Oceanside CA— The City of Oceanside and the “Friends of Oceanside Parks” held their the Annual Heritage Park Fall Festival on Saturday. This annual event raises funds for the “Friends of Oceanside Parks,” a non-profit organization founded to help support family-focused recreational opportunities in Oceanside.
Ricardo Castillo and Ron Owens with the Oside Fire Department chili
Volunteers, Chris and Gail sell tickets for the tastings
Jim Santo and Laura Reese North County Railroad Society
Marc and Andrea Herman
Sarah Holloway, Kyanna Knutson, Ilona Malinovska and Kassidy Betz
Sarah Holloway, Kyanna Knutson, Ilona Malinovska,Kassidy Betz, Bill Rickard, John Castaneda, Harold Helland
OPD Captain Fred Armijo and OFD Chief, Rick Robinson
The annual event features a chili cook-off with this years top spot, according to the judges, went to newcomers Marc and Andrea Herman and their no bean chili. “We came to the event last year and tasted the chili and I thought; I can do this”, said Andrea. Marc is on the Parks Commission but Chris Gow assured the crowd that his position had nothing to do with the vote outcome. “I counted the votes myself. They were real,” said Chris.
Second place went to the North County Railroad Society and third was also the Peoples Choice award winner, Killer Bill’s Chili made by Bill Rickard. “After getting second place last year, I knew I had to kick up the heat this year for the People Choice award,” said Bill, a retired Air force veteran. ” It’s a great charitable event. This is my third time competing. I enjoyed the first one so much, I keep coming back.”