Saturday, February 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the  Chili and Chowder With A Chance For Chocolate Taste-Off there will be 15 different types of chili or chowder to taste at 15 sites in downtown Wellsboro and an opportunity to win a fun and unique basket of chocolate at each of those 15 locations. 

In addition, taste-off passport holders are welcome to stop in at Century 21 Gold Star Real Estate to spin the wheel for a surprise. 

 
Only 400 passports will be sold for $10 apiece. Each passport has a unique number and includes the name of the businesses hosting the taste-off entries. Some locations enter their own chili or chowder and others host chili or chowder entered by other individuals or organizations.  

Those who want to taste the chili or chowders and select the winners can call, email or visit the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office anytime between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. beginning Monday, February  3 until Friday, February 7 at 570-724-1926,  info@wellsboropa.com or stopping in at 114 Main Street to purchase a taste-off passport or for more information.

On Saturday February 8, the day of the event, passports will only be sold outdoors in front of Penn Oak Realty, Inc. at 65 Main Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
 
“This year’s taste-off will feature some new and exciting chili or chowders to tickle all taste buds,” said Jim Howe, organizer. “Passports are limited to 400 due to the event’s popularity. That will ensure that every passport holder has a chance to taste them all,” he said. 
 
The 15 taste-off downtown locations are:  Pop’s Culture Shoppe, Main Street Creamery, Dee and Eleanor’s Little Shop Around The Corner, From My Shelf Books and Gifts, Kelly’s Canyon Country Crafts, Lòs Agaves Taqueria, Penn Oak Realty, Seniors Creations, Timeless Destination, CS Sports, The Roost, Oregon Hill Wineries, Nessmuk’s Sporting Goods, Beck’s Bistro and Hillstone Farms.
 
Special signs will be placed outside each chili/chowder tasting site making it easy to spot chili/chowder and baskets of chocolate locations. 
 
Passport holders can visit as many of the taste-off sites as they wish and show their passport number to enter the drawing for that site’s basket of chocolate valued at $25. There are 15 baskets of chocolates to win, one at each of the 15 chili/chowder locations.
 
When a taster finishes, he/she will cast votes for his/her three favorite chili or chowders by turning in his/her special voting card at any tasting site. 
 
“At the end of the taste-off, drawings will be held and the basket winners will be announced,” said Howe. “‘A chance for chocolate’ refers to the baskets of chocolates.”  

All proceeds from the taste-off will benefit rescued animals and programs offered by Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries.