CELINA-The 1st Annual Chocolate Gravy Festival to be held here downtown is just weeks away, and organizers have been hard at work preparing for the first-of-its-kind event set for Saturday, March 22.

“We’ve got so much planned for the day, from vendors to music, to a car cruise-in and more,” they said on the Celina Downtown Events Facebook page.  “You won’t want to miss this event!”

The festival will begin at 9 a.m. and continue throughout the day, with the featured chocolate gravy contest serving as the main event.

Much like the ever-popular Chili Cook-off held here in the fall, attendees will be able to sample entries, and participants of the cooking contest will have a chance to win prizes.

Prizes will include $500 for first place, $300 for second place, and $100 for third place.  In addition, a people’s choice will also be chosen.

Media personalities Nick Beres and Burton Staggs, along with recently-retired UPS driver Richard Webb, will serve as celebrity judges for the chocolate gravy contest and be on hand to meet and greet the public.

Sampling bowls with biscuits will be sold beginning at 9 a.m. and taste testing will begin at 9:30 a.m.

The chocolate gravy cooking contest will feature contestants from all over, including Celina, Hilham, Allons, Smithville, Lafayette, Columbia, Baxter, Nashville, Red Boiling Springs, Moss, White Bluff, McMinnville, Livingston, Williamsburg, Albany (KY), and other areas.

A chocolate pie and biscuit contest will also be held the same day, with biscuits to be judged at 9 a.m. and pies judged at 1 p.m.

“Not only are we having a chocolate gravy contest, we’re also opening a contest for the best biscuit and chocolate pie!” organizers said.

No registration is required for the free chocolate pie and biscuit contest.  Two biscuits from each contestant must be entered at the courthouse by 8:30 a.m., and a whole chocolate pie must be entered by 1 p.m.

Also at 12 noon on the square, a chocolate gravy eating contest will take place to see which contestant finishes their plate first.

“Cooking not really your thing, but you can throw down some chocolate gravy and biscuits?” organizers asked. “Well, we’ve got the thing for you—a chocolate gravy eating contest!

“Although, it’s easy to eat a lot of, this competition will depend on how fast you can finish a plate stacked with gravy and biscuits!”

The eating contest is first come, first serve for the first 10 participants to sign up the day of the event, with no pre-registration required.

Additionally, a quilt show at the Clay County Museum will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the car cruise-in up East Lake Avenue will take place at 1 p.m., and live music and street vendors will continue throughout the day until 5 p.m.

Cherokee Upton and the Tribal Elders will headline a talented entertainment lineup and over 35 vendors will be set up on the square for attendees to enjoy.

For more information about the upcoming festival, visit the Celina Downtown Events Facebook page or call 931-397-3795 or 931-397-3874.