Glenforest School Announces 8th Annual Chili Cook-off & Fall Festival In partnership with West Metro Rotary – September 22nd
September 12, 2012
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – September 13, 2012 – Glenforest School, in partnership with the West Columbia Metro Rotary hosts the Eighth Annual Chili Cook-off and Fall Festival on Saturday, September 22 (the first official day of fall!)
Admission to the event is FREE and everyone is welcome. It takes place at Glenforest School, both inside and outdoors, from 10am until 2pm. All proceeds from the event directly benefit Glenforest School, a K – 12, SACS accredited, 501(c)(3) nonprofit school dedicated to educating students who learn differently.
The event, now in it’s eighth year, has become a local favorite and an annual fixture on the community calendar. Each year this event attracts some of the Midlands most talented professional, and recreational chefs – each of them eager to face-off in the hope of winning the judges’ affection and a title to take home (and maybe even the coveted rocking-chair grand prize awarded to the winner for “Best in Show.”) In addition to sampling your fill of unique, delicious, and curious chili recipes and spectating the annual chili-chef showdown, event attendees can take advantage of the complete line-up of various other fun, free and family-friendly activities, attractions, and entertainment for all to enjoy at the event.
“This year is a very special year for Glenforest – we are celebrating our school’s thirtieth anniversary, so we are making this fall’s festival even bigger-and-better-than-ever for the occasion,” said Barton Calvert, Dean of Students, Glenforest School and West Metro Rotary club member, “there will be a whole lot more than just chili at this year’s event!”
Every year 100% of all proceeds from this spicy event directly benefit and support Glenforest School, and it’s students and families. Historically, through this event alone, the West Metro Rotary club has contributed more than $50,000 in donations to Glenforest School.
“It is not often that you come across an entire group of people as kind, generous and community-minded as the members of the West Metro Rotary club. I’ve felt this way ever since I competed in the 1st Annual Chili Cook-off as a non-member; and it wasn’t because my chili was the winner that year!” said Barton Calvert, Dean of Students, Glenforest School. “I was so impressed that this outside organization, with no affiliation to us, felt so strongly about helping our kids and cared so much about the school that they all came together to throw a whole big event just to help us out and support us. It made me think: I’d like to be a part of that. It’s what inspired me to join them,” Calvert recalled.
2012 Chili Cook-off & Fall Festival highlights include:
- “Glenforest Fall Local Mall” – Expanding the shopping experience at the festival with more local vendors than ever before, and helping promote local artists, artisans and businesses in the Midlands area. Featuring more than twenty local merchants selling unique, one-of-a-kind, and handmade gifts, products and artistic creations. Jewelry, gifts, handmade soaps, beauty and bath products, home and garden décor, handcrafted pens, stationary, glassware, bags and accessories will be among the numerous items available for visitors to browse and shop.
- Watch South Carolina Gamecocks Vs. Missouri Tigers pre-game show live on the big screen
- KidZone – Kids can enjoy a fun-filled day of their very own with activities, games and entertainment designed just for them! The fun includes: bouncy castles, dinosaur dig, car-smash, Mister-snotty-face, pumpkin bowling, Angry Birds LIVE, West Columbia Fire Department fire-truck, cake walk, face-painting, tie-dying, arts, crafts, games, and prizes, plus the one-of-a-kind Go Go Laser Tag game-play experience for all “kids” ages 8 to 88 at the event.
- Glenforest Families’ Fall Festival Bake Sale – Eat-in or take home a wide variety of homemade sweet treats and delicious baked goods whipped up by Glenforest families and available for purchase.
- Silent Auction – with 100% of proceeds going to support Glenforest students and educational enrichment opportunities and activities.
- Live music featuring local band “Anti-drive,” solo artist Guy Lipscomb, and “Blue Creek Blues Band” covering 80s and 90s classics.
- Lunch served all day hot-off-the-grill, snacks, soft drinks, beer and food vendors throughout the festival to take-in between rounds of chili. (All-you-can-eat chili, food and soft-drinks – all FREE to *VIP Pass-holders; or available for individual purchase.)
- Judging for the Chili Cook-off contest begins at noon. Winners will be selected in five different categories including: Best Chili (professional), Best Chili (civic group), Best Chili (individual), Best Showmanship (overall) and Best Chili – Grand Champion (best in show.)
For more information, to purchase VIP All-Access Passes, or to get involved please contact Glenforest School on 803.796.7622, email [email protected], or visit online at fallfest.glenforest.org
About Glenforest School
Glenforest School is a K-12 nonprofit, SACS accredited, 501c(3) day school dedicated to educating and supporting amazing students with learning differences (or disabilities) in our community. Glenforest School works with students of average to genius level IQ, with a wide-range of learning needs including dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, Central Auditory Processing Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders and others. Since 1983, Glenforest has been committed to assisting local families meet the learning needs of their child. Catering to the needs of students is the foundation of Glenforest’s mission, basis of the school curriculum and its daily concern. Glenforest School is the only school in the Columbia area that accommodates students with a full spectrum of learning differences, learning styles and levels of intelligence. Glenforest relies on the support of individuals, businesses, organizations and families, in the community and generosity of donors, contributors and volunteers to help sustain the school and its mission to help ensure that all students receive the education and academic experience that all children deserve. For more information, call Glenforest School at 803-796-7622 or visit Glenforest online at glenforest.org.
