The Eighth Annual Chili With A Chance For Chocolate Taste-Off is Saturday, Feb. 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Wellsboro. There will be 13different types of chili to taste at 13sites with an opportunity to win one or more of the 13fun and unique baskets of chocolates. 

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

“This year’s taste-off will feature some new and exciting chili to tickle all taste buds,” said Jim Howe, organizer. “Passports are limited to 400 due to the event’s popularity. That ensures that every passport holder has a chance to taste them all,” he said.

Those who want to taste the chili and select the winners can call or visit the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office anytime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays to purchase a taste-off passport in advance for $5.

Taste-off 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. on Feb. 11, the day of the event.

Each passport has a unique number and includes the businesses hosting the chili taste-off entries. Some locations enter their own chili and others host chili entered by other individuals or organizations

The 13chili taste-off downtown locations are: Becks Bistro, From My Shelf Books & Gifts, Garrison’s Clothing, Hillstone Farms, Kelly’s Canyon Country Crafts, The Main Street Creamery, Oregon Hill Winery, Pop’s Culture Shoppe, The Roost, Senior’s Creations and The Main Street Olive Oil Company, Shabby Rue, Timeless Destination and Wild Asaph Outfitters.

Special signs will be placed outside each chili-tasting site making it easy to spot chili and basket of chocolates locations. 

Passport holders can visit as many chili tasting sites as they wish, taste chili and show their passport number to enter the drawing for that site’s basket of all types of chocolates valued at $25.There are 13 baskets of chocolates to win, one at each of the 13-chili locations.

When a taster finishes, he/she will cast votes for his/her three favorites by turning in his/her marked passports at any chili tasting site. Votes will be counted and the winners announced.

“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. We are not asking people to make a chili that includes chocolate although they could.”

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

For more information or to purchase a taste-off passport, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office at 570-724-1926 or info@wellsboropa.com or stop in at 114 Main Street.