Ladies and gentlemen it is time once again to eat fire — for a good cause.

The Harbor View Hotel took home the best professional chili award at mvyradio’s 31st annual Big Chili Contest held at the Portuguese American Club this weekend.

More than 25 chili makers head for Oak Bluffs this Saturday, March 25, to vie for the title of best chili.

Chili recipes of all styles were served under a tent at the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs on Saturday to support the Red Stocking Fund. Hosted by radio station MVY, nearly 1,800 people attended.

Some 1,700 people turned out at the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs on a rain and sleet-driven Saturday to sample some of the best chili recipes and raise more than $27,000 for the Red Stocking Fund at the 29th annual event sponsored by radio station WMVY.

Think your chili is the best in the land? Think again, or better yet, come try everyone else’s and check out the competition at the annual MVY Radio’s Big Chili Contest on Saturday.

The sold-out event sponsored by WMVY raised $34,000 for the Red Stocking Fund this year. People sampled chilis and danced to the music of the Mariachi Mexico Lindo Band, the Baja Brothers and later Johnny Hoy.

The 28th Annual Big Chili Contest, a major fundraiser for both the Red Stocking Fund and the Portuguese-American Club, begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the P.A. Club in Oak Bluffs (snow date is Sunday).

With a sold-out venue and nearly 1,600 people set to descend on the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs tomorrow, the Big Chili Contest 2010 is bigger than ever. And the event sponsored by Vineyard radio station WMVY is sure to produce more smiles than ever for all parties concerned, from the chili chompers to the chilly children who receive clothes that the Red Stocking Fund buys with the proceeds.

Plenty of mild chili, cold beer and warm fun went into the 22nd annual WMVY Chili Contest last Saturday. The fundraiser raised approximately $21,000 for the Island’s charitable organization, the Red Stocking Fund, more than last year’s event.