Do you like hot chili? Then you may want to prepare your taste buds for the Hot Chili Eating Contest during the Noon Optimist Club's annual Chili Day.

Tickets are on sale for the Chili Day scheduled from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

This marks the first year for the contest, said Ralph Hendrickson, event chairman. It will begin at 6:30 p.m., and onlookers are welcome.

The chili for the contest will start with the club's normal hot chili served each year. Each round, the chili will get hotter.

Dr. Bob Fox, chief chili chef for the club, promises the "hottest" chili will live up to its name. The last person remaining in the contest will win $100.

Typically, the Optimist Club feeds more than 1,500 people during Chili Day. It takes about 350 gallons of chili, some 420 pounds of meat and 160 gallons of beans.

Fox uses his own special recipe for the chili both the mild and hot. His kitchen crew includes about 12 helpers, who start at 7 in the morning to make sure enough chili is ready when the doors open at 11.

Also new this year will be special entertainment for kids. A spacewalk will allow kids to jump and burn off energy while parents eat a second helping of chili, said Hendrickson.

The Noon Optimists will also add a second serving line this year to move the lunch and dinner crowds through faster. "We felt some of the people who came at lunch waited too long last year," said Hendrickson. "Our crowds are split 50-50 between lunch and dinner. At dinner, we have more families; at lunch, we tend to have more business people."

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3.50 for children under 12. The price includes drink and dessert. Hot dogs are also available. Tickets are available from the 54 Noon Optimist members or at the door.

Those attending during lunch and dinner hours will be treated to special performances by Robyn Hosp and Mary Richards, accompanied by Brett Yount and Paul Berens.

"We're trying to give people a little extra value for their ticket," said Hendrickson.

Proceeds from the event will benefit a number of youth activities in Cape Girardeau, including Cape Indoor Soccer League, Cape Youth Tackle Football, Junior World of Golf, Youth Appreciation Week, essay and oratorical contests and Youth in Government Day.

For tickets or additional information, contact Mark Kneer at (573) 335-6611 or Kevin Noel (573) 335-2253.