Fickling of Florida Blog

More incentive to visit beautiful St. George Island and earn free money! Our local Tourist Development Council has declared September to be Seafood Days in Franklin County and is putting their money where their mouth is – pun intended. Together with the TDC, we are offering anyone booking a vacation in September FREE money! This is good for a stay on St. George Island, Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Eastpoint, all of Franklin County.

Stay in one of our vacation rental homes on St. George Island for two nights and receive a $50 gift card, three nights receive $100 gift card, four nights receive $150 gift card, five nights receive $200 and if you stay 6+ nights you will receive $250 in gift cards!

These will be standard gift credit cards and can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted. You can enjoy that special dinner while watching the sunset on the Apalachicola Bay, order an extra dozen (or two!) of fresh oysters, rent a kayak or a bike, charter a fishing trip or buy a new fishing pole, buy that adorable sundress you’ve been eyeing in the shop window, or that amazing framed photo of the lighthouse… use your imagination!

Quantities are limited so CALL NOW TO BOOK YOUR STAY! We are also offering super discounts on many of our homes – low season rates for the whole month of September!

DETAILS & RESTRICTIONS:

Only good for nights in September.

Non-pay reservations excluded.

Reservations paid in full on arrival only.

Good for reservations booked prior to the special announcement.

While quantities last, so book NOW.

Pick-up in person from your accommodations provider.

March came in like a lion again this year but thankfully calmed down in time for a perfect Chili Cookoff.  For the first time the cookoff area was fenced off and a $5 admission charged. This didn't deter the 5600 visitors that came through the gate to enjoy hundreds of gallons of chili, live music and impromptu chili-head entertainment.  Preliminary counts are showing about $90,000 was raised for the SGI volunteer fire department and first responder unit - another successful Cookoff!

Wow! It’s that time again, cut up your peppers, brown your meat, turn on your cookers and MAKE SOME CHILI!  2010 promises to be another great St. George Island Charity Chili Cookoff with a record 70 cooks whipping up their secret recipes.  Bring your family and join in the fun next to the St. George Island Lighthouse Park.

8:00 AM St. George Island Chili Cookoff Red Pepper 5K Run

8:30 AM Booth Set‑up (Booth construction & area setup will be allowed from 12 noon Friday to

10 AM Saturday)

9:30 AM Cooks meeting. International Chili Society [ICS) rules will be in effect. Copies will be

provided upon request.

9:30 AM Crock Pot Chili Must Be On Site, Minimum One Gallon­

Anything Goes (Prepare at Home)

$5.00 Entry Fee Required. I.C.S. rules do not apply. Chili to be sold.

All proceeds going to St. George Island Charity Cookoff. Prizes awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd

places.

10:00 AM Preparation time ‑ chopping, slicing, marinating, but NO COOKING, NO STOVES OR

FIRES LIT!

Remember International Chili Society (ICS) Rules in effect No beans, pasta etc. Chili

prepared on site from scratch; no prepackaged chili mixes; meat may be cut, sliced or

ground in advance, but not treated or cooked except during competition. Stoves

officially lit at 11:00 AM; judging at 2:00. Samples delivered to judging area promptly‑at

2:01 p.m. No Exceptions.

This is a fund‑raising event* and you may prepare more than four quarts which will be

sold at your booth for $1.00. (We provide cups and spoons.) All proceeds will go to the S.G.I. Charity Chili Cookoff. A special prize will be awarded to the team raising the most money.

10-11:00 Crock Pot Chili Judging

11:00 AM Fire‑up the stoves ‑ the three hour cooking period starts.

11:00 AM Judges meeting ‑ ALL EVENTS ‑ meet at Judges tent.

11,00 AM Auction Starts

11:15 AM Crock Pot Chili Awards presented at the Crock Pot Booth. All participants should

be present

11:30‑12:15 Booth/Showmanship Judging

12:15‑12:45 Miss Chili Pepper Judging .

12:45 - 1:15 Mister Hot Sauce Judging

2:00 Cooking Stops, Stoves off, Fires out. DELIVER Samples to Judging Area.

Judging Starts.

3:30 PM Awards ‑ Will be presented in the Chili judging area.

Visit Apalachicola Florida’s Dixie Theatre on Saturday February 6th, 2010 for it’s 7th annual Mardi Gras celebration benefitting Habitat for Humanity and Franklin’s Promise. 

