BUCHANAN — More than 25 chili recipes ranging from mild to spicy and sweet to savory are expected at the ninth annual Buchanan Chili Cook-Off.

For a $2 donation, participants get a spoon, a map and opportunity to taste and judge them all while strolling through city’s downtown shops and restaurants.

“The chili cook-off is a great way to get out, walk downtown, enjoy the weather and support a great cause,” said Randy Hendrixson, director of the Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce, which is co-sponsoring the event with Buchanan Meadows senior living facility. “Pretty much anything you can think of is entered in this thing, so if you like to sample different flavors, this is the way to do it.”

The cook-off runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday. It begins and ends at the Buchanan District Library, which is located at 128 E. Front St., Buchanan.

About half of the proceeds will go to the library for its large renovation project. The rest funds next year’s chili walk.

Last year, the chili walk raised approximately $1,000, with about half going to the Buchanan High School robotics team. A different organization or group benefits from the chili walk every year.

Three awards will be handed out during the cook-off: people’s choice, judge’s choice and the chili with the best name.

Celebrity judges this year are Berrien County Sheriff L. Paul Bailey, Y-Country radio personality Wild Bill and a member of the library’s board of directors.

Approximately 500 people attended last year’s chili walk.