On a cold winter day, the best remedy just might be a hot bowl of chili.

And in Antigo on Wednesday, there were more than 40 different kinds to choose from in the 11th Annual Chili Cookoff.

Antigo businesses and community members are serious about chili.

Like Kim McCann of the Boys & Girls Club of Langlade County.

"It's my turn to make the chili this year, and I make the best chili in the club so....it's going to win," she said.

The day began at 8 a.m. and everything was prepared outdoors on the sidewalks of downtown.

"Everything has to be prepared downtown, right down to cutting up your vegetables to browning your meat, it's all on the street," said Deena Grabowsky, of the Chamber of Commerce.

Participants can make roughneck chili, where anything goes....or traditional, which is just your basic meat and tomatoes.

Volm Companies won the roughneck division two years ago and they're hoping to win it again. They're hoping a dash of tequila will do the trick.

Everyone seems to have their own secret ingredient.

"Well I'm not gonna tell you everything, but a lot of beef," said Caleb McPhail of The Rental Store.

"There is a lot of beef in the chili. Right now we're floating some peppers, some chili peppers."

"It's a little bit about the sugar, that's all I'll say," McCann said.

Winners get cash prizes and trophies, but Grabowsky says it's more about the camaraderie.

"It's a lot of fun. People look forward to it all year round, they really get pumped up the day of."

The public is invited to sample as much chili they can eat....and the best part is it's free.

Following chili judging is the annual holiday parade. This year's theme is 'White Christmas.'