Apalachicola Mardi Gras was an important community celebration until World War II.  It began again in 2004 as the yearly benefit for Habitat for Humanity.   This year, tickets are $20 and include dinner and live music.  Tickets are available at the door and the party is from 6:30pm-11:30pm. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration announced that the Big Bend Scenic Byway has achieved National Scenic Byway status. The Big Bend Scenic Byway runs from Apalachicola in Franklin County, Florida, through Wakulla County, to southern Leon County.  The scenic route features over 200 miles of forests, wildlife, historic forts, battlegrounds, museums, beaches, fishing villages, historic towns and rural communities.

The National Scenic Byway program was established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. There are currently 125 such designated Byways in 44 states. The program awards National designation based on the road’s important scenic, natural, historical, cultural, archaeological or recreational qualities.

This prestigious award was made possible by the efforts and devotion of the  local citizens, community leaders, businesses, nonprofit organizations and numerous government agencies. Information including maps, driving directions, and recommended stops along The Big Bend Scenic Byway can be found at http://www.floridabigbendscenicbyway.org.

Mark it on your calendars!  November 6th-7th, 2009 is the 46th Annual Florida Seafood Festival in Apalachicola Florida!

All the usual fun events – Blessing of the Fleet is one of my favorites on Friday afternoon as the parade of boats pass under the Apalachicola bridge to be blessed for another year of seaworthiness.  It’s worked for every boat I’ve been on so far!

Saturday morning 8am starts with the Redfish Run at the Gibson Inn which winds through the South Historic district. Then the parade starts at 10:00 right through the middle of Apalachicola, and the gates open at 10am also.  There is always plenty to see and do throughout the festival with lots of booths and fun fair rides.  Plus you get to catch up with all the out of town visitors or old timers coming home for reunions. 
This year the music headliner is Tracy Lawrence – 8pm on Saturday night. 

For all the info, visit the official website at www.floridaseafoodfestival.com

Hope to see you!

Join volunteers from the world over during the September 19, 2009 International Coastal Cleanup. Volunteers will meet at various locations throughout Franklin County with trash bags in hand. Each location’s collected debris will be weighed at the County Landfill. Totals will be tallied to see which volunteer group gathered the most debris. Last years locations are listed below and if would like more information call or email Rosalyn Kilcollins 850-653-8063 or Rosalyn.kilcollins@dep.state.fl.us

1. Apalachicola: Boat Ramp at 10’ Hole and Abercrombie Landing

2. Bald Point State Park: 149 Box Cut Rd, Alligator Point

3. Carrabelle: City Pavilion, Marine St. south of Highway 98

4. Eastpoint: Marion Millender Park off Patton St.

5. Indian Creek Park: North Bayshore Dr, Eastpoint by kayak and canoe

6. Lanark Beach: Lanark Boat Club

7. Little St. George Island

8. St. George Island Community Park: Downtown St. George Island

9. St. George Island State Park: Park Entrance

Slowly but surely the art world is finding Apalachicola Florida.  Or maybe the art hungry are dragging the art world down the river, over the bridge, through forests and across oyster beds into a town that is ripe for culture.  The Apalachicola Bay’s next art event will be the Wild & Scenic Film Festival which runs in different venues from August 29th to September 5, 2009.

This film festival, from Nevada, was organized and hosted by the South Yuba River Citizen’s League.  It has made it’s way to Apalachicola through hard work by the Apalachicola Riverkeepers and the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.  The Festival aims to inspire and educate people to go out into their own community and make a difference.  

The schedule and venues are as follows:

Saturday, August 29, Carrabelle City Auditorium
1001 Grey Avenue, Carrabelle
Children’s Program at 5:00 p.m. EDT
Reception at 6:30 p.m. EDT
General Audience Program I at 7:00 p.m. EDT

 
Wednesday, September 2, St. George Island Volunteer Fire Dept.
324 Pine Avenue, St. George Island
Children’s Program at 5:00 p.m. EDT
Wine and Cheese Reception at 6:30 p.m. EDT
General Audience Program II at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Thursday, September 3, Tupelo Theater
136 Highway 22, Wewahitchka
Wine and Cheese Reception at 6:00 p.m. CDT
General Audience Program III at 7:00 p.m. CDT

Friday, September 4, FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory                                                                                      3618 US Highway 98, St. Teresa
Wine and Cheese Reception at 6:00 p.m. EDT
General Audience Program I at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Saturday, September 5, Dixie Theater
21 Avenue E, Apalachicola
Children’s Program at 3:00 p.m. EDT
General Audience Program II at 5:00 p.m. EDT
Wine and Cheese Reception 6:30 p.m.
General Audience Program III at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Tickets can be purchased online, by calling Apalachicola Riverkeeper at 850-653-8936, or at the door immediately preceding the event if tickets are still available. However, seating is limited so advanced purchases are recommended. Tickets can also be purchased at the Apalachicola Riverkeeper office. The office is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and is located at 232-B Water Street, Apalachicola, FL.

