Tomato Festival is This Weekend

Mark your calendar for the 86th Annual Ellinger Chamber of Commerce Tomato Festival planned for Friday, May 26 – Sunday, May 28. The festival kicks-off Friday night with Chef’s Choice Competitions. Categories include Entrée, Dessert, Chips and Salsa, and Margaritas. Enjoy live music from 8:30 – 11:30 p.m. by Western Bling. For early risers, the fun continues Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. with the 2nd Annual Tomato Trot 5K Fun Run/Walk. Cooking continues with Farmer’s Breakfast and Bloody Mary competitions.

BBQ teams from near and far will compete all day in Brisket, Chicken, Pork Spare Rib, Pork Butt, and Pinto Bean Cook-offs. The fan favorite Chopped Challenge with Secret Ingredients and Local Celebrity Judges returns for its third year, with Round One now occurring on Friday night, and the Final Showdown on Saturday.

Do you have what it takes to create a delicious meal with secret ingredients, while the clock counts down? Sign-up soon for this exciting event. If cooking is not your thing, come to cheer on your favorite team in the live Final Showdown under the ECC pavilion, where the Ellinger Pantry will be fully stocked just like on TV. Following the awards ceremony, stick around for our Live Auction. Purchase an item in the Live Auction and be entered for a chance to win a $500 Buyer’s Bonus. Following the auction there will be Live Music by The Bandits. Iced Cold Beverages will be available Friday and Saturday. Sunday wraps up the Tomato Festival with ECC President, Michael Schlabach saying, “Come hungry for our famous Chamber Fried Chicken and Sausage Drive Thru Dinner.”

Serving begins at 10:30 a.m. Plates are $15. Raffle tickets with 50 prizes are available for $20 or 3 for $50. Visit www.ellingertexas.com for details and to register for any of the food competitions.