Cornerstone's Chili Cook-Off Set to Spice Up Weekend

"Most buildings, if they're to stand any length of time, must be built on a solid foundation.

For the Cornerstone School's new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) wing that begins service in January, it has one of the" most spicy "of foundations — some 25,000 gallons of chili.

In 31 years of the annual Marion County Chili Cook-Off, students, parents, faculty, staff, friends and other supporters have whipped up somewhere close to that amount of chili in this, one of the oldest fundraising events in the area.

And another nearly 1,000 gallons will be added on Saturday when the 32nd annual Chili Cook-Off opens at 9 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road.

As many as 5,000 chili aficionados are expected. "We started small and continue to grow," said Leslie Lesbirel, a cook-off coordinator and administrator at the private K-8 school on Lake Weir Avenue.

For adults, it's only $5 to enter the arena where some three dozen or so teams from around the community will be cooking and hawking their homemade mixtures of chilies, beans and meat. It's $3 for seniors and students and $2 for ages 3 to 12.

And yes, you do have to pay for samples, too, but the cost is reasonable: 25 cents per mini-cupful and 75 cents for a cup about three sizes larger. "We wanted to keep it reasonable for families," said Penny Terry, another coordinator."

Facts

32nd Marion County Chili Cook-Off

When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala
Cost: $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, $2 ages 3-12; additional cost for chili sampling, drinks and food
Info: 895-1648, www.marioncountychilicookoff.or

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty

Will be entering their own chili.  

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty will be Red Hot this weekend!