This Saturday starting at 4 pm, the Solstice Committee holds its first-ever fund-raiser, a chili cook-off with live music at the Cabbage Shed. There’s a five dollar suggested donation at the door, and five more dollars gets you into the back room to taste and vote on chili—all told that’s $10 for hot eats and live music. It’s a great deal in the Solstice tradition of local DIY magic.

Live music starts at 6 pm, with the Naughty Neighbors, Blake Elliot and the Robinson Affair, Platte Plains Wolf Pack, and Jimmy Olson. Learn more at the fund-raiser’s Facebook page. As if you needed more encouragement, a special Right Brain Brewery beer will be on hand to help loosen your purse strings.

Parks and Rec’s president, Art Melendez, said the Committee wasn’t sure what the funding goal is for this event—beyond “as much as possible.”  “This is the first time we’ve tried this. We’ll see how it goes. If with this event and a couple more we could raise enough to cover the fireworks ($3,200) that would be great.” Solstice is traditionally a free festival, and the Committee and Village Council are hoping it can still become a moneymaker for the Village, which is financially strapped.

The fund-raiser’s main organizer, Josh Herren, is already excited about Solstice, coming up in June, and he wants to infect the rest of us. “Come on down to the Shed, help judge the first ever chili cook-off and dance those calories off with some of Northern Michigan’s up-and-coming bands till they kick us out!” Josh notes that 2012 will be Solstice’s tenth year. “Help us keep the best event in Benzie County free forever! We need your generosity and your love!”

There’s still time to enter your chili in the contest and have a chance to win a material prize as well as bragging rights. Call Josh at 231-651-0321.