The Greene County Partnership has announced plans to host the sixth annual Aussie Fall Fest Chillin' & Grillin' on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The event will include themed chili, barbecue and wings cook-offs with cash prizes being awarded.

There will be craft and food vendors, a Kids' Zone featuring Funville, and other entertainment.

New to the event will be three different categories in the cook offs:

* The Kids' Q. This event will be open to ages 15 and under who would like to grill chicken to win prizes. Leg quarters will be provided by Chuckwagon BBQ & Grill, and small grills will be provided by the MECO Store.

* The Backyard Cookers. This category will feature participants who love to grill in their own backyards, at the lake, etc., but have never participated in a cook-off before. This is a way to show off one's barbeque skills and get bragging rights.

* The Old Smokers. This category will be for participants who have previously entered any barbecue competitions.

Participation in the cook-offs is open to everyone, including Scout troops, industries, churches, clubs and organizations.

All cook-off participants will be charged an entry fee. The cost for a 10-feet-by-10-feet craft booth is $50. For food vendors, the cost is $125.

"This event has been very successful in its first five years," said Tammy Kinser, the GCP's tourism director. "In 2008, we had a record crowd for the event with thousands visiting historic downtown Greeneville. More than $3,000 was given out in cook-off prizes.

"We are also looking forward to a large number of participants entering the new categories that have been created. Kids will love this and the backyard cookers can finally get recognition for their hidden talents," Kinser said.

"One of the most popular competitions from last year was the Karaoke Competition," Kinser said.

The event last year featured more than 21 participants showing off their singing talents for cash prizes. The competition will take place again this year and applications are available at the Partnership office on Academy Street.

The event will also feature the third annual Miss Fall Fest Beauty Pageant and much more.

The dance stage will be filled with local talent, from square dancing and clogging to line dancing.

The event will last into the evening for spectators to enjoy the band Bulls Gap. The roots of band members Scott Arnold and Jerry Vincent dominate their music as Vincent's distinctive mountain vocals combine with Arnold's time-warn harmonies to provide a glowing base for their regional themes.

Bulls Gap will be performing on the main stage and opening for Hayseed Dixie sponsored by Ella's Good Music-Good Food.

Hayseed Dixie is an American band which began in the fall of 2000 with the release of their first album, A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC. The band performs a mixture of cover versions of hard rock songs and original compositions in a style that is a cross between bluegrass and rock music. The band's name is a play on the name AC/DC.

Claiming to hail from the fictional Deer Lick Holler, Appalachia, the band has played nearly 1,000 live dates in 21 different countries since 2001.

Title sponsor for the Aussie Fall Fest Chillin' & Grillin' is MECO Corproation with the Greeneville Light & Power Ssytem being the t-shirt sponsor.

Anyone interested in participating should contact the Partnership office at 423-638-4111, e-mail tkinser@greenecop.com, or visit www.greenecountypartnership.com/chillin.aspx to download applications and entry forms.