CAIRO, Ga. (WCTV) - Downtown Cairo held a fall festival Saturday, featuring its first-ever chili cook-off to raise money for the community.

Downtown Development Authority and Main Street put the event together.

In addition to games for kids and live music, people could buy a ticket to sample chili from six to seven participants and vote for the People’s Choice winner. Judges also got to pick their favorite.

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Organizers say it was all for the good of the community as they continue working to improve and revitalize downtown Cairo. Debbie Miller, chairman of the Downtown Development Authority, said they want to make a nice space for the community.

“We’ve been trying to revitalize downtown Cairo and bring new merchants downtown so that we can have more shopping in the area. We want to have some more green spaces where we’ll be doing a pocket park now to be able for people to come and sit and enjoy, read, eat, just, you know, be together,” Miller said.

Organizers say Hurst Hometown Supply won first place in the chili cookoff.

They also say the event raised about $300 through ticket sales.

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