Chili Festival Heats Up Downtown Toms River

Ghon Eckley left work at 10 p.m. last night and went home to begin packing for today’s festival. At 3 a.m., he left his home in Winchester VA and drove north 350 miles to Toms River. Once he arrived, he began setting up his table and tent and slow cooking his chili.

“My wife and daughter have both won this competition before taking second and third place, respectively. I’m hoping to take first,” Eckley said.

Eckley isn’t the only one hoping for first place. According to Jody Alessandrine, executive director of Downtown Toms River, there are 43 contestants in this year’s festival.

“It’s our biggest chili festival ever, last year we had 38 participants, this year we have 43,” Alessandrine said. “Our group consists of local chili cookers, as well as people who travel from state to state entering in these competitions. All of our competitors take the competition very seriously.”

When visitors arrive, they can purchase a tasting kit for $7, and included are napkins, a spoon, a small cup and two markers. Each booth has a spot set up to receive markers for the Peoples Choice awards, one for chili and one for salsa. At the end of the competition the organizers will count up the markers and determine the winners. Most of the competitors have made their chili between mild to medium, to appeal to a broader group. Adrienne Merchant and the crew at “Red Headed Stepchild Chili” even entered the competition with something unique: turkey chili with brown sugar.

 Last year, Mike Freedman and “Mad Mikes Killer Chili” took first place. This year, by 1 p.m. Freedman was out of chili.

“It went fast. The people of Toms River are extremely friendly and love their chili,” Freedman said.

The chili and salsa festival started out as a small event in Huddy Park 23 years ago. Today it has grown into an event that draws in crowds from all over the coast, from Virginia to Connecticut. The crowd at the festival stretched from the corner of Hooper and Washington St down to Washington St and Rt. 166.

The festival is about more than just chili however. According to Alessandrine, the festival is designed to increase traffic in Downtown Toms River, allowing local businesses to take in the extra traffic and raise awareness about their locations.

“This is great exposure for all of the businesses along Washington St, as well as this whole area,” Alessandrine said.

Local sponsors helped the event as well, including The RAT and Magic 100, Xfinity, Verizon, American Water and more. The event also had local TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) volunteers from the three high schools.

“We wouldn’t be here without all of their support,” Alessandrine said. “The TEAM volunteers are a great group to have involved. They have also helped us with other events including the ice cream social, harvest fest and jingle fest in the winter.”

TEAM members Danielle Brown and Keri Ann Moynihan were excited to be a part of the chili and salsa festival.

“It feels good to go out and do stuff and help people with the events we are a part of,” Moynihan, a junior at High School North, said.

“TEAM is great. We get community service hours that can be used on college applications, but we are really here to help the community. I love working with the elementary schools and being a mentor the kids can look up to,” Brown, a junior at High School East, said.

The chili festival went off without a hitch. From beginners to seasoned veterans, everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Jen Hagen, a newcomer to the event, started learning tips for next year as she was setting up.

“Well, we know for next year we are definitely going to need a tent,” Hagen said. “It’s a learning experience for us, and everyone here is really friendly. We have learned a lot so far and hope to be in a better position next year.”

For others, like Eckley, it’s not a matter of learning and bringing a tent. It’s a matter of taking home first place in the Peoples Choice awards.

“I have a good feeling about this year. I’m bringing the heat and looking to walk away the winner.”