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Longwood festivals draw crowds; chili cook-off nets $1,500
Summary
Board members reviewed the Strawberry Festival and Chili Cook-Off results, citing weather-related drops in ticket sales, a rules dispute over judges' sample cups and inconsistent distribution of promised online-ticket water. Staff said accounting lines are still being updated.
Longwood staff and board members on the Parks & Recreation advisory board reviewed recent festival results Wednesday, saying the Strawberry Festival drew large crowds while the Chili Cook-Off netted about $1,500 after income and expenses.
Staff member (speaker 4) told the board that finance is still updating account lines and that some numbers on the budget sheet do not yet reflect final spending. Committee member (speaker 1) said the Chili Cook-Off sold 216 tickets this year, down from 290 the prior year, which attendees blamed on late weather that thinned crowds. ‘‘We made $1,500 after all the income and expenses,’’ Committee member (speaker 1) said.
Board members discussed operational limits: the event ticket cap is 300, and one speaker warned that constraint would limit any growth in attendance unless capacity rules change. Multiple members also raised problems fulfilling the advertised benefit for online ticket purchasers — a free bottled water — saying not all purchasers received the water at pickup. Committee member (speaker 3) said, ‘‘We never got our water,’’ describing several groups who reported the same issue.
A separate dispute at the cook-off concerned the judges’ sample cups. Committee members described one contestant who protested the standard, smaller judging cups and wanted a larger presentation. Staff (speaker 4) said a draft of updated rules is being prepared and would make the sample-cup policy ‘‘explicit’’ so judges’ samples are controlled and judged consistently in future events.
Judging logistics also drew criticism after judges reported some final-round samples were cold. Members discussed reinstating thermometers and reinforcing a rule to spoon samples directly from pots when judges arrive to ensure consistent serving temperatures.
The board suggested operational fixes — clearer ticketing signage, a printed checklist for cashiers and distribution volunteers, and better communication about online-ticket pick-up — to reduce confusion at future events. Staff agreed to bring an updated budget and an improved event checklist to the next meeting.
The meeting adjourned on a voice motion later in the agenda.
