Duane Hicks
A-hoy, matey!
The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is looking for teams to participate in its annual “Great Canadian Chili Cook-off,” which this year will take place Wednesday, Sept. 17 and follow the theme, “Pirates of the Chili-be-an.”
Chamber manager Annely Armstrong-Thorstad said that teams enjoy dressing up and making up creative names for their chili, and the pirate theme fits the bill.
“We’ve had quite a few people call and ask questions—new people, which is good,” she noted.
“We’ve had one team commit already—the Main Street Market (in Devlin). They phoned up and were, ‘Pirates of the Chili-be-an?’ Oh yeah, we’re in,’” chuckled Armstrong-Thorstad.
Armstrong-Thorstad said organizers would like to have as many teams signed up as possible.
“The more, the merrier,” she noted. “Every year just about we run out of chili; there’s been a few times that we have—so the more teams, the better selection you have.
“We do have the sample platter, which is usually the most popular. People like to try all the different kinds,” added Armstrong-Thorstad.
The deadline to sign up is Friday, Sept. 12. Organizers need to know whether teams need the kitchen at the Legion to prepare their chili.
Call the Chamber at 274-5773.
Oktoberfest
The chili cook-off, which usually is held in mid- to late-October, has been bumped ahead this year because the Chamber is planning another event—that celebration of everything German known as Oktoberfest.
The party is slated for Friday, Oct. 10 at the Legion.
Armstrong-Thorstad said organizers want to go all-out with authentic decorations, fun games, and making beer steins, Bavarian hats, and suspenders available to event-goers at a low cost “so that everybody can join in and have fun.”
Organizers also are trying to get an Oompah band for the celebration, and already have a line on some musicians from International Falls.
Armstrong-Thorstad said the Legion ladies told her they’re getting excited about Oktoberfest, and plan to cook up bratwurst, sauerkraut, soft pretzels, and more.
Armstrong-Thorstad said all of these events are part of an ongoing goal of the Chamber to have one event per month.
“That’s what we’re working towards, but it takes time to get everything settled and in place,” she added.
