The East End Fire Company in Tamaqua will again hold its Chili and Boilo Cook-Off.

The event, which benefits the Carbon/Tamaqua American Cancer Society, is March 2 at the 553 E. Broad St. fire company.

“It is our most popular event,” said organizer Tom McCarroll. “People constantly ask when the date is.”

Now in its 10th year, the contest brings folks from all over - and recipes of all kinds. They can enter their creations for prizes, or attend just to taste the offerings.

For those who are unfamiliar, boilo is a traditional drink of the Coal Region, usually served warm and enjoyed during the Christmas season. Its roots are in Poland and Lithuania, and while recipes vary, it is typically made with whiskey (or moonshine), citrus fruits, raisins, cinnamon sticks and other spices.

“We have had traditional” recipes entered in the contest, McCarroll said. But other brews have included flavors like peach, blueberry, caramel apple, root beer, black licorice, and pumpkin pie, he said.

Chili entries have varied, too.

“Besides the traditional, we have had venison, bear, sausage, rabbit, chicken - and a few that were so hot you couldn’t tell what the heck what was in them,” McCarroll said.

Judges award prizes for the best traditional and nontraditional boilo and chili.

“We also have a People’s Choice Award for both for a total of eight awards,” McCarroll said.

A special award - and additional fundraiser - goes to the business that sells the most pots of chili.

“We’ve had people from all over Pennsylvania,” McCarroll said. They even come from Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, he said.

While the cook-off sees dozens of recipes for chili and boilo, many come just to sample.

“You can taste some amazing food and boilo and also get to learn where some of the recipes came from. Seems everyone has a story,” McCarroll said.

Registration begins at 11 a.m., and tasting follows from 1-5 p.m. For more information or to preregister, contact McCarroll at 570-778-4241.

The cook-off is sponsored by the East End Fire Co. and American Hose Co. No. 1, also of Tamaqua.