Are you heading to the beaches of St. George Island, historic Apalachicola or fishing in Carrabelle on 4^th of July? There are plenty of other fun things to do while you’re here!

July 3, 2009 is the Independence Day Parade and Ice Cream Social in Apalachicola. Line up at the lovely Lafayette Park in the historic southside of town (14^th St. and Ave B.) at 5:00 on your bicycle, golf cart or other vehicle, decorated in red, white and blue! The parade winds through Apalachicola’s historic district and ends up at the new city dock on Water St. for an old fashioned ice cream social.

July 4, 2009 – Line up on W. Bayshore on St. George Island to be the island parade! Enter yourself, your golfcart, car or float and start the fun early! There are no ‘official’ fireworks on St. George on the 4^th but the Blue Parrot always puts on a show, not to mention all the visitors who set off their own fireworks on the beach. There will be plenty to light up the sky!

July 4, 2009 – Carrabelle is hosting a community picnic at Tillie Miller Park. There will be sack races, a pie baking contest, cake walk, free lighthouse climbing and fireworks after dark!

Nothing like a good old fashioned 4^th of July to celebrate our independence on the coast.

A good friend of mine once told me that we have more festivals and celebrations that any place she’s ever known. I happen to know for a fact that St. George Island is not the only place in the world that hosts a mullet toss but I will concede that mullet tosses are not your everyday occurrence in most small towns. Yes, they throw real fish, and no, there is no easy way to throw a real fish. Most roll them around in the sand before getting whatever hold they can and flinging them as far as possible.

The 2009 St. George Island Mullet Toss was a great success. Held in front of the Blue Parrot (who is the sole sponsor and organizer of the event, and has been for all 18 annual tosses) a huge crowd gathered to see how far a mullet could be tossed into the wind. A course was set up with distances marked up to 200 feet and there were also boxed targets where a tosser could win various prizes from the Blue Parrot – many of the kids aimed for the free cheeseburger! Kids were having a great time running around the course retrieving already thrown mullet to rinse off and reuse.

The highlight was definitely the mechanical division. Two teams had contraptions that resembled gigantic potato cannons and matched off to shoot into a fierce headwind. One team shot a mullet right into a group of seagulls on the roof of the Buccaneer Inn. The winning team launched a cardboard wrapped mullet, capped with a rutabaga, over 420’, still 100’ short of the 533’ record. Another good reason to spend a beautiful Saturday on the beachfront on St. George Island!

Even if it isn't official until June 21st, no one on St. George Island would deny that summer has arrived! The weather has been perfect, the water clear enough to rival the Caribbean, fish are biting, and kids are walking down the sidewalks eating ice cream.

The annual St. George Island Mullet toss is June 13th this year, in front of the Blue Parrot.  It is exactly what it sounds like - how far can a mullet be tossed by a person, or a creative power tool.  A uniquely entertaining way to spend a Saturday at the beach and all proceeds benefit the Apalachicola Bay Charter School.

Calling all fishermen! Coinciding with Father's Day, the annual Big Bend Saltwater Classic fishing tournament is June 18-21st.  Spend the day on the water and see how your catch compares to the rest at the Carrabelle Boat Club.  June 18^th is the Captain’s meeting at the Carrabelle Boat Club (1/2 mile west of the bridge in Carrabelle) with fishing days Friday-Saturday and awards ceremony on Sunday.

We have an active running contingent all around the Apalachicola Bay. In Apalachicola you see the same people on their path. They run at the same time every day, from the solitary daybreak runner to the evening joggers – often including moms with strollers. Everyone has their own route; it usually includes a pass by Lafayette Park, down Bay Ave, under the bridge at Ten Foot Hole, down along Water Street then maybe winds in and out of Apalachicola’s south historic district. Anyone sitting on a front porch is guaranteed to wave and threaten to hop down and join in this exercise jaunt but both know it’s usually an empty promise. The runners use this as a tool to see what’s going on it town; whose car is parked at whose house, where the new real estate signs are, what new landscaping has been done. There are only a few hills in Apalachicola so the brave and fit are sure to hit them and make their 10’ climb in altitude. This is not a good place to train for the San Francisco marathon…

