ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The public can vote on which chilis they think tastes the best to crown a winner at the St. Clairsville Main Street Small Business Association’s second annual chili cookoff.

The organization will have its chili cookoff from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on Main Street in St. Clairsville. Nine businesses will each host a chili maker during the event, and it’s free for people to come and taste the chili.

The Main Street Small Business Association will provide a map so attendees will know which businesses have the chili available.

Some businesses hosting chili makers are Spark Tech repair, Main Salon and Boutique and Fur Pet’s Sake. The chili makers are local residents who wanted to participate in the event.

Audrey’s Avenue Kitchen & Bar, Giacinta’s Gelato & Caffe and Newellstown Diner will all have their own chili recipes at the event, as well.

People can vote at the Gazette at 142 W. Main St., where the Sarah Hayes Band will also be performing from noon to 2 p.m. with some vendors, including Canning Zen and Simply Sourdough, on site.

The association will announce the winner of the chili cookoff by 2:15 p.m. that afternoon.

The association will give trophies and an apron and chef’s hat to the first, second and third place winners, along with a cash prize, donated by the participating businesses, that will be split evenly between them.

Anyone who would like to make chili and participate in the event can out to Luran Williams of the association at 740-449-2454.

Angela Hatfield from the Belmont County Humane Society brought the cookoff idea to the Main Street Small Business Association last year and since it had a good turnout last year, Williams decided to do it again — but this time with some entertainment and vendors.

Williams said she thinks this cookoff goes along with other events the association is having every year, which invite the community into each business to become more aware of the small businesses that are there and have been added to Main Street.

She added that this event will be fun for the chili makers who get to share their own special recipes with no cost to them. Williams also thinks this event helps benefit the small businesses.

“It brings new people into their stores,” Williams said, “because so many people may not be aware that their location is there.”