The annual Boilo & Chili Cookoff returned last Saturday to the East End Fire Co. in Tamaqua.

The last two years were canceled because of the pandemic. This year, organizers decided to bring it back, according to Art Connely, co-chairperson.

“We did this for eight years, then we had to cancel the last two due to COVID,” said Connely. “There are not as many entries as before because we’re just starting to bring it back.”

All proceeds of the competition go to the American Cancer Society Telethon.

Boilo is a drink made with fruits, honey, spices and whiskey and is served hot. It is a popular beverage during the holiday season and cold months, and is based on a traditional Lithuanian drink. Recipes are often secret and guarded.

There were Judges Awards for Traditional and Specialized Boilo, Judges Awards for Traditional and Specialized Chili, and People’s Choice Awards for the four categories. Door prizes were donated by area merchants.

Several of the entries involved families. Donette Miller and her son, Kaeson Miller, came from Virginia to join family member Rushelle Slane of Tamaqua to enter the chili portion. Father and son Rick and Jared Soto of Lansford teamed up to enter the boilo competition.

“For the first eight years, we’ve raised over $40,000,” Connely said. “We’ll present the check for this at the Cancer Society Telethon in the spring.”

For the boilo contest, judges’ awards went to Jarrod Soto for traditional boilo, and Tom Slane for non-traditional boilo. Tom Slane also picked up a people’s choice award for his non-traditional brew, and Jim Mansell and Patty Ramer won the people’s choice for traditional boilo.

In the chili competition, Craig Filer won both the judges’ and people’s choice awards for his traditional chili. Rushelle Slane took home the judges’ and people’s choice awards for her non-traditional chili. The East End Fire Company won the award for the most pots of chili sold.