After a hiatus last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section is hosting its annual YLS Chili Cook-off 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Riverside Arts Market under the Fuller Warren Bridge along Riverside Avenue.
The beneficiary of sponsorships and registration fees is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, a nonprofit that connects young people with adult mentors from the business, professional and legal communities.
More than 30 teams will serve free chili samples.
Teams include those from private law firms, the 4th Circuit Public Defender’s Office and 4th Circuit State Attorney’s Office, Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association, Miller Electric and the Jacksonville Daily Record.
“After the last two years we’ve had, it’s great to see that many firms come out to support this great event,” said Kayla Haines Herrin, Chili Cook-off Committee chair.
The teams compete for awards for best overall, spiciest, meatiest, most original, best fixin’s, best cornbread, most spirited team and the crowd favorite award, decided by the public jury after they taste the entries and cast their votes.
The verdicts in the other categories will be rendered by a panel of 4th Circuit and Duval County judges.
North Florida Financial, an insurance and strategic wealth management firm, is the new awards ceremony sponsor and will help present the prizes.
The votes will be tallied about 2 p.m., followed by a ceremony at 2:30 p.m. when the awards will be presented, including a championship belt to the overall winner.
“We want the public to join us to taste our chili and support a great charity,” Herrin said.