Hot Autumn Nights full of fun and games

The Canyon Lake Woman’s Club hosted its second annual chili cookoff as well as a cornhole competition at its Hot Autumn Nights at the Canyon Lake Senior Center Saturday night.

The chili cookoff had 11 contestants and the cornhole tournament included 16 participants.

The winners of the chili cookoff were First Place, Juanita Hawler; Second Place was a joint effort between Bruce Wallace and Chalea Pierce, and Third Place, Kelly Kingman.

The cornhole team that took First Place was Scott Sepulveda and A.J. Loft. The Canyon Lake Cornhole Club is run by A.J. and the cornhole game was run to professional standards.

Chili Cookoff and 50/50 Raffle winners are announced by RoseMarie Hand and Samantha Gorrell at the Woman’s Club Hot Autumn Nights Saturday at the CL Senior Center.Photo by Aprile DeAnne McKinnon

“I am so pleased and so grateful that our second annual Hot Autumn Nights was a sellout,” Samantha Gorrell, the President of the Woman’s Club, said. “I think everybody had so much fun. The music was great. The chili was amazing. The cornhole was so much fun. All the proceeds, of course, go back to Canyon Lake philanthropy and scholarships.”

Several club members and their guests attended the social fundraiser. The ticket to enter the event included chili tastings, vendor shopping, a D.J. and drinks.

“I think this is one of my favorite club events,” Aprile DeAnne McKinnon, First Vice President of the Woman’s Club, said. “I loved playing the music outdoors while people were enjoying each other’s company. It felt like a down home small town picnic with lots of good food and family fun. It ran very smoothly and I want to thank everyone who put their heart and soul into the event.”

Chili Cookoff and 50/50 Raffle winners are announced by RoseMarie Hand and Samantha Gorrell at the Woman’s Club Hot Autumn Nights Saturday at the CL Senior Center.Photo by Aprile DeAnne McKinnon

The day was full of contests. The 50/50 raffle drawing winners were mother and daughter Marina DeLaney and Juanita Hawley who won $201.00 to take home.

The day also was highlighted by the involvement of the Canyon Lake Menifee Mash Masters Home Brew Club, a beer brewing club that teaches its members how to brew their own beer.

The Mash Masters provided samples of their brew and talked to attendees about their club. The members allow others to use their own brewing equipment to teach them how to brew beer. The club’s dues are $40 per couple.

Don Miller is the Brewmaster and honorary brew club member, and was joined by Lance Lillie, Michael Luithle, and Jeremy Wilson. Currently there are 21 brew members. The club likes to focus on learning the craft of brewing and which system best fits the members needs.

“We are not a social drinking club, but a club that likes to learn about the art of brewing,” Lance said. “This club is all about giving.”