NATCHEZ — Broadway Street will be lined with teams of chili cookers Saturdays hoping to prove their flavors are the best, which could benefit your taste buds.

Rotary Club of Natchez member Sarah Smith said the cool and mostly sunny weather this weekend will make for a perfect day to warm your belly with the chili event, which kicks off at 11 a.m. behind the Natchez Grand Hotel.

“It is the perfect time of year where it is getting cooler and people are ready to be outside,” she said. “It is a fun event. There will be some good sun on the bluff. There is nothing bad about that.”

Chili cookers will be seeking two prizes, the judges’ choice and the people’s choice awards. Smith said you can buy tickets to put in your favorite cooking team’s box and the team with the most tickets will win. A prize will also be given for best-decorated booth.

While admission is free, tasting kits for the chili are $5.

In addition to the chili, homemade root beer floats, signature chili bowls by local potter Tom Hughes and several silent auction items will be available. Some of the silent auction prizes include a trip to Orange Beach, Ala., a Victorian Chalet in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and a squirrel hunt with Redneck Adventures.

“The root beer floats will be available until they run out,” Smith said. “If you want a float, I suggest you get there as early as possible.”

This year the cook-off will also feature live music from Taylor Spring, Brandon McCranie and John Cooper on guitar.

“This year, we decided to turn it up a level and bring in some live music,” Smith said. “It’s a good time to get some good food, have some good beer and enjoy some fellowship.”

Smith said children are welcome as the event is family friendly. Face painting will be offered along with a blow up slide on the bluff and other activities for children.

For cooking teams that want in, Smith said it is not too late to sign up. If interested, Smith said to call the Natchez Children’s Services at 601-446-6858.

Proceeds benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center.

The center uses a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate abuse by providing recorded forensic interviews of suspected young victims in a child-friendly environment. More than 200 forensic interviews of children from age 3 to 18 have been conducted since the center opened.

This is the seventh year the Rotary Club has organized the vent for Natchez Children’s Services.