Nashville’s 15th Annual “Great Bowls of Fire” Chili Cook-Off & 1st Annual “Chili Jam: The Afterburner Concert”

NASHVILLE, Ga. – Over the weekend, I took a trip over to Nashville, Georgia for the15th Annual “Great Bowls of Fire” Chili Cook-Off. But, this event had more meaning as it was the first event held by the city since Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Helene was one of the worst natural disasters Nashville has ever faced.

Residents are still working to recover from the storm’s devastating impact, making it all the more meaningful to see community events return and bring people back together.

“So, Hurricane Helene, I tell you that we, you know, most recently had in October was the worst natural disaster we’ve had here. Our community rallied together there, but there was mass devastation. So, to see everybody out here smiling faces a beautiful day. Now the community has come together. It means the world to me. And, you know, we are a very strong city. And, I always say that we shine when we come together. And, that’s exactly what we’re doing today,” said Hayden Hancock, City Manager, City of Nashville.

Now, let’s talk about the main event!

Everyone had the chance to taste and judge a variety of chilis, voting for the best and the spiciest. In the end, winners walked away with trophies… And, of course, ultimate bragging rights.

I couldn’t resist joining in, sampling a variety of flavorful chilis. But, I had to know, what’s the secret to creating a first-place chili? So, I went straight to the experts… The vendors.

“But, what’s the secret to making the perfect chili in your eyes? The best is to not remember what you put in it. I’ve never been able to recreate it again, and I just love doing it,” said Brandon Livingston, Chili Cook-Off competitor.

And, man, was it fantastic…

Oh, that’s really good. The pulled pork is a nice touch to it.

I continued making my way around the event, tasting so much chili I was stuffed for the rest of the day.

And, the best part? It was a great deal, just one dollar per sample, making it nearly impossible not to try them all.

While there were official winners, in the end, there were no losers. This event brought the Nashville community together, and that was the real victory.

“I just love seeing this downtown full of people. It brings the community together, and that’s hard to do sometimes. People’s lives are so busy these days. But, this one day, once a year, people come out and just have the best time and come together, and it’s wonderful for everyone,” said Karlie Suggs, Main Street Director.

A big thank you to everyone for their incredible hospitality. And, as the community continues its journey toward recovery, their resilience proves that nothing can hold them back.

Gabe Hutton reporting.

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