Its time to get your bellies in shape and dust off your holiday cheer.
The 11th annual East Lansing Winter Festival & Chili Cook-Off will fill the streets of downtown from 2-5 p.m. Sunday with scheduled events, said East Lansing Assistant Community Events Director Ami Field.
Its a good time for the whole community to come together for the holidays, she said. In the last few years its grown in merchant participation and interest. Last year 500 people came to the chili cook-off.
Among the scheduled events are horse-drawn carriage rides, antique trolley car rides, a reindeer petting zoo, holiday caroling, many events sponsored by area businesses within their buildings and the chili cook-off.
All events are free.
The main draw for college students will be the chili cook-off, Field said. Its a good study break and its on a Sunday (afternoon) when they dont serve food in the dorms.
The chili samples are distributed by the ten local restaurant contestants: Beggars Banquet, 218 Abbott Road; Bistro 43, 300 M.A.C. Ave.; Flats Grill, 551 E. Grand River Ave.; Gramma Beas, 323 E. Grand River Ave.; Harpers Restaurant & Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave.; Harrison Roadhouse, 720 Michigan Ave.; The Peanut Barrel Restaurant, 521 E. Grand River Ave.; The Riviera Cafe-Restaurant & Lounge, 231 M.A.C. Ave.; Tonys Restaurant, 235 Ann St. and Wendys.
Several of the days events, including the chili cook-off, a mocktail contest, pictures and visits with Santa and a can drive, will take place in the Marriott East Lansing University Place, 300 M.A.C. Ave.
Eric Sudol, general manager of the hotel, said he can remember various festival events taking place within the hotel throughout its 11-year run, but the chili cook-off has always been housed there.
This event is the sign of the holiday season, he said. Its great as a business because we do a lot of holiday parties, and its always nice to have Santa here.