Chili lovers in the Virgin Islands will have it made this weekend as the Texas Society of the Virgin Islands hosts the 25th annual Chili Cook-off at noon Sunday on Brewers Bay Beach.

Opening ceremonies will be led by Gov. John de Jongh Jr. A Coast Guard fly-by and rescue demonstration will be held on the beach between noon and 12:30 p.m.

Four thousand people are expected to sample the spicy stew on Sunday. From spicy to mild, with meat or without, many varieties made by the Virgin Islands' most talented chili chefs will be available to the public. Hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and chicken will also be for sale.

There will be $20,000 worth of donated local prizes awarded to Chili Cook-off winners this year. Winners will be named in the top 10 chili cooks and the top three vegetarian chili cooks. For the first time this year, prizes will be awarded to the top three in the junior chili cook category for ages 10 to 17. Showmanship prizes will be given to the top three large and small groups. One winner will go on to represent the Virgin Pod at the national chili cook-off in Terlingua, Texas.

Headlining the cook-off will be blues guitarist Aaron Loesch. Local performers Nicky Russell, 2 Blue Shoes and Sun Kings also will perform. Loesch - a Houston, Texas, native - was the winner of the 2007 Guitar Center King of the Blues Competition.

Children's games, including a dunking booth, will round out entertainment for the family-oriented event.

All proceeds from the Chili Cook-off will be donated to charities to include the Virgin Islands Institute for the Performing Arts, Queen Louise Home for the Aged, Family Resource Center, St. Thomas Rescue, the local chapter of the Red Cross and Dial-A-Ride. Power Squadron and SPARKS will be manning the parking lot and asking for a $1 donation, all of which goes to these groups. Admission to the cook-off is free.

"We all know how we are personally affected by the economy. Just imagine how the charities are affected. This is still one of the biggest events that whole families can afford to come to, with games for the kids, live music, reasonably priced drinks and chili. Families can have a great time all afternoon at the beach while still supporting local charities. This isn't a tourist thing. This is a local event to support local people and celebrate living here," said Erik Ackerson, president of the Chili Cook-off Committee,

Event sponsors include Coors Light, American Airlines, Evian Water, Certified Angus Beef, Merchant's Market, Island Beachcomber, Fortress Storage, Yacht Haven Grande, HOVENSA and FirstBank.

For information, visit: www.thevirginpod.org, e-mail: eack1@viacess.net or lori@lookingglassvi.com, or call 474-0019 or 473-8706.

- Contact reporter Genevieve Ryan at 774-8772 ext. 340 or e-mail gryan@dailynews.vi.