Catch Mike and I walking around the The 14th Annual Keyport Country Jamboree and Chili Fest in downtown
Keyport on Saturday, Oct. 8, and Sunday, Oct. 9. It is a great community event. See why so many people call Keyport – home!
The jamboree is an old-fashioned street fair featuring live music and
entertainment, a contest to judge the best homemade baked cakes, pies and jams,
and the best chili.
Admission and parking are free, with the event taking place on West Front
Street, which will be closed to traffic from Broad to Beers streets. The event
will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine, offering food and fun for
the whole family. There will also be a beer, wine and sangria garden.
Live entertainment will begin 11 a.m. Oct. 8 with the Paul Marino Band,
followed at 1 p.m. by the Due South Band and at 3:30 p.m. by the Steel Rail
Blues Band. On Oct. 9, Mark Miklos will perform at 11 a.m., followed by Michael
Patrick and the Ring of Fire Band at 1 p.m. and the Southern Steel Band at 3:30
p.m. The bands will perform in the minipark on West Front Street overlooking the
waterfront promenade.
There will be additional performers such as the Legendary OK Cowboy, and
strolling cowboys and cowgirls. Their stunts include knife juggling, gun
spinning, whip cracking and lassoing.
Keyport’s downtown stores and cafes will be open throughout the festival and
specialty vendors and crafters offering will offer unique jewelry, clothing,
handbags, gifts and other merchandise.
On Saturday, professional chili chefs from the Keyport restaurants will be
competing for a trophy. The chili tasting and voting will run from noon to 5
p.m. on Saturday where spectators can vote in the People’s Choice award
category. There are nearly a dozen Keyport restaurants participating in the
cook-off. The tasting kits will be available for $5 each at the visitor tent
located on the corner of Main & West Front Streets. The kit includes a
Country Jamboree tote bag, a map with participating restaurants, utensils, wet
naps and a ballot. Chili will be available for purchase throughout the weekend
at the food court.
On Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m., the Cake, Pie and Jam Contest will be open to
the general public for submissions. The winners will be announced at 5 p.m.
The children’s rides will be located on the West Front Street.
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