BUCHANAN — Buchanan celebrated the end of winter in style Thursday night, drawing hundreds to the downtown area for some hearty competition. Despite temperatures hovering between the high 30s and low 40s, the heat of the dishes submitted for contest by several area residents kept walkers warm.

The Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce and Buchanan Meadows senior living facility co-hosted the event, which will help raise funds for renovations at the city’s library.

Thirteen local clubs and businesses prepared their own versions of signature dishes and gave them special names before entering to compete in a battle to be crowned Buchanan’s Best Chili.

Patrons began their walk at the Buchanan District Library where they paid $2 for a spoon, a map and a ballot.

From there, they took to the streets, hitting as many of the 13 chili stops as possible. Eleven of the 13 locations were located within a quarter-mile of each other directly downtown, with the two outliers being Sonny’s Lounge and Wheatberry Tavern.

This year, Hilltop Cafe swept two of the four categories.

Hilltop’s “Bean Me Up Scotty” chili was voted Judge’s Choice Chili and Best-named Chili. The award for Best Spirit went to the Buchanan Department of Public Works, or what employees have aptly renamed as Dependable, Professional and Willing. The People’s Choice Chili award was given to McCoy Creek Tavern, for its “White Chili.”

“I have done in it years past, but this years chili was prepared by Jocelyn Ross,” said McCoy Creek Tavern’s Jane Garritano. “We’ve carried the title previous years but we haven’t won in a couple years. We are more than happy to get the People’s Choice Award because we really feel like that is the best award you can receive. We are just really happy people like it.”

The Judges’ Choice Award goes to the chili that is deemed best by a committee of seven judges from around the area. The People’s Choice Award, best name and spirit awards were voted on by anyone in the public who attended and filled out a ballot.

“This is only the second year I’ve done it,” said Hilltop Cafe chili cook, Dion Bouzas. “My parents have done it for years but they retired two years ago and now it is just me and my sister.”

Bouzas’s sister, Maria Cullum is credited for coming up with the award-winning name, “Bean Me Up Scotty,” a clever play on the famous Star Trek line, “Beam me up, Scotty.”

“Four years ago we received People’s Choice, three years ago we got Judges’ choice, and last year, my first year, we got best name, so we’re really happy to receive both Judges’ Choice and Best Name this year,” Maria said.

Organizers chose to donate half of the proceeds to the Buchaan District Library, which is working to raise money for the second phase of renovations to its building. In previous years, proceeds have benefited other local causes, including the high school’s robotics team. The other half of the earnings will help fund next year’s chili competition.

“Through a lot of generous support and responsible fiscal management we were able to complete Phase 1 of our plans,” said Director of Youth Services, Sarah Gault, who the local children have come to affectionately know as “Mrs. Sarah.” “The second phase of our plan is to open up the Front St. entrance and have it handicap accessible, as well as the addition of an elevator to access our other floors,” Gault said.