Break out the crockpot! It’s chili, fall festival time at Madison UMC

With the brisk chill in the air, the timing is perfect for Madison United Methodist Church’s Fall Festival.

The event will be held in the Christian Life Center, 127 Church Street in the downtown historic district on Oct. 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

“Everyone is invited to come out for an evening of fall fun, food and fellowship,” youth director Shannon Lott said. The festival will include a cake walk, games, treats and pumpkin decorating.

Children will enjoy amusements like ‘go fishing,’ bean bag toss, ring toss and pumpkin decorating. The cake walk and ‘jail’ will raise funds for the youth’s next mission trip.

“Everyone is invited to wear costumes (optional) that are church appropriate,” Lott said. This year’s suggested theme is “Your Favorite Super Hero.”

A pumpkin-carving contest will have brackets for junior high youth (grades 7-9), teenagers in senior high (grades 10-12) and adults (college age and older). “Bring in your already-carved pumpkin and place it on the stage,” Lott said. “We’ll come around and pick a winner.”

“We know that we’ll see some great carved pumpkins,” she said.

Guests can bring a pot of chili, a side dish or dessert. Dinner starts at 6 p.m.

A chili cook-off contest will be held with categories for spiciest, most unique, best beef and best chicken. “All you have to do is cook up a pot of your best chili and place on the prepared tables,” Lott said. “When you arrive, fill out the signup sheet, place it with your chili and you’re entered in the contest.”

“There have been rumors of some amazing chili out there, but we can’t know unless you bring us some to try,” she said. A panel of judges will determine the lip-smacking best chili.

Before the festival, children from Madison UMC will trick or treat for UNICEF from 4 to 6 p.m. in community neighborhoods.

For more information, call Lott at 256-325-7605 in the Madison UMC office, her cell at 256-476-6275 or send email to Shannon@madisonum.org.