Where are my chili boots?

Super Bowl Weekend, smuper bowl weekend.

Tonight we're off to East Tawas to spend the next few days in snowy, 0 degree weather. East Tawas is a small town (2,951 people according to the 2000 census) about 3 hours North of Detroit. The town is notable for being in Coca-Cola's test marketing area (read their stores get awesome test flavors the world may never see) and their two-screen movie theater that shows first run movies for about $2 a ticket. Totally best. My family also owns a cottage on the lake there.

Last year, we discovered the town's annual Perchville Weekend. The normally somber town dumps a ton of its annual revenue into this three day event (2007 will be the 57th annual) that includes a polar bear swim, demolition derby on the Lake Huron (ice permitting), poker tournaments, fishing contests, parades, teen dances, "Old Tyme Movees", kites dropping candy and toys from the sky, a hospitality tent for "adult style fun", softball, IWPA dogpulls and horse-drawn carriage rides. I don't know how much tourism and outside money Perchville draws, but for a town who's average household income is about $40k, I'm sure it helps out.

I know polar bear swims, kites dropping candy and a demolition derby sounds promising, but the event to be seen at is none other than the town's Chili cookoff. For $6, you can go from store to store on Main Street (about 25 total businesses) for all you can eat chili. Those interested get an official Perchville chili mug and a ballot to keep track of the best tasting batch. I have no idea what the store with the most votes receives, but I'm hoping it is some kind of chili plaque or an apron that says "Town's Best Chili Starts Here".

Perchville Weekend. So much better than Super Bowl weekend.