Come to Smith Mountain Lake for the 9th-Annual Smith Mountain Lake Fall Chili and Craft Festival on Saturday, November 9th. Enjoy a full-day event featuring music, crafts and a spectacular competitive chili cook-off. Trophies will be awarded for “Best Chili,” “People’s Choice,” and “Showmanship.” It’ll be a hot time at Smith Mountain Lake. Held lakeside at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, near the Hales Ford Bridge.
There’s an active schedule planned with cooking beginning at 9:00 AM, tasting at noon, judging at 3:00 PM, awards at 4:00 PM and great fun for everyone all day long! The doors are open to the public from 11:00 AM until 4:00PM. The festival is located next to Halesford Bridge on Route 122 in Moneta. There will be music by the Harmoneers Waterfront 4 Quartet, Gretna Little Theater presents a takeoff on the TV show Hee Haw, Candy Top, the Clown, Kyle Edgell, nationally know caricature artist, and plenty of plaza activity. Come out and visit with Miss Smith Mountain Lake, and Miss SML Outstanding Teen. And, of course, you’ll find lots of chili for every taste as participants compete for the title of Smith Mountain Lake Chili Festival Champion. The size of the trophy says it all! Stop by the Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Center to see for yourself. The trophies are already on display. Festival goers will share in the bounty and judging as they determine who wins the coveted ‘People’s Choice Award’. Showmanship and chili excellence go hand in hand at this event to the delight of the crowd.
There’s something for everyone at this lakeside event. Come by car or come by boat, there’s plenty of free parking. Put this festival into your ‘no frills’ entertainment schedule. Gatherings like this are all about enjoyment for everyone and what better place to gather than Smith Mountain Lake?
Official rules and contestant application forms are available on line at www.visitsmithmountainlake.com or at the SMLRCC Visitor Center at Bridgewater Plaza. The cost for chili contestants is only $25.00 for a 9 x 10 ft space. Addtional spaces available at $75.00 each. All entries must be received no later than 5:00 PM, Friday, October 28th. This event features cooking, tasting, music, craft vendors…judges, prizes and much more. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in Chili Cooking, 1st place Showmanship and the People’s Choice award. Join in on the fun as a spectator or a contestant. It’s going to be a “hot time” at Smith Mountain Lake. For more information, contact the SML Visitor’s Center at: 540.721.1203 or check out the website.
At Smith Mountain Lake you’ll find wonderful places and people. Our area’s great natural beauty–from the waters and woods to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia–is the perfect destination for your very own style of fun, whether you seek days full of activities or just plain relaxing. Smith Mountain Lake – it’s closer than you think!