Thousands attend The Exceptional Foundation's chili cook-off despite snow flurries | Events

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - Thousands came out to the Exceptional Foundation’s ninth annual Chili Cook-Off this weekend despite snow flurries.

Temperatures may have been low Saturday, but that didn’t stop people from taste-testing almost 100 different types of steaming chili. In fact, it may have even drawn more attention to the event.

“Last year there were around 7,000 people and the Homewood Police, who have been doing this for nine years now, said that this is by far the busiest it’s ever been,” Tricia Kirk, Executive Director said.

The event ran from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. outside of the Belk entrance of Colonial Brookwood Village mall. Usually the event is in the parking lot outside of the foundation’s headquarters, but construction prevented them from having it there this year.

Proceeds from the cook-off and other fundraising efforts will go towards 75 percent of the money needed daily for participants’ social activities, field trips and sports competitions at the foundation.

For more information on The Exceptional Foundation, visit http://www.exceptionalfoundation.org/.

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