CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Where's the beef?

Chili Cookoff officially cancelled, Mural Fest still in the plans

May 15, 2020 | 1:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Another popular and long-standing city event has officially been given the axe for this summer.

The annual Chili Cookoff will not take place this summer. The decision was made at the City Centre Development Agency board of directors’ monthly meeting on Tuesday.

CCDA board chair Jeremy Silver said the board of directors felt it would be impossible to follow physical distancing laws with an event as big as the Chili Cookoff.

“It’s heartbreaking for everyone involved,” he said. “We had I think the highest numbers ever. It’s very sad after 30 years to see it cancelled for even one year.”

Silver told CHAT News the event it will return in 2021.

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The CCDA’s third annual Midsummer Madness, which takes place during JazzFest, is also cancelled.

One downtown event that should still go ahead is Mural Fest, said Silver.

“Because of the nature of Mural Fest they’re able to spread it out over potentially two months instead of one major weekend. So we’re still going to have some beautiful paintings downtown,” said Silver, adding the CCDA only assists with Mural Fest so he can’t speak to exact plans. “It looks like it will go forward and hopefully there will be some messages of hope downtown.”