Chili Cooks Join Us May 16th in Old Town for fun and $$$

Western Days Chili Cookoff with Cash Prizes
Aromas of savory beef and unique blends of spicy seasonings, will rise into the air Sunday, May 16 at the Western Days Chili Cookoff in Old Town Temecula. The ICS-sanctioned event offers a $500 cash prize for the best red, $175 for the best Chili Verde and $75 for the best People’s choice recipe prepared at the event.

There are three ICS Categories, Red Chili, Chili Verde and Salsa. People’s choice is for Red Chili and Chili Verde. Cooking begins at 9 a.m. and People’s Choice Chili is available for tasting beginning at 1 p.m. Awards are at 4 p.m. Applications are available online at http://www.temeculacalifornia.com/ or call (951) 693-3952.

Western Days celebrates the history of the Old West in Old Town Temecula, with costumed characters, western music, calf roping lessons, stagecoach rides and a variety of exhibits May 15 and 16. The Old Town Temecula Gunfighters host a western skit and gunfight competition from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the corner of Old Town Front and Fourth Streets.

At high noon both days the Temecula Gunfighters treat the crowd to a comical bank robbery featuring dozens of bad guys in a final shoot out with the sheriff and his posse.

A Cattle Call competition will be held by Oldtowntemecula.com and will feature colorful calves created from wooden saw horses. Last year’s entrants included everything from a zebra-striped cow to one made to represent wine country with strategically placed empty wine bottles. They will line up on 5th Street Saturday. http://www.oldtowntemecula.com/ has the details.

Older than Dirt performs their western selections on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Judy Taylor and Wild Oats trio will perform Sunday beginning at 12:30 p.m
For more information call (951) 693-3952 or visit the website at http://www.temeculacalifornia.com./

Register for Western Days Chili Cook Off, Street Painting, or win a Campsite

It's Spring Break, and while you are relaxing by the pool, taking the kids to the beach or camping, be sure to place three things on your calendar.

1st - Sign up on the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival's EARN POINTS discussion page on FACEBOOK  and start earning points to a campsite at the 27th Annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival. For six weeks the Festival is conducting a contest where participants can win tickets, souvenirs and other prizes while earning points towards a GRAND PRIZE of  campsite at the Festival. This is a full hook up campsite and includes two weekend passes, reserved seating at one concert of your choice. Friday night we have country, Saturday its Gin Blossoms, Vertical Horizon, and Paul Rodgers.

The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival is June 4-6 at Lake Skinner with a new AMPHITHEATER.  There is wine tasting, hot air balloon launches in the morning, balloon glows in the evening, and food and wine pairing. A grand new experience awaits with a $7 million renovation of the park. To win prizes over the next three weeks be sure to follow the Festival at twitter.com/TemeculaVBWine.

2nd - Western Days In Old Town Temecula - May 15 and 16. There is an ICS Chili Cook Off on May 16 where you can win cash prizes.Western Days includes gunfight skits from the Old Town Temecula gunfighters and a high noon shoot out.  Be sure to check it out at http://www.temeculacalifornia.com/. Applications are available online.

3rd - Street Painting Festival and Plein Air Festival June 25-27. This will be in Old Town's  New Town Square. Street Painting is expanding with two different divisions - Black and White at Night for artists painting monochromatic or black and white paintings. They can paint at night. Traditionalists ... full color palette can paint as usual on Saturday and Sunday. All paintings have to be done by 3 p.m. Sunday the 27th.
the Ralph Love Plein Air Festival runs at the same time. There is a $500 purchase prize for the best Plein Air Painting. and a $500 Best of Show Prize for the best streetpainting. Details and forms are at http://www.temeculacalifornia.com/

ICS Chili Cook Off, Western Days and Old Town Temecula

Western Days returns to Old Town Temecula May 15 & 16. There's plenty of fun for the family with a High Noon Shoot Out, Stagecoach Rides, Calf Roping lessons, and music by Judy Taylor String Trio, and Older than Dirt.

Old West Gunfight competition is hosted by the Old Town Temecula Gunfighters. They have been doing this crazy stuff for more than 10 years and bring gunfighting clubs from all over Southern California to compete for cash and prizes.

Plus on Sunday, the third annual Western Days ICS Chili Cook off starts at 9 a.m. with People's Choice tasting beginning at 1 p.m.  ICS Chili Cooks are wanted as well as restaurants and other chili chefs hoping for a prize. We've upped our prize money this year! $500 For Red Chili top ICS prize, $175 for Chili Verde ICS First, and cash prizes for people's choice. Join up at www.temeculacalifornia.com/western_days/chili_cookoff