It’s gonna be chili outside! Come see, smell, and taste the chili on the bluff, Saturday, Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Natchez Children’s Home Services has joined with the Krewe of Fat Mama’s to provide a tasty Halloween festival for kids of all ages. Food artists will share their spice of life with the crowd in the form of chili. Artists of many genres will display their talents from the Miss-Lou area. Admission is free and tasting kits are only $5.

Treat yourself and your children to a good time for a good cause. This is approximately the 23rd year the Annual Broadway Bash Chili Cook-Off has provided a delicious way to help abused and neglected children from all over southwest Mississippi.

Entertainment for all ages is planned beginning at 11AM. Children may engage in a costume contest or mine for gems. More active children may jump in one or both of our space jumps or perhaps throw a ball at the dunking booth. Face-painting and tattoos are also in the line-up for an All Hallow’s Eve celebration. All children’s events are only 50 cents.

Adults have their own costume contest and can cut the rug to the fantastic live music of MOJO MUDD. Don’t miss dunking your favorite celebrity! We have “stars” for your viewing and dunking pleasure. Some of those dunkees are attorney Lisa Jordan-Dale, Vidalia Mayor Hiram Copeland, Judge Jim Blough, Alderman Tony Fields, coach Ron Rushing, CoLin Vice-President Teresa Busby, and Judge George Ward, with more to come!

Let’s remember our talented local artists as well. From wooden bowls to bottle-cap sculptures, Natchez will have a display worth seeing and purchasing. Each local talent is donating artwork for a silent auction. You can buy art… and you could win it. You may want a raffle ticket for a one of the kind deer stand by Skeeter Wilson. You must be present to win and raffle tickets are only $1.

An esteemed panel of judges will announce the 2009 top three winners for the chili. Each team has 2 chances to win 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place at this feisty fiesta. The following judges will name their choice for Best Chili and Best Decorated Booth: Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton, Supervisor Darryl Grennell, Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker, Author Greg Isles, Natchez Democrat Food Writer & local nurse Christina Hall, and pediatrician Dr. Danita Weary. You are a judge, too. You determine the top three winners for the People’s Choice Awards. One ticket is included in each tasting kit. You may choose to buy more tickets to ensure your favorite team gets highly rated. Each team is eligible for The Benefactor’s Award. This is given in recognition of the team that raises the most money before or at this event to benefit the Natchez Children’s Home Services. Each team is encouraged to exhibit its individual ingenuity with chili recipes, booth decorating, and monetary contributions.

It’s not too late to get your chili team registered. Stop by Fat Mama’s at 303 South Canal Street or email fatmamas@bellsouth for more information. This is a great opportunity to showcase your own infamous seasoning abilities and be an artistic donor to our community’s children.

It really will be chili outside! Come see, smell, and taste the chili on the bluff, Saturday, Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Let’s heat up the bluff with a chili experience for The Natchez Children’s Home Services!

Joy Moore is an organizer of the Broadway Chili Cook-Off.