Chili Blaze

The Pinellas Park firefighters union started the Chili Blaze three years ago to raise money for charity. The success of that first event surprised firefighters and city officials: Between 4,000 and 6,000 people flocked to taste the chili; ballots for the Peoples' Choice award ran out within 10 minutes; and the chili ran out in 90 minutes. Last year, firefighters allowed more entries and asked contestants to prepare even more chili. The chili lasted two hours when 10,000 to 15,000 bellied up to the chili bar to taste the concoctions. Our tip for the evening: Get there early with your taste buds primed.

The details

Day: Friday

Hours: 6 p.m. Opening ceremonies

6:15 p.m. Chili tent opens to the public

6-7 p.m. Registration for the motorcycle show

6:30-11 p.m. Bands play

9 p.m. Awards presented to winners of chili cookoff and motorcycle show

11 p.m. Closing time

Place: England Brothers Band Shell and surrounding park, 52nd Street and 81st Avenue N.

Parking: Streets near the event, St. Giles Church, the Pinellas Park Library and City Hall lots. Handicapped parking is on the north side of City Hall off 52nd Street N.

Crowd expected: 15,000.

Cost: Admission and carnival rides are free. An all-you-can-eat armband for chili tasting is $6. Entry fee for the motorcycle show is $10.

Who benefits: The Tampa Bay Muscular Dystrophy summer camp.

Kinds of food other than chili: The Pinellas Park firefighters chuckwagon with turkey legs, burgers, hot dogs, roasted corn, Italian sausage and boiled peanuts. Pinellas Park Kiwanis Club sodas. Beer.

Local chili judges: Pinellas Park Mayor Bill Mischler; council member Rick Butler and sewer division employee Jerry Garner; members of a team that previously won this event; perhaps others.

Celebrity chili judges: Tampa Bay Buccaneer Todd Yoder; former Bucs Jason Maniecki and Tommy Barnhardt; former Dallas Cowboy Crawford Ker; promoter Dave Williams; XWF and WCW wrestlers Nasty Boy Jerry Sags and Emory Hail; boxers Diamond Dave Santos and Jerry "The Hitman" Brown; race car drivers Dave Pletcher and Mike Cope.

Chilis to look for:

Community Activities Chili, prepared by representatives from the library, recreation and community affairs department. Team spokesman Tim Caddell says that because the library is involved, "We are saying we wrote the book on chili. This will definitely be a major event at the chili blaze."

The Pinellas Park/Mid-Country Chamber of Commerce plans to have three chilis this year, according to president Bill Delong. Rita Bott, the outgoing executive director, said one of the chilis will come courtesy of chamber member Richard Kusmierczyk, head of the Pinellas Park Water Management District. "Water management has a chili which is affiliated to our chili by birth," Bott said. "It's a birthright affiliation and something to do with the style of chopping peppers which is unique only to Richard Kusmierczyk." As for the chamber team, Bott says, "They can only meet 15 minutes before the whole thing starts or somebody might let the secret out."

Exhibits: Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 8 Budweiser car; motorcycle show and display.

Things to do other than eat chili: Free carnival rides.

Music: Local bands Barely Do/Right; Johnny and the Rude Boys. (Classic rock, some country.)

Solemn moment: The opening ceremonies will, as usual, feature some of the kids who will benefit from the event. This year, the ceremony also will include a moment of silence in remembrance of firefighters and others lost in the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

For information or to enter: Nick DelGrosso, 405-0988; Gill Hammond, 541-0740; or Ray Hansen, 541-0712.

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