MIDDLEBURY — More than 5,000 people flooded closed off Main Street in downtown Middlebury on Saturday, March 8, for the 6th Annual Vermont Chili Fest. Braving cooler than expected temperatures and a brisk wind, residents and visitors to Middlebury enjoyed a variety of chili made from local restaurateurs, businesses and organizations, music, street performers, face painting and an after-event beverage tent with live music from The Grift.
Festivalgoers sampled 35 different chilies from 31 vendors and voted for their favorites in each category. The winners were:
Overall Winners
1st: Middlebury College X-Country Team
2nd: Tourterelle /Misty Knoll
3rd: VT Shade and Blind
Beef Category
1st: Greg’s Meat Market
2nd: Bluebird Tavern BBQ
3rd: Middlebury College
Pork Category
1st: Vermont Shade and Blind
2nd: Swift House Inn/Jessica’s
3rd: Inn at Round Barn Farm
Chicken Category
1st: Tourterelle /Misty Knoll
2nd: Storm Cafe?
3rd: Sama’s/Middlebury Market
Veggie Category
1st: Waybury Inn
2nd: 51 Main
3rd: Tie between Two Brothers and Middlebury College
Kitchen Sink Category
1st: Middlebury College Cross-Country Team
2nd: Cyclewise
3rd: On Tap Bar and Grill
Game Category
1st: Fish Tail Tavern
2nd: Two Brothers Tavern
3rd: Leunig’s Bistro
MORE THAN 5,000 people attended the Chili Fest. In addition to enjoying the hot food, they were also entertained by …
The Vermont Chili Fest is one of the four signature events held annually by Experience Middlebury, which is an initiative of the Better Middlebury Partnership. The other events include Midd Summer Fest, Spooktacular and Very Merry Middlebury. More information about each of the events can be found at experiencemiddlebury.com.
Organizers offered their special thanks to the Chili Fest sponsors: Farrell Distributing, Drop-In Brewery, WhistlePig, Vermont Hard Cider, Efficiency Vermont, Megalight, Brian’s Farm Supply, Discovery Map of Addison County, Purity. Organic, J. P. Carrara & Sons, Resort Guides, Cabot and Jim Murphy Home Inspection Services.
… the Middlebury College pep band and …
… singer-songwriter Jon Gailmore.
Independent photos/Trent Campbell