Annual chili cook-off draws record crowds
More locals and tourists than ever before packed into the Exchange Street Parking Plaza for the 18th annual Tom Daniel Holiday Chili Cook-Off with 38 vendors, a new record, vying for a chance to take home one of the coveted trophies.
“I think it was a great success. We had more teams than we’ve ever had before. I would also say we had record attendance this year, but the official numbers are not in yet,” said Alan Spraggins, with the Downtown Association of Hot Springs, which sponsored the event.
This year’s competition saw major growth both in and outside of the parking deck. Spraggins said they actually had a waiting list for spaces and ended up rearranging things so every entry would fit. The cook-off extended across the whole of the first floor of the parking plaza and out further on to Exchange Street.
“We wanted to make it to where we could host more teams and expand on the good thing we already have going,” he said.
The winners of the traditional chili category were US 97 Radio in first place and Ben E. Keith in second. The trophies for best nontraditional chili went to Elite Exteriors in first and the Valentine’s Chili Gang in second. Elite Exteriors also took home the prize for People’s Choice. First Arkansas Insurance once again secured first place for best-decorated booth with their “Elf” themed costumes and scenes from the film streaming in the background.
“We spend about two months each year, working on our booth every weekend. We make all of it ourselves. Nothing is store-bought. We made our own candy canes and taped our own stripes on them. We just have fun with it,” Rickey Bennett with First Arkansas Insurance said.
Several new teams made an appearance at this year’s event. Spraggins said they had a great mix of fresh faces and long-time competitors.
“We had a team, William’s Southwest Chili, come all the way from New Mexico this year. When I got his application, I had to call him
just to make sure he knew this was in Arkansas,” Spraggins said laughing.
The chili cook-off also serves as the official lighting ceremony for the holiday light displays throughout downtown. Despite Ned Perme retiring, the holiday light display was lit without a hitch with help from KATV Channel 7’s Barry Brandt.
“We were kind of worried because Ned Perme retired, but we had Barry Brandt come in and continue the tradition,” Spraggins said.
Already planning for next year, Spraggins said he hopes to add more lighting for vendors outside the cover of the parking plaza and wishes to continue making improvements to the cook-off. He said he wants to avoid the event becoming the “same old, same old every year.”