This was a good year for the 23rd annual Chile Pepper Food Festival held recently at Bill DeLong Memorial Park in Bowers.

There were 103 vendors this year, the most the festival has had, and the festival gets bigger every year, according to festival emcee Mike Hoster. Hoster started working at the festival at the parking lot when he was just a kid and has been with the festival for 20 years. Hoster now runs the contest and registers contestants.

Butch Imhoff of Acoustic Road Show has been showcasing entertainment at the festival for 20 years. Imhoff announced several times it was time to sign up for the jalapeno pepper eating contest.

“You don’t have to be of sound mind, but you do have to be 18 and if you look younger, you will have to show I.D.,” Imhoff announced.

Contestants trickled in for the eating contest.

Imhoff announced the next performer as the crowd gathered for the jalapeno pepper eating contest. Emma Drago, who also plays the fiddle and violin and is the eldest of seven children, came to the stage and was accompanied by her dad Damien Drago on the guitar. Damien Drago teaches fifth grade history and social studies at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School in Shillington. Emma Drago sang several songs and played the fiddle.

Contestants were registered by 4 p.m. and rules were announced.

“You have 30 seconds to eat eight peppers if you can. We weigh each pepper to make sure they are all the same weight. There are two heats. You have to swallow everything and show your mouth is empty before leaving the stage. You can drink whatever you want to. If you have to visit the “Bucket of Shame” you are disqualified.” Hoster said and then announced eight names for the first heat, but only seven showed. The 30 seconds went quickly. All contestants stayed on the stage and no contestant visited the “Bucket of Shame.”

Eight names were announced for the second heat and everyone took their places on the stage.

Uneaten peppers left on the paper plates were carefully gathered up after each heat, individually counted, weighed and recorded.

In the meantime, Imhoff entertained the waiting crowd by calling up kids and asking them silly questions that made the children and the audience members laugh.

When the judges determined the winners, the trophies were presented to Steve Tabakelis, of Fleetwood, who earned third place; Andrew Maggio, of Oley, who earned second place; and Keith Gabel, of Douglasville, who won first place.