A warmer than average September weekend was even hotter in one part of Carbon County for the second annual Bowmanstown Pepper Festival.

One of the hits of the event was the chili cook-off held Saturday afternoon.Fedor's Car Wash in Lehighton sponsored the competition, during which entrants vied for cash prizes in addition to a first-place trophy."I love anything spicy, and the chili here tastes great," said Kyle Henry of Lehighton after tasting a smoked pulled pork option served by Abberly Ressler of Slatington. "It's tough to vote because I've liked them all."Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company Chief Bruce Koch and his son, Daniel, started the event last year."It is a fundraiser for the fire company to help pay for equipment and insurances and the like," Bruce Koch said. "We added a couple more vendors from last year and a little more variety."While rain played a role last year, Saturday and Sunday yielded nothing but sunshine and 80-degree days."The weather is superb," Bruce Koch said. "The crowd is out enjoying themselves. Our chili cook-off is a big hit, and we have music on both days for everyone as well."The Pennsylvania Villagers performed Saturday and Old Friends closed the festival on Sunday.While the chili cook-off was held inside the fire company, the happenings were just as hot outside.Sarah Toback of Perkiomenville and Ed Kalish of Spring City both approved of the samples provided by Pilsudski Mustard."Excellent selection," Toback said of choices that included dill, sweet hot and wasabi.Other vendors brought the heat as well including offerings from Hot Pepper Freaks, Big Creek Bar-B-Q, Franks Fine Swine and Beef, Pi Rho Peppers and Sherry's HodgePodge."I'm glad they started this event," said Susan Freed of Bowmanstown. "It's something a little different and really helps out the fire company. Usually if you're in Bowmanstown you have to go somewhere else to experience something like this. It's nice to have to have it in town."