From March 20-22, Wrecking Ball Entertainment hosted a chili cookoff at Pahrump’s Petrack Park that consisted of chili tasting, carnival rides, and vendors. 

The annual Chili- Cook-Off festival first opens at 4:00 in the afternoon, but isn’t judged until Saturday and Sunday, opening at 10 a.m. and ending at 11 p.m. Friday is used as preparation to have the best outcome for each contestant’s product. As the cooks get ready, families and other customers use the day to experience the carnival rides and take a look at other vendors. As Saturday and Sunday approach, the real competition begins. Times between 2-4 p.m. are when chili is ordered the highest throughout the weekend, making both days flexible and best for sales. The official judging, held at Bob Ruud Community Center, is solely based on the major components as they judge blindly on: color, texture, and flavor.

For the community of Pahrump, the Chili -Cookoff is more than indulging in chili judging. The Chili- Cook-Off gives teenagers and families a fun and festive activity to participate in. Wristbands and tickets are bought for carnival rides that have the option to last almost all day, which keeps the youth entertained as they have fun. Samantha Maravilla Nunez is a freshman at Pahrump Valley High School who got to experience the long-lasting rides and entertainment events within the Chili- Cook-Off event. She states how the festival gives more opportunity than competitive chili cooking, “The entire event was really fun to experience. I went with my friends and my boyfriend, and there was so much to do since not much goes on in Pahrump.”

As the Chili- Cookoff Festival finishes, it leaves teenagers to come up with their own fun activities to do to keep them entertained. So, stay tuned for Pahrump’s next major event, the Fall Festival held on September 25-28!