MIDDLEBURY — The 9th Annual Vermont Chili Festival is officially in the books. Nearly 2,500 hearty souls braved a brisk wind and record-setting temperatures in the teens to sample chili made by local vendors, both professional and amateur.
“There was plenty of delicious chili to sample and everyone seemed to have a great time,” said Karen Duguay of the Better Middlebury Partnership, which staged the festival. “We are so appreciative of the volunteers who helped us run the event smoothly, to the sponsors who supported this year’s festival and to the vendors, who donated many hours and dollars to this festival by building booths (or boats!), making chili and paying staff to serve chili all afternoon.”
Best chili winners were selected in 18 categories.
The winners were determined by a panel of judges who sampled every chili: Lisa Mitchell (Middlebury Underground), Peter Burrows (Addison Central Superintendent), Kathy Walls (Vermont Soup Co.), Trent Campbell (Addison Independent), Ashley Wolff (illustrator) and Lynn Coale (Hannaford Career Center).
Proceeds from the event will benefit the BMP and be put toward the costs of hosting other events and programming throughout the year. In the works are another Midd Night Stroll event, outside of the Christmas shopping season; a summer music and movie night to be held on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer; plus Spooktacular in the fall and Very Merry Middlebury in December.
Contact the BMP at any point with feedback, questions and to get involved by emailing [email protected].