On St. George Island you find runners all over the place! The 6.5 mile bike path is usually dotted with runners, some with dogs, some with small children on bikes, some who look like they’ve run about 3 laps on the bike path with a few more to go! If they remembered their $1, you will even find them going into the St. George Island State Park so they can get that extra 4 miles. Every so often you see someone actually running ON the beach, but it’s usually too hard to find the perfect level track – don’t hurt those hips and knees any more than you have to! There are some hardcore runners, marathoners, and they are the bridge runners. They need some hills and the only way to get them is to go up and down the bridges – either Apalachicola or St. George Island will do. Both bridges have wide shoulders now so plenty of room to share the road.

There are several scheduled runs throughout the year – always well attended and always well reported by our local newspaper, The Apalachicola Times. A great mix of visitors and locals, there are plenty of divisions for everyone to get some recognition!

March – Chili Cookoff Redfish Run on St. George Island                         June – St. George Island Summer Sizzler 5K and fun run                November – Florida Seafood Festival Redfish Run, Apalachicola               New Year’s Day – The Bridge Run, from Apalachicola to Eastpoint and back again.

In the current era of online communities, cyber networking and social websites, it’s refreshing to see someone you know, face to face, in a solid three dimensional building. A place you can go to meet live people, who are drinking coffee, reading the local newspaper (in PRINT no less!) and talking about the daily news, factual or not – your choice…

We are fortunate enough to have two such meeting places in historic downtown Apalachicola. The oldest and most established is Dolores’ Sweet Shoppe. Dolores herself serves coffee, full breakfasts and a wide array of sweet things to tempt you, hence the name. The Sweet Shoppe is in a historic brick building on Ave E, just east of the caution light. On any given morning you can find a selection of Realtors, fishing captains, local politicians, and various self proclaimed experts on almost any subject that crosses the table. The monthly Apalachicola Realtor tour starts there and you can bet that this is one of the first spots to hear about who has put their house up for sale or what newcomer bought the old ‘so and so’ place and the contractor they are getting to renovate it. Chances are good that all parties involved are sitting in the shop, or just left, or are about to walk in.

The other coffee shop, Café con Leche, is located at the corner of Hwy 98 and Ave. D, just as you come off the bridge from Eastpoint on the right. It shares this prime piece of Apalachicola real estate with Tamara’s Café – Coffee shop in the morning, Tamara’s for lunch and dinner - they are keeping it all in the family. Café con Leche is a wireless hot spot, which is obvious as soon as you walk in and see a mixture of people hunched over their laptops with a steaming mug of joe in their hands. Many Apalachicola artists, shop and gallery owners convene every morning to ‘share’ what’s going on in the Apalachicola art/shop scene, as well as a few walking groups that end up at the coffee shop as a reward for calories burned during their morning strolls. Even if you don’t know anyone when you first walk in, you are almost guaranteed to make new friends before you leave!

Both these spots are a great way to check into the local scene and find all the news that’s not quite fit to print… as we like to say, “Welcome to Apalachicola Florida, where the grapevine moves faster than the DSL!”

The painters are here! The painters are here! As I turned at the caution light in Apalachicola this morning main street was still empty of cars, but host to easels. Set up in front of the Old Soda Fountain was a plein air artist with brush in hand and tarp on the ground. I drove slowly in front of him to see if I could guess what his subject was and my money is on Chez Funk and Beverly’s pottery garden. We’ll see if that view turns up in the wet room at the Historic Cotton Exchange in downtown Apalachicola!

For ten days every May, the Forgotten Coast is visited by several artists from all over the country. They paint the daily life and common views of this stretch of “Old Florida”. We are pretty spoiled with postcard quality views on almost every corner and many of them are put to canvas by these talented outdoor artists. Often thought of as just landscape painting, plein air (meaning, ‘in plain air’) can depict any aspect of everyday life, with people and architecture often included. These painters work very quickly and quite talented since the scenes they paint often last for just a short time – a sunset, a storm cloud growing, or a shop owner watering her plants. Artists will be painting on the beach, across the marsh, beside the lakes and throughout the streets of waterfront towns from Mexico Beach, Windmark, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island, Carrabelle, and inland at Wewahitchka.

Every afternoon they bring their work in to the wet room at the Historic Cotton Exchange in Apalachicola. It is open till 5pm every day for anyone that would like to see (or purchase!) their work. There are social gatherings almost every evening in celebration of the art and artists and it truly is a great way to experience the sites of the Forgotten Coast!

