Winterfest Kickoff and Chili Cookoff Competitors Take Home Top Honors

Bigger is better. That is the story of the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff and Chili Cookoff as it continues to grow with more than 9,000 people visiting the festival Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. Community businesses and organizations turned out in force with 24 booths offering up creatively created chili samples and other goodies. To signify the start of Gatlinburg Winter Magic, city officials turned on more than 2 million lights across downtown.

A tough night of competition led to Gatlinburg Fire Department taking home The People’s Choice Award with The Inn at Christmas Place winning Best Booth Decoration. The complete list of winners is below.

Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff Winners

1st Restaurant: Pucker’s Sports Grill

2nd Restaurant: Crawdaddy’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar

3rd Restaurant: Loco Burro Fresh Mex Cantina

 

1st place Services: Collier Convention & Catering

2nd Place Services: Great Smoky Mountain Catering Co.

 

1st Retail: IX Nubes Vape Lounge

2nd Retail: Ole Smoky Moonshine

3rd Retail: Sugarlands Distilling Co.

 

1st Lodging: The Inn at Christmas Place

2nd Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott

3rd Lodging: Margaritaville Island Hotel

 

1st Attraction: Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

2nd Attractions: Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show

 

1st Civic Organization: Gatlinburg Fire Department

2nd Civic Organization: Gatlinburg Police Department

 

Best “Other” Food Category

1st: The Popcorn Emporium

2nd: Ober Gatlinburg

3rd: The Melting Pot

 

Best Apron Design

1st: The Inn at Christmas Place

2nd: Margaritaville Island Hotel

3rd: Lil’ Black Bear Cafe

 

Best Booth Decorations

1st: The Inn at Christmas Place

2nd: Margaritaville Island Hotel

3rd: Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg

 

Hot Chili Eating Contest/Round 1                         

1st: Jason Amiol, Wisconsin

2nd: Justin Heinbockel, Walton, KY

3rd: Jerry Stine, Cincinnati, OH

 

Hot Chili Eating Contest/Round 2

1st: Amanda Atterbury, Detroit, MI

2nd: Mandy Posades, Sevierville, TN

3rd: Devon Barnett, Gatlinburg, TN