This fall will be “chili” in the Town of Marion.
After the pandemic canceled last year’s annual chili championship, the event returns to Main Street this October.
The chili cookoff coincides with the October Song of the Mountains concert taped for a nationally syndicated television audience.
“It’s our 35th anniversary of the Marion Downtown Chili Championship, and it’s a great way for us to come together,” said Ken Heath, Marion’s director of Community and Economic Development. “We’ve got plenty to celebrate, and early fall is a perfect time to enjoy our mountains, our music, our food, and our community.”
This new festival is set for Saturday, Oct. 9 in downtown Marion. Themed around the popular “Song of the Mountains” television series, host Tim White will emcee live concerts on the Main Stage beginning at 2pm.
“It’s an all-Marion event, featuring musicians from our hometown,” said Heath. “Jason Byrd kicks it off – he was the first musician we worked with when we started our downtown revitalization program way back in 1994, so it’s fitting he starts off our new music festival.”
Local restaurants are encouraged to roll out the outdoor gardens again for an Oktoberfest theme.
“We’ll host the food trucks, community booths, and kids activities too,” added Heath.
The Marion Downtown Chili Championship this year will be a part of the Oct. 9 festival. “We surveyed our chili teams and they really wanted to cook chili in October, so this is a perfect year to try it out.”
As in years past, chili teams will compete for more than $500 in prizes, trophies, and bragging rights.
Marion Downtown will sell chili tasting tickets for $5 at the October event.
The Marion Downtown Chili Championship started on July 4, 1986, as an idea from Sam Russell, then general manager for WMEV FM94 radio.
Russell was one of the first community leaders to see the opportunities in a revitalized downtown, and his concept of a community gathering on Main Street was the beginning of the process of bringing Marion back to life. The chili cookoff took a brief hiatus, then returned in 1995 as a small event on the town parking lot. Over the years, the event has grown, moving from Independence Day to the third weekend in July to coincide with the annual Hungry Mother Festival.
In 2019, the Marion Chili Championship was named one of the Top Food Festivals in Virginia by Virginia Living Magazine.
Chili team applications are available for the October event, and community booth/vendor space applications are available by emailing [email protected] or calling (276) 378-5029.
Attendance to all festival events are free to the public.
After Byrd plays at 2 p.m., Marion duo Morrison & Perkins will take the main stage at 3 p.m. They will be followed by the Crowe Hollerers at 4 p.m. Jarid Reedy is slated to play at 5 p.m., followed by H.B. Beverly at 6 p.m. Davidsons/Blue Moon is scheduled to play at 7 p.m., and Michael Shaun Brown will play at 8 p.m.
