| June 23rd, 2015 | | | SofiaBlog |
Here in San Diego, we can almost smell the beans cooking: The 36th annual Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off is fast approaching. Take it from us—you’re going to want to be a part of the festivities!
This free event goes down June 27th and features across-the-board fun over in Ocean Beach, one of San Diego’s handsomest beachfront communities. The Sofia Hotel’s just a short drive or bus-ride away, so line up your room with us today so you can enjoy the daylong fair to the fullest!
Loads of Fun—and Some Tasty Competition
The Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off Festival turns the seaside streets into a grab-bag of delights, with a full five stages of around-the-clock live music, the spirited Beachside Beer Garden, loads of local food vendors, and plenty of clothing, jewelry, crafts, and other wares for sale in Artists Alley. A highlight every year is the Community Mural painting on Bacon Street: Anyone can buy a square on one of the two murals and add their creative flourish to the huge group art project! Squares go on sale for $10 at 10 a.m.; organizers supply the paintbrushes, paint, and assistance.
Of course, one of the main events at the fair is the Chili Cook-Off along Newport Avenue. The tradition dates back to 1984, when local chili connoisseur Mike Scaramuzzo launched the inaugural competition. (Early incarnations featured some rowdy contests no longer part of the affair, including the Shout and Holler Contest, which ranked tequila-fueled bellows, and the Mr. Hot Sauce and Miss Chili Pepper matchups.)
Buy a chili-tasting ticket to sample the entries and cast your vote in the Grand Prize People’s Choice Award categories for the Amateur and Restaurant divisions! Other categories include “Hottest,” “Best Decoration/Theme,” and various judges’ awards.
Join the Party!
This year’s Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the 27th. Tens of thousands of people typically participate, so this is truly an annual event to write home about!
Come stay with us at the Sofia Hotel while you enjoy the entertainment, the refreshments, and—naturally—the chili over in Ocean Beach!
