Westbury came alive last Saturday with the sights, sounds and spicy flavours of the annual Wiltshire Chilli Fest.
Attracting a record-breaking crowd of 3,500, the event was a big success, offering something for everyone – from fiery food to family-friendly entertainment.
“What a fabulous event, with both the stallholders and the pubic enjoying it to the max,” said Mayor Jane Russ.
Amongst the attractions were the chilli-eating competition, the popular Jamma de Samba drumming band, live music, children’s entertainment and a bustling mix of 42 stalls, showcasing an array of artisan chilli products, sauces and street food.
“The event went really well and people from the town and across the region came to see the chilli fest and also the town,” said Ryan Child, the events manager for the organisers, Westbury Town Council.
“More people than ever visited – we think around 3,500 – and it was definitely the highest quality food and music we’ve had at the event.”
The festival’s vibrant and friendly atmosphere was a standout feature, with popular drumming band Jamma de Samba getting the crowd moving with their energetic beats, while the live music lineup, headlined by local favourites The Shingalings and young musicians from Matravers School, kept festival-goers entertained.
For many, the highlight was the notorious chilli-eating competition, run by Hot Pods. As always, it drew a crowd eager to watch contestants brave increasingly spicy chilli peppers in a brutal battle of heat tolerance.
“The biggest highlight was seeing the White Horse Cafe open a stall at the front of their cafe and really get into the swing of the event. It was amazing to see,” added Ryan. “Apart from that the vibe of the event is always the highlight. It was friendly and feelgood – which is exactly what we all need at the moment, a good old fashioned happy day out.
“The Shingalings were a really good band and the food from LJ Hugs, A! Huevo and Indriya Kitchen and others was all amazing.
“The feedback we’ve had from a lot of the stallholders was that they want to come back again. They love the people that come to the event because they’re so enthusiastic and interested in the products and, of course, buy them!
“The children’s entertainment was also a hit, people loved the magician and circus workshops in the kids’ area.
“My team worked really hard and did the most important thing of keeping smiles on people’s faces for what was a long day.”
