Heritage Avon Lake Celebrates 15 Years of Taste of Chili

AVON LAKE (OH) – Heritage Avon Lake, Avon Lake’s local history organization, will host Taste of Chili on Saturday, September 30, 2017, at Avon Lake United Church of Christ (32801 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake) from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets for adults are $12 in advance, or $15 at the door, and $6 in advance, or $8 at the door, for children ages 3 to 12. Children ages 2 and younger are admitted free. Drinks, desserts, breadsticks, and cornbread are included with unlimited chili samples, which will be provided by various area restaurants. Attendees can vote on their favorite chili. Last year’s winner was Rio Coffee Brewery, located at 33388 Walker Road in Avon Lake.

In addition to delicious food, Taste of Chili will feature a 50/50 raffle, a raffle for floral centerpieces donated by area florists, and a silent auction of themed baskets with items donated from local merchants that include gift certificates to local eateries and businesses, a picture from Herman Furniture, and four tickets to Mighty Goliath Productions’ February 2018 musical, Big Fish. Items from the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cleveland Monsters also will be included.

Proceeds from Taste of Chili will be used for Heritage Avon Lake operations costs, as well as for continued renovations to the Folger Home, located on Lake Road in Avon Lake and built in 1902 by politician Thomas Folger as a summer home for his family. Over the years, the Victorian-style home that overlooks Lake Erie has also served as a post office, park hall, teen center, dance hall, municipal court, and mayor’s office. Recent renovations have included new exterior siding and a new HVAC system. Plans are underway to renovate the building’s second floor.

Heritage Avon Lake was formed in January 2016 from the merger of the Avon Lake Historic Preservation Society, the Lake Shore Women’s Club, and the Avon Lake Historical Society.

“We felt it was important to have one organization that brought together people with common interests in local history and preservation to help educate the public about Avon Lake history,” Heritage Avon Lake president, Gerry Vogel, said, explaining why the groups merged.

Heritage Avon Lake currently has 150 memberships and 48 sponsors, according to Vogel.

To purchase tickets to Taste of Chili, call 440.549.4425, send an e-mail to heritageavonlake.org, or visit www.heritageavonlake.org.