STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Sample some of the most imaginative chili concoctions in the valley, and get up close and personal with the gigantic snowplows that soon will be pushing snow off the airport runway and city streets on Saturday.

The combined Chili Cook-off staged by the Hailey Fire Department and Meet the Fleet will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey.

The annual event will offer a chance to have a close-up look at fire engines, police cars,  bulldozers, airplanes and other worker bees. You can even climb aboard some of them.

You can also sample and vote on your favorite batch of chili in the Hailey Fire Department’s Annual 5-Alarm Chili Cookoff.

Last year the Blaine County Historical Museum tantalized tasters with a Chilato Chili made of rump roast with just a hint of potato to honor Idaho’s “Famous Potatoes” moniker. Just for good measure, it served Spudtacular Chili, also known as CommonTater Chili (take that, Tom Brokaw), which museum supporters declared “the best darn potato chili, no meat, on the other side of Carbonate Street.”

The Hunger Coalition served up a Veggie Chilie full of pinto beans, soy sauce and maple syrup, while another group served up a Busy Day Slow Cooker Chili that they said took exactly six hours and five minutes to cook.

Hailey Fire turned up the heat with a chili featuring roasted poblano chiles and Men’s Second Chance Living offered servings of Second Chance Chili. While airport employees provided an Altitude Adjustment Chili that they quipped was spiked with jet fuel, Hailey City Administrator Lisa Horowitz offered a Curry Chicken Chili.

The Kiwanis Club will also provide food and drinks with proceeds benefitting local charities.