Chili Cookoff Coming up June 14

Join in the fun Downtown on Saturday June 14 to celebrate Father's Day weekend

The Main Street Chili Cookoff will take place on Saturday, June 14 from 11 am to 5 pm along Green Street in Downtown Tehachapi. Join in the festival atmosphere with activities and treats for kids, food vendors, and the Main Street Chili booth selling homemade chili, served in a variety of ways.

Popular local band, Movin' On will perform from 12 to 4 pm in front of the Hitching Post Theater, playing a wide variety of musical genres which include country, rock, rockabilly, blues, standards, and Americana. Nearby, at Green and E Street, will be the Main Street Beer Garden, serving Budweiser, Shocktop, 805, and Strawberry and Lime-a-rita drinks.

Amateur Chili cooks are still needed to compete for "bragging rights" to Tehachapi's best chili. Rules have been relaxed to only require 5 gallons to be sampled by the judges and the public. The deadline for entries has been extended to the week of the cookoff. Samples will be first come, first served and may run out quickly, so be sure to get there early in order to vote in the "People's Choice" competition. The amateur cooks will be set up along Green Street and must have their chili ready to serve at 12:30 pm. Application available at MainStreetTehachapi.org.

Competitors in the International Chili Society will be set up along West F Street making their own, unique chili to compete for prizes and a chance to advance to the Regional Cookoff. They would love to discuss their chili cooking techniques with you, but don't expect them to tell you their "secret ingredient!"

The Red Hot Classic and Antique Car Show will be along East F Street and will benefit the Tehachapi Car Show Committee. Applications will be accepted by mail or on day of the show and are available on the website at MainStreetTehachapi.org.

This year's Chili Cookoff Festival is sponsored by Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District, The City of Tehachapi, Tehachapi Valley Hospital District, and Kieffe and Sons Ford, Benz Sanitation and The Loop Newspaper. There will be plenty of fun, food and activities from 11 am to 5 pm. For information on entering the Amateur Chili Contest, go to MainStreetTehachapi.org and click on the amateur chili cook application. For more information, call the Main Street Office at 822.6519.

Also visit the Historic Tehachapi Depot and Railroad Museum at Tehachapi Blvd and Green Street for the annual Train Faire Swap Meet and Fun Day from 9 am to 4 pm. There will be movies, storytelling, treats, and other activities for kids of all ages.