It starts at noon

The 6^th Annual Milford Yacht Club Police & Firefighter Chili Festival to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut will take place from noon to 3 p.m. March 3 at the Milford Yacht Club, 131 Trumbull Ave.

Milford. Teams representing departments from Milford, Orange, West Haven, Fairfield and Stratford are expected to participate, according to a statement.

The event is being organized by Officer Jeff Nielsen and members of the Milford Police Department, the statement said.

To purchase tickets in advance, become a sponsor or to find out more about the event, contact Nielsen at 203-783-4739 or cpu@ci.milford.ct.us. Tickets will also be available at the door, the statement said.

Tickets are $10 each for adults and $5 for children 10 years old and younger. (Children 5 and younger will be admitted free of charge). All are welcome, the statement said.

"Guests will sample each original chili recipe served by the area’s finest and bravest and have the opportunity to vote for their favorite," the statement said. "A panel of local chefs and Special Olympics athletes will also serve as judges for the competition."

The Milford Yacht Club is donating the venue, staffing, soft drinks and the main ingredients for the chili recipes for all participating teams for the event, for a sixth consecutive year, the statement said. Milford Bank is among this year’s sponsors.

The statement also said: "Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for over 13,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and Unified Partners (their teammates without disabilities). Through a myriad of initiatives throughout the state and the world, Special Olympics is a movement that’s changing attitudes and changing lives by inspiring inclusion, understanding and respect for people of all abilities, in all aspects of life. (www.soct.org)"

Further, it said: "SOCT Partner Sponsors: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Connecticut Light & Power, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut, TD Bank, United Technologies, and Yankee Gas. And SOCT Year-Round Suppliers: Adams /IGA Hometown Supermarkets, The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New England, Crystal Rock, Graebel Trucking, Guida’s Milk & Dairy, Marcus Communications, The State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and Worx Branding & Advertising."

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed. Photo credit: Navin75 on Flickr