Chilly Fest Just Around the Corner

With football season over, those Sunday contests loaded with subplots, competition and intrigue are sadly behind us. But if you are looking for a place to fulfill that weekend competitive void, look no further than Chilly Fest next week.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 19, downtown Menomonee Falls will be filled with ice sculptors, music, vendors and games for the fourth annual Chilly Fest. To heat up the February weekend, up to 15 chili masters will square off at 11 a.m. in a heated tent at Mill Pond Park during the chili competition.

After three years, the chili competition has developed its own storylines among competitors. It’s a "heated" (but always friendly) contest that pits husband against wife, father against son and defending champions against new challengers.

Paul Coons took home the title last year in what was his first chili competition. Coons’ entered the contest after his son, John (who was confident of victory), challenged him.

It was a tight competition, with first place and sixth place separated by only four points, but Coons prevailed and earned bragging rights for the year.

“(John) had to endure my wrath for going on a year now,” Coons joked. “I’ve got one more week to harass him, but after that, he may be giving it to me.”

Both Coons and his son will enter again. While beating his son, Coons also took down two-time defending champion Shayne Allen ­— who is prepared to reclaim the crown this year.

Allen said he will not change anything about his successful recipe, which includes applewood smoked tenderloin and secret spices. Allen said he lost the competition after a young judge chosen from the audience cast the tie-breaking vote.

“I was little bit surprised. We were tied for first place, and then they called a kid from the audience as the deciding judge,” Allen said. “It wasn’t really an educated tasting, but second is good.”

More Than Just Chili

Other than the chili competition, Chilly Fest will feature numerous attractions for participants young and old.

“It’s that mid-winter, get-out-of the-house event,” said Village Centre BID Director Barb Watters. “Kids come with their snow suits on and just have a really good time playing.”

Professional ice carvers will turn blocks of ice into works of art throughout Main Street and Appleton Avenue. Amateur ice carvers are also welcomed to enter an ice carving competition that will be held near the bridge on Main Street. Individuals, couples, groups and families can all enter as long as one person is at least 18 years old.

Depending on the weather, ice bowling will take place on the river. Three-man teams will bowl five frames, and the two teams with highest score will win a prize. There will also be a beer keg toss and other games for both adults and children.

Village Board trustee and local historian Jim Jeskewitz hosts free historic bus tours of Menomonee Falls. TWEAKBoarding conducts a snowboarding demo. Local artists sell their work during the “Warm Up to the Arts” event held in conjunction with Chilly Fest. Artists from the Menomonee Falls Art Guild set up shop in the Associated Bank building.

In addition to all the activities, chili, chilidogs, pizza, popcorn, cheesecake, chocolate truffles, soda, beer, coffee and hot mulled wine will be served. There will also be raffle tables for adults and children.

“What is most rewarding for me is that the week following Chilly Fest, store owners are so happy that there were so many people downtown,” Watters said.

Deals Around Town

To create a buzz about Chilly Fest, Village Centre businesses will offer “Cool Savings” in their shops from Feb. 12-18.  Customers should look for “Chilly Fest Cool Savings” posters in business windows.

Each participating business will offer their own special promotion, and customers will need to enter the business and ask to find out what that promotion is.

To receive more information on any of the Chilly Fest events, or to register to the chili competition, ice bowling or amateur ice carving contest, visit www.menomoneefallsdowntown.com or call (262) 251-8797.