ELKHART — Chili, corn hole and hayrides — it must be fall. Saturday’s Oktoberfest Chili Cook-Off and Harvest Celebration will bring together the city of Elkhart Parks and Recreations Department and Pillars of Elkhart who have partnered together to put on the event together instead of having competing events around the same time.

The event will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. in Central Park. Activities will include a chili cook-off, corn hole tournament, live music, beer tent and bike ride. Proceeds from the event will go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Elkhart County.

BBBS executive director and marketing chair for Pillars of Elkhart Stephanie Patka said that they have added more children’s activities, including a root beer garden, hayride and monster house full of creepy crawlers.

Last year the event raised more than $650 for BBBS. The event also allows the organization to recruit more adult members to be “bigs.” They must be at least 18 years old and be able to spend about 4-8 hours a month with their “little.”

“We’re able to recruit more members and really give people the opportunity to support the mission of our agency,” she said.

The Mentoring Mums that were part of the Fall Flower Carpet on Waterfall Drive will be sold between 4 and 7 p.m. off of High and Waterfall Drive. Proceeds will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Elkhart County. People will be able to pick up the mums that they already purchased there as well.

Corn hole registration will be from noon to 1:45 p.m., and the tournament will start at 2 p.m. The cost is $40 per team. The chili cook-off tasting, which will include 10 restaurants and not-for-profit organizations, will be from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost for the tasting is $5 a person and free for children 10 and younger. The family bike ride will begin at 2 p.m. Except for the chili and corn hole fees, the festival will be free to the public.

“The event itself is meant to showcase downtown and the people who make downtown great,” Patka said.

For information go to downtownelkhart.org or go to bbbselkhart.org.