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By Marina Shankle, for the SNAP

Visitors to Norwood’s annual Fall Fest Hootenanny this year were entertained by a chili cook-off, a tower of hay bales, carnival games and a golf cart parade, among other activities and attractions.
Food trucks and vendors lined the street, offering all kinds of tasty treats and shopping experiences. Kids enjoyed having their faces painted, climbing hay bales and petting farm animals.
This year’s chili cook-off welcomed a celebrity guest judge, Tim Harris, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, who won an episode of the Food Network series “Guy’s Grocery Games.”
Before announcing the winners of the chili cook-off, Norwood Police Chief James Wilson interviewed Harris about his cooking skills and preferences.
Wilson asked Harris about what it was like to compete on “Guy’s Grocery Games.”
“It’s a set, but it’s a real grocery store,” Harris said, going on to explain that many of the food items seen in the TV grocery store are donated to community charities.
When asked what one meal he would choose to eat if he could only choose one, Harris answered, “It’s gotta be some sort of meat and potatoes.”
He explained that while that would be his favorite meal, he has to consider his family when cooking at home.
“I’ve got two kids that are kind of picky eaters,” Harris said. “They do love some Ramen.”
He said when selecting one of his favorite meals to cook at home, he would have to choose his winning dish from “Guy’s Grocery Games,” chicken and waffles.
“That’s what the kids love. They can get in on it, too,” Harris said.
Harris and Wilson presented two prizes to competing chili cooks: the People’s Choice award and the Grand Prize winner.
Andrew Hazlett received the People’s Choice award, and the grand prize winners were Matt Flanagan and Amanda Rowland.
Following the chili cook-off, the Brent Bowers Band took the stage to share some music, and a golf cart parade entertained guests to the festival.
The Hootenanny closed with a children’s Halloween costume contest and a showing of the film “The Haunted Mansion. ”

Marina Shankle is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.