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E.L. festival serves chili, holiday cheer

November 30, 2001

It’s 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.

“It’s a good time for the whole community to come together for the holidays,” she said. “In the last few years it’s 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. “It’s a good study break and it’s on a Sunday (afternoon) when they don’t serve food in the dorms.”

The chili samples are distributed by the ten local restaurant contestants: Beggar’s Banquet, 218 Abbott Road; Bistro 43, 300 M.A.C. Ave.; Flats Grill, 551 E. Grand River Ave.; Gramma Bea’s, 323 E. Grand River Ave.; Harper’s 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.; Tony’s Restaurant, 235 Ann St. and Wendy’s.

Several of the day’s 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. “It’s great as a business because we do a lot of holiday parties, and it’s always nice to have Santa here.”

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