Chili Challenge Events draws crowd despite weather

ELLIJAY, Ga. – The 2019 Harrison Park Chili Challenge saw great attendance this year with many vendors running out of chili well before the 3:00 p.m. ending of the event.

Citizens flooded the park to taste a wide array of chili types including “Carnivore,” vegan options, traditional, spicy, and many in between. Entries were made by local businesses and other entities like Autumn Ridge Community Church, the Gilmer Fire Department, Ellijay Wood Fired Pizza, a Little Baked Bakery, White Oak Tree Service, Talking Threads Custom Embroidery, Mosquito Authority, Appalchia Cafe, Cameron Hall of Ellijay, Artful Ellijay, and even the Friends of Harrison Park offered their own chili tasting.

But there was much more than just chili tastings to do at the park. Kids were welcomed to a Bounce House provided by Autumn Ridge Community Church while others sat with their chili listening to the live music. The scarecrow invasion saw many home-designed scarecrows along the walking path in the park. Over 25 were available for people to look at along the path and though the chili challenge is gone, these guys are sticking around through this week for citizens to still visit.

The crowds made their way to this challenge despite some heavy rains off and on throughout the day. Yet, the live music played on and many vendors ran out out of chili by 1:30 p.m. As the event coordinators and Friends of Harrison Park hosted the event, representatives have already said they are wanting to continue in years to come annually and are looking at everything that went right and those that could use improvement for coming years.