More than 90 restaurants and vendors throughout Saratoga County are competing in eight different chowder categories in the 21st Annual Chowderfest that both restaurants and visitors are always super excited about.

"Oh it's a lot of fun and our entire customers look forward to coming to it," said Joan Tallman, co-owner and baker at Bread Basket Bakery.

Bread Basket Bakery took a top spot in 2006, the first year they competed. This year, they entered their tortellini corn chowder. Tallman said it's amazing to see the event grow each year even though it makes it harder to win.

"Since then, there's been so many restaurants that've participated," said Tallman. "I think there's like 90 now, so it's really grown and people really like it, it gives them something to do in the winter: Walk around and get nice hot chowder."

Kyle Utter said that's exactly why his family has been coming for the last few years.

"It breaks up the cold winter blues, you know, you get a little bit of that cabin fever," Utter, of Albany, said. "But it's something to do, it's neat to go out, walk the town."

It also warms up business for restaurants during these slow winter months said Josh White, manager at Boca Bistro. 

"It's just a nice opportunity to bring some faces in that normally do not know of your restaurant and they get to experience your food," White said.

And White said getting thousands of "chowder heads" in the door for their house smoked chicken and corn also allows them the opportunity to help others in the community. The DZ restaurant group created a special brew with Chatham Brewing that they're donating a portion of sales to different charities each month and on top of that, their partner for February is also getting 100 percent of the Chowderfest proceeds.

White said the groups expects to be able to donate at least a few thousand dollars from Saturday's event alone.

"This month, starting yesterday, we're doing HOPE which is Homes for Orphaned Pets Exist, so they have a little booth with us today and we're donating all our proceeds from all three restaurants," White said.

If that's not enough to warm your heart, the soup may do the trick. But for many, the cold never bothered them anyway.

"If you don't like it, then why do you live here, you know?" said Erik Ebbing of Malta. "This is what we're here for --being out in the cold and having a good time."

Last year, more than 40,000 people came to Chowderfest to enjoy more than 130,000 samples and this year the Convention and Tourism Bureau is hoping for an even higher turnout.

The winners of Chowderfest are expected be announced around 6:30 p.m. at the Visitors Bureau on Saturday.