The 20th Annual ChiliFest will be in downtown New Martinsville on October 19 from 12 to 4. This year’s event will kick off 9 a.m. with the ChiliFest 5K sponsored by Prodigy Wellness Center. The sign-ups will take place in front of Prodigy Wellness Center at 8:30 a.m.

Chili sales will begin at 12:00 and will be located on Main Street in front of the Wetzel County Museum. Fine chili should look good, smell good, and taste good! Accordingly, each chili is to be judged on the following criteria: aroma, color, consistency, taste, and aftertaste or bite, to arrive at a whole number score for each category of 0 to 10 with 10 being the highest. Chili samples from participants are due to the Wetzel County Museum by 12:30. Prizes for the event will be CASH Best Overall $300, 2nd place $150, 3rd place $100, and People’s Choice $200.

Chili not your thing? That’s okay, because there will be plenty of other food vendors and booths selling everything from hamburgers, ribs, pulled pork, and baked goods such as cornbread, cookies, pies, cinnamon rolls, and even maple syrup.

At noon the kids costume parade starting at the City Building Corner and ending at the Center for Children and Families where the costumes will be judged by age group (0-2, 3-5, 6-9, 10-12 years of age) and medals will be awarded.

Also starting at noon will be the registration for the cornhole tournament. It will be a winner-take-all $250 prize tournament. Registration is $10 per person and the proceeds benefit the Tyler Wetzel Adult Sports League. The tournament will begin at 12:30 in the Square on Main beside the Wetzel County Museum.

Magnolia Band Booster BINGO will begin at 1 p.m. in the Square on Main. Proceeds for this event will benefit the Magnolia Band Boosters. Bingo will last until 4 p.m. so bring a friend and spend the afternoon.

New this year is an inflatable jousting tournament. Participants must be 16 years or older and sign a waiver to participate. Registration will be at 1:30 and the tournament begins at 2 p.m. The winner of the single elimination tournament will take home $250.

There will be inflatables for kids and the young at heart as well as Carmen Harman playing all your favorite tunes all day from 12 to 4.

The Wetzel County CVB and Wetzel County Museum is proud to host this event and bring people to our lovely downtown. There is still time to register to be a chili or food vendor.

Schedule of Events:

ChiliFest 5K at Prodigy Wellness Center 8:00 sign up Race time 9:00 a.m. Sponsored by Prodigy Wellness Center.

Chili, Food Vendors, Inflatables: Main Street in front of Wetzel County Museum 12 to 4. Chili vendors must provide sample for judging by 12:30 to Wetzel County Museum. Winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m.

Kids Costume Parade: Line up at City Building Corner; End Point Wetzel County Center for Children and Families where prizes will be awarded;12:00 Parade Starts, trick or treat at chili vendors following costume judging/photographs. Age Groups: 0-2, 3-5, 6-9, 10-12. Judged by Wetzel County Center for Children and Families

Cornhole Tournament: The Cornhole Tournament will be located at Square on Main beside Wetzel County Museum. Sign up 12:00 Start time 12:30 $10 Per Person Registration. Winner take all $250 prizeProceeds benefit Tyler- Wetzel Sports League.

Bingo: Square on Main beside Wetzel County Museum 1 to 4. Proceeds benefit the Magnolia High School Band Boosters.

Inflatable Jousting Tournament: Across Main Street from Wetzel County Museum Sign up 1:30, start time 2:00. Must be over 16. $250 grand prize-single elimination bracket

Go to www.visitwetzelcounty.com or stop in at the Wetzel County Museum for a registration form. The vending fee is $25, payable through debit or credit card on the website or check written to the Wetzel County CVB. Contact Holly at 304-771-8482 if you have any questions about the event.