The 11th Annual Apalachicola Antique & Classic Boat show takes place this year on Saturday, April 25 2009.   Stroll the waterfront streets of historic Apalachicola Florida and chat with the proud owners of numerous wooden and classic boats that line the streets.  

Most years we see about fifty boats lined up along Ave. D and Water Street.  You can expect to see antique power boats, lovely wooden sail boats, and unique handcrafted water going vessels of one-of-a-kind designs.  The newly completed city dock will add extra space for booths and for visitors to enjoy views of the Apalachicola River. 

APRIL 30 - MAY 3, 2009
Veterans Memorial Plaza, Apalachicola Florida

The Wall That Heals Traveling Memorial and Museum is an exhibition featuring a half-scale replica of the Memorial and a museum that travels to communities throughout America.

The exhibit profiles the Vietnam War and educates visitors. An information center and staff can assist visitors in searching for names on The Wall and to provide information.

Come share this moving experience in Apalachicola Florida this spring at Veterans Memorial Plaza, home of the Three Servicemen Statue, Detail.
Opening ceremony: Thursday, April 30, 2009, 11:00am EST
Closing ceremony: Sunday, May 3, 2009, 7:00pm EST

April 4, 2009 marks another exciting day in the life of St. George Island Florida. The culmination of many years hard work for the St. George Island Lighthouse Association will cap with a formal dedication ceremony at 10:00am at the base of the lighthouse in St. George Lighthouse Park.

The keynote address will be given by Virginian Neil E. Hurley, former U.S. Coast Guard Commander, historian for the Florida Lighthouse Association and author of four books about Florida Lighthouses. He has been a great friend to our St. George Island Association and helped sort through many of the details for the lantern room and tower reconstruction.

There will be a fundraising barbeque, live music by Sax Man Karl Dappen and Eclectic Acoustic, and an ongoing silent auction of artwork, jewelry and another beautiful quilt.

The lighthouse will be closed during the ceremony but will be open for climbing at no charge after the event. Everyone is invited to attend this celebration of Florida’s newest lighthouse!

Sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church, the annual Apalachicola Historic Home and Garden tour is always a highlight event of spring! Put May 1 & 2, 2009 on your calendar so you’ll be sure to come and enjoy these loyal homeowner’s hard work. More than a dozen historical and architecturally significant homes will be on this year’s tour. The featured home this year is the lovely Chapman home, located next to the historic Chestnut Street Cemetery. It is the former home of Dr. Alvin Chapman, author of Flora of the Southern United States. This year commemorates the 200^th anniversary of his birth. Recently purchased, the new owner has started renovating this historic beauty and plans to devote the first floor to a museum.

Other homes on the tour include several grand homes on the Historic South side of Apalachicola (the neighborhood nearest the Apalachicola Bay) as well as smaller but no less precious cottages throughout the historic district. All tour hosts and hostesses have been hard at work getting all their home projects completed and spending many daylight hours sprucing up their gardens. For a full schedule of events visit the tour site at www.apalachicolahistorichometour.org

Hope to see you there!

Of course, it’s the first day of spring all over the world, but you don’t have to imagine it happening here! Crystal blue skies, wispy clouds, clear water (though a little chilly) and azaleas blooming… And lots of new plants poking their heads up to test the skies at the new Apalachicola Community Garden! The vision of several dedicated local green thumbs, the Community Garden is at the intersection of 8^th St. and Ave F, just north of the Historic Chestnut Street Cemetery. The raised beds were built with donated materials, and donated labor from our friends at the Garden Shop and Garden’s Inc. Local gardeners can rent a raised bed for $35 per year, soil and water provided, or they can donated their time to work on the beds that provide food for Franklin’s Promise, the local food bank. This is another fine example of how living in Apalachicola is to be a part of vibrant, dynamic community, where you know your neighbors and chat on the front porch. Now you might meet them down at the garden!

No matter how you choose to measure, this year’s cookoff was a success!  We had the highest number of cooks ever (68), the fire department booth sold every bit of food, the weather was perfect, and the chili booths raised a record amount of money for the fire department.  The final tally isn’t in but it will be well worth the once a year traffic jam.

If you own a home on St. George Island and it is on the vacation rental market, there is a good chance that it was rented this weekend.  Especially if your home was within walking distance to the St. George Island public beach and lighthouse.  Visitors came to the island in a steady stream over the bridge (at one point it was a 45 minute wait on the bridge! Yikes) and it was nice to see so many homes lit up Saturday night.

