Despite concern last week over low registration, this year’s Highland Baptist Christian School Great Chili Challenge has gained applicants and remains on schedule for this weekend.

An unusually low number of registrants had school administrator Janie Lamothe discussing the cookoff’s immediate future with the planning committee last week. Although Lamothe declined to tell how few applicants there were, and doesn’t like to say there was a chance of cancellation, she will admit that this year’s low initial registration was worrisome.

“The economy may have been playing a part,” Lamothe said. “We were looking at our options.”

Micki Boudreaux, left, and Robin Lipari fill bowls with a spicy chili recipe last year at the Tabasco booth at the HBCS Great Chili Challenge. Bill Smith / The Daily Iberian FILES Advertisement

After a discussion among planning committee members last week it was decided that even in the unlikely event the number of registered teams did not increase, this year’s chili cookoff would not be canceled.

“The opinion was, if it’s less than usual, it’s less than usual,” she said.

Last year’s event was truly great, Lamothe said, and it’s been held so many years now that as a tradition, the cookoff can’t be discarded. Not to mention the event has had its share of adversity already, such as the year it poured down rain, but the participants still came out and made the day a success.

The Chili Challenge has had between 18 and 20 booths on average over the years; the record may have been as many as 29 booths, so the event which seemed off to a poor start last week is currently above its average registration. Co-chairman of the event Darrin Stroud said the number of teams registered to participate this weekend are much better now than they were at this time last week.

“I think we’re up to 21,” Stroud said. “We should be pretty good.”

A chef’s meeting was held Monday night with Stroud and co-chairman Tony Oberle and members of the Chile Challenge teams to discuss rules and decided where particular tents are going to be.

“We’ve had a couple of teams request specific spots, places where they were comfortable,” Stroud said. “We’re going to start setting up Friday, so we’re planning now.”

Initially begun as a fundraiser, Lamothe said that over the years it has become a church, school and community event.

“It’s much more now than a fundraiser,” Lamothe said. “It’s much more than that. It’s important to our school as a community outreach. It’s a day at the park with good friends. It’s a family event.”

Although there have been several memorable years since it began, Lamothe remembers one in particular that catered not only to chili lovers, but to football fans as well.

One of the best we’ve ever done,” she said, “was a big screen TV in a booth on an LSU game day. It was packed with people.”

The Chili Challenge will be held  from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday in City Park. The event is family-oriented, and in addition to the chili cookoff there will be arts and crafts, games, music and concession booths.

Admission is free. For more information call 364-2273.