West Madison Elementary School’s Winter Carnival promises to entertain with games and amusements while tempting appetites with a chili cook-off.

West Madison PTA is sponsoring the event on March 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

PTA president Shannon Enfinger said West Madison has one annual festival “geared towards allowing kids past and present to enjoy a fun day.” She hopes the entire student population and alumni will attend.

The PTA board is the carnival’s primary organizer. Preliminary planning started last August and “hit full steam in January,” Enfinger said. “We encourage all parents to get involved. It’s truly a fun event.”

Room parents at West Madison enlist volunteers from each classroom to help run the games, usually in one-hour slots. Several teachers will witness the fun while selling wristbands and Bingo cards.

“Dr. Daphne Jah, our principal, and Kathy Miller, assistant principal, both will put in a full day, helping in too many ways to list,” Enfinger said.

Children (adults, too) will enjoy playing games like Plinko, fishing hole, treasure hunt, lollipop tree, bowling, basketball, soccer and Bingo with gift certificates.

Visitors can vie for dessert at the cakewalk. On the schoolyard, students can exercise at the inflatibles. In addition to chili, concessions will include hotdogs, nachos, drinks and candy.

Tommy and Melissa Perkins are concessions chairmen. Katie Gaertner is coordinating games and prizes. Along with Enfinger, PTA officers are Kristen Mitchell, Cheryle Luchini, Kat Harbour, Brooke Jones, Ginny Aldridge and Lori Frusterio.

For the chili cook-off, Enfinger expects all chili styles, including traditional, super hot, white chicken and vegetarian. Complete chili mixes aren’t permitted.

Attendees will ‘vote’ with donations for their favorite chili. The winner will receive $100, second place $50 and third prize $25.

Entry deadline is Feb. 29 with a $20 entry fee. Mail registration form with payment to West Madison PTA, Attention: Chili Cook-Off, 4976 Wall Triana, Madison, AL 35758.

For more information, call 256-503-8055 or send email to shannonenfinger@gmail.com.