As I’ve said before, this cookoff raises money to support our fire department.  Every single homeowner or future homeowner on St. George Island benefits from a strong fire department!  Having top notch equipment and fire stations within St. George Island Plantation and on the East End of St. George Island, keeps every homeowner’s insurance premiums lower.  So whether you own a beachfront home on St. George Island, or might be interested in buying a home on St. George Island, say a little bit of thanks for the economic boost of the chili cookoff.   Only 363 days to go...

What a LOVELY new park for Apalachicola!  Gone are the old creosote pilings and storm weary beams (the tales they could tell, I’m sure!) and in with our shiny new, sturdy, latest technology,  flow-through dock.  There is even a floating dock so boatgoer’s can pick up their tardy friends downtown for Sunday afternoons up the Apalachicola River.  

In case you don’t know where the new docks are – and there is enough confusion in the name that you might not – these are the docks across the street from the Grady Market.  This is officially “Veteran’s Park”.  There has been some talk about changing the name since we now have “Veteran’s Plaza”, home to the Three Servicemen Statue, a wonderful park on Market St. in front of the Orman House.   We’ll have to wait and see if Apalachicola City commissioners decide to make a name change but no matter what you call it, it’s a great space to stroll along the river!

8:00 AM Red Pepper 5K Run

8:30 AM Booth Set‑up (Booth construction & area setup will be allowed from 12 noon Friday to 10 AM Saturday)

9:30 AM Cooks meeting. International Chili Society [ICS) rules will be in effect. Copies will be provided upon request.

9:30 AM Crock Pot Chili Must Be On Site, Minimum One Gallon­, Anything Goes (Prepare at Home) $5.00 Entry Fee Required. I.C.S. rules do not apply. Chili to be sold. All proceeds going to St. George Island Charity Chili Cookoff. Prizes awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

10:00 AM Preparation time ‑ chopping, slicing, marinating, but NO COOKING, NO STOVES ORFIRES LIT! Remember International Chili Society (ICS) Rules in effect No beans, pasta etc. Chili prepared on site from scratch; no prepackaged chili mixes; meat may be cut, sliced or ground in advance, but not treated or cooked except during competition. Stoves officially lit at 11:00 AM; judging at 2:00. Samples delivered to judging area promptly‑at 2:01 p.m. No Exceptions.

This is a fund‑raising event* and you may prepare more than four quarts which will be sold at your booth for $1.00. (We provide cups and spoons.) All proceeds will go to the St. George Island Charity Chili Cookoff. A special prize will be awarded to the team raising the most money.

10-11:00 Crock Pot Chili Judging

11:00 AM Fire‑up the stoves ‑ the three hour cooking period starts.

11:00 AM Judges meeting ‑ ALL EVENTS ‑ meet at Judges tent.

11:00 AM St. George Island Chili Cookoff Charity Auction Starts

11:15 AM Crock Pot Chili Awards presented at the Crock Pot Booth. All participants should be present

11:30‑12:15 Booth/Showmanship Judging

12:15‑12:45 Miss Chili Pepper of St. George Island Chili Cookoff Judging .

12:45 - 1:15 Mister Hot Sauce of St. George Island Chili Cookoff Judging

2:00 Cooking Stops, Stoves off, Fires out. DELIVER Samples to Judging Area. Judging Starts.

3:30 PM Awards ‑ Will be presented in the Chili judging area.

The 27th Annual St. George Island Chili Cookoff is right around the corner on March 7th, 2009.  If you like hot chili, great music (I hear King Cotton will be on the island playing somewhere...) and an auction of amazing stuff, this is the place to be.   Last year's chili cookoff raised nearly $100,000 for the St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department and First Responder Unit.  They are constantly striving to surpass the fire codes and requirements so this fundraising helps keep them at the top of their game.  This also helps keep all homeowner’s insurance costs lower so all St. George Island homeowners benefit from this support!

This year is going to host a record number of cooks competing for the $500 first place prize.  There are 67 cooks signed up to date – up from 52 last year.  If you’re on the island early, be sure to stop by the St. George Island East End Firehouse from 5-7pm Friday March 6th, for a preview of the art and auction items that will be offered on Saturday.  If you’re an early rising runner (or just want to play one for that day) the 5K Red Pepper Run starts off Saturday’s festivities at 8:00am.  Hope to see you there!