Evergreen's Big Chili Cook-off a September staple for attendees, volunteers

Phil and Laura Yates of Aurora wore bags of Fritos around their necks because experience had taught them how to prepare for an event like Saturday’s.


As they stood in line for the kids firefighter challenge with their 4-year-old Gwendolyn, they couldn’t remember how they first heard about Evergreen’s Big Chili Cook-off some 10 years ago. But they remembered anyway, and the family has been attending the event almost annually ever since.

“We love little festivals and chili, and it’s a chance to get out of the city,” Laura said.

Whatever the reason, thousands of people decided to attend this year’s event at Buchanan Fields. The event is a fundraiser for the Elk Creek, Evergreen, Indian Hills, Inter-Canyon, North Fork and Platte Canyon fire departments. It has raised as much as $40,000 in previous years.

This is one chief reason why the Yates family — and many others — keep coming back year after year: It supports a good cause.

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By Corinne Westeman
Wednesday, September 11, 2019