Chili contest in Wheaton

The Downtown Wheaton Association holds its first Chili Cookoff from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. For $10, anyone can visit participating restaurants, sample their best chii recipe and gather at 3 p.m. at The Bank Restaurant to cast their vote. Participating restaurants are: Muldoon's, 133 W. Front St.; Suzetter's Creperie, 211 W. Front St.; Ivy, 120 N. Hale; Genghis Grill, the Mongolian Stir Fry, 106 N. Hale; Front Street Cocina, 112 W. Front St.; and The Bank Reaurant, 121 W. Front St. For details, call (630) 682-0633.

Photo contest

Amateur photographers of all ages have until Dec. 15 to enter their best images in the Cantigny in Focus annual photo contest. Entries must be images from the grounds of Cantigny, the 500-acre former estate of Robert R. McCormick at 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Judges will select the best photo from each of 10 categories that includent events, gardens, concerts, statues, children's activities and wildlife. An additional 10 winners will be chosen from all images submitted. The top 20 entries will be displayed starting Feb. 5, 2010, at the Cantigny Visitors Center Gallery. The public will vote on their favorite images and prizes will be awarded for the top three. For details, contact (630) 260-8167 or bgray@cantigny.org.

Charity at Christmas

Catholic Charities is again coordinating a Christmas program that provided gifts and food certificates to 1,000 low-income parents and children last year. Donors who want to assist in the purchase of food and gift certificates may mail certificates or monetary donations to the Catholic Charities Christmas Program, 26 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, IL 60148. Donations of new, unwrapped winter clothing may be dropped off at the office from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For details, call (630) 495-8008.