band is due to take the stage about 15 minutes later. Admission is $5 per person. Kids age 5 and under get in free. Parking is $5 in the main area of the park, but free on the other side of the railroad tracks.
Officials are expecting about 5,000 attendees, who will get to vote for the People’s Choice winner while judges are picking their top favorites. The awards will be announced at 3 p.m.
Bowen said the cook off is the main fundraiser for TU, with proceeds benefiting conservation education programs including the Arrowhead Education Center in Armuchee and the Rome-Floyd ECO Center in the park.
The Animal Rescue Foundation also will be on hand with its Woof Woof Arf Car and Truck Show slated from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is $20 and will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. There will be door prizes and a 50/50 drawing, with proceeds benefiting ARF.
Here’s a look at some other events scheduled for Saturday:
The 2017 Harbin Hero Hustle 5K Race and 2-Mile Health Walk is set to start at 10 a.m. from Bridgepoint Plaza and end at the Town Green about noon. Participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite super heroes. Race-day registration is from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and will cost $30. Registrants can select one of five charities to support: Rome-Floyd YMCA, Summit Quest, Floyd County CASA, The Sweet Cocoon and Living Proof Recovery. The charity with the most points will get a $1,000 donation. For more information visit www.rfpra.com/herohustle.
Registration for the eighth annual Johnny Agan Memorial Bike Ride is from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Cherokee Lodge, 2934 Alabama Highway. The cost is $25 per bike. Extra T-shirts will cost $10. Proceeds benefit the Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia and needy children at Christmas. For more information call Doyal Cagle at 770548-6108.
The Armuchee Glenwood Education Foundation and the Armuchee Ruritan Club will present Tribefest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Armuchee High School, 4203 Martha Berry Highway. Activities include an auction, vendors, inflatables, crafts, food and school singing groups. For more information call 706-236-1886.
Georgia Council of the Blind Rome Chapter is sponsoring the Marshall Forest Braille Trail Event at 11 a.m. in the Marshall Forest off Horseleg Creek Road. Refreshments will be served. In the event of rain meet at Rome-Floyd County Library, 235 Riverside Parkway. For questions or more information contact Marsha Farrow at 706-859-2624, Amanda Wilson at 770-547-4700 or Dr. Philip Dillard at 770-748-8629.
American Legion Post 506 will be selling barbecue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m at the post, 21 Peachtree St. Rib plates are $10, Boston butt plates are $8 and chicken-quarter plates are $7. Plates come with baked beans, coleslaw or potato salad, bread, cake and drink. Proceeds benefit the post scholarship and Sons of the American Legion fund. There will be a drawing for 25 percent of the ticket sales. For more information call 706291-2327.
Armuchee Ruritan Club will host Cars on Broad in conjunction with Fiddlin’ Fest, which runs from noon to 10 p.m. (see page A6 for details) Registration for the car show is from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $25. For more information visit www.armucheeruritan.org.