On Sunday, November 6, from 11 am to 3 pm, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center will host its annual Touch-a-Truck & Stamford Charity Chili Cook-off.
An array of trucks and specialized vehicles from the City of Stamford and its Police, Fire, and EMS departments, as well as CT Transit and privately owned big rigs, will give kids a chance to find out how these vehicles work, what purposes they serve, and even climb inside a few.
Under a nearby tent on the SM&NC’s scenic Meadow picnic area, grown-ups can sample some of the finest chili cooked up by local chili aficionados and cast their votes for “the Best Chili in Stamford.”
This year’s Stamford Charity Chili Cook-off promises to be the biggest ever. The 16 competitors chosen will include teams from five local restaurants, such as BarBQ, Sign of the Whale, and Johnny Utah’s. Avid amateurs vying for top honors include Stamford Mayor David Martin and the defending champs: Students from the J.M. Wright Technical High School Culinary Arts.
The recipes the contestants will be serving up are “trade secrets” until the Cook-off, but attendees can expect a mouth-watering array of chili concoctions, from organic to white, turkey, venison, and vegetarian. Some will be mildly spiced, while others will be packing plenty of heat.
This year’s Touch a Truck & Stamford Charity Chili Cook-off will also feature live music from acoustic guitarist Charlie Scopoletti. Radio station WSTC AM1400 will be broadcasting from the event, and several locally popular food trucks will be on site.
SM&NC Members: Free
Non-members: Adults $10, Seniors (65+) $8, Students (18+ with valid ID) $6, Children (4-17) $5, Children 3 and under, free.
Those who arrive on the city bus and are holding bus passes or bus transfer tickets are admitted free. Please keep in mind that admittance to the Chili Cook-off is with a $10 per person suggested donation or bag of non-perishable food items.