OAK HILL — After 10 days of events, the 14th annual Oak Leaf Festival wrapped up its 11th and final day Sunday with a car and bike show, a chili cook-off and a fireworks display.

Jack McClung, director of the festival, estimated around 1,000 people attended the chili cook-off, where taste testers got the chance to sample 12 different types of chili.

Both McClung and Damita Johnson, chair of the chili cook-off, said the event was a success.

The Pro-Start culinary program at the Fayette Institute of Technology entered four of the 12 chili varieties: Tex-Mex, raspberry, “inferno” and turkey chili.

Program director Angela Keffer said students participating in the cook-off were either junior or senior level, as they have mastered most of their skills in the two-year intensive program.

Two of the students, Andrew Willett and Wayne Coen, opted to create a healthy choice for patrons at the event.

“We decided to cook turkey chili, which is both different and a healthy option,” Willet, a junior, explained. Willet was the only junior-level student who participated in the cook-off.

Other vendors set up shop during the last day of the Oak Leaf Festival, selling everything from T-shirts to kettle corn and hot dogs.

The Oak Leaf Festival started Aug. 23, and a different event was held each day, with the exception of Aug. 24.

McClung said the turnout to all the events was great, but the rain canceled the show Saturday night.

The Collegians, from Bluefield, were set to perform at the amphitheater on Main Street, but they were rained out.

“This made the second year in a row the main show was rained out. We didn’t anticipate it this year, but we have a back-up plan for next year.”

McClung said the show has been rescheduled for Oct. 13 at the same location, but in case the weather takes a turn for the worse, the show will be at the old Oak Hill Elementary School gymnasium.

The festival ended with a bang Sunday night as everyone gathered to watch the fireworks display.

McClung said he is already preparing some new ideas for next year’s festival.

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Hundreds of families flanked Main Street in Oak Hill Saturday for the Oak Leaf Festival Parade, one of the highlights of the festival.

Vendors were set up to sell refreshments and wares, kids bounced in inflatables and people were yelling across the crowd to old friends.

“It’s a good time to mingle and see who’s here,” said Gay McGuffin of Oak Hill. “It’s good to come out and participate by watching. A lot of people have put hard work into the parade entries, and it’s good to see it.”

Betty Craft and Linda Light were set up with dogs and cats waiting for adoption from the New River Humane Society.

The group said they come each year to give the crowd a chance to look at some of the pets that need homes. By the time the parade started at 11 a.m., two pets were already promised.

“I think the economy has caused a problem for humane societies. We have more animals dropped off and fewer adopted, and we have less donations coming in to help care for the pets,” said Craft.

The shelter, located in Beckwith, always needs volunteers and donations, she added.

Some of the fan favorites in the parade this year were the Nicholas County Blue Belles, a team of majorettes; the Oak Hill Marching Band, and two teams of horse-drawn wagons.

The float winners for the 2012 Oak Leaf Parade were the First Brethren Church of Oak Hill with first place, the Burlington United Methodist Family Services Inc. with second place, and the Oak Hill Church of the Nazarene Youth Float with third place.

But among the kids’ parade favorites were the fire trucks and other emergency response vehicles.

This year, fire departments participated in the parade before the 20th annual Oak Hill Fireman’s Rodeo, including Loup Creek, Oak Hill, Nuttall, Fayetteville, East Bank, Armstrong Creek, Pax, Mount Hope, Cedar Grove, and Bradley-Prosperity fire departments.

These fire departments went hose to hose at Collins Football Field to bring home the prize trophy — the golden ax.

Jacob Kania, rodeo chair, said this year teams from Fayette, Greenbrier and Kanawha counties were competing in six events, from water battles to timed obstacle courses.

“We run a lot of mutual aid with these guys, and the rodeo is a time for us to come together to have a good time, recognize the departments and give someone bragging rights to take home,” he said.

Armstrong Creek Captains Justin Cotton and Josh Thompson said the event is friendly but highly competitive.

“It is good, quality time with our brothers, friends and family. We look forward to all the events and plan on bringing home the ax,” he said.

Josh Johnson, Pax assistant fire chief, said that last year Pax Fire Department participated in the event for the first time and came in second place.

“It put a drive in us to come back and bring the ax home. It isn’t just something to say; it is really a bragging right for the firefighters,” Johnson said.

First place and the golden ax was awarded to Fayetteville Fire Department. Mount Hope Fire Department came in second, Pax Fire Department third, Armstrong Creek Fire Department fourth, and Oak Hill in fifth place.

Each fire department took home cash prizes.

In conjunction with the festival, the fifth annual Oak Leaf Parade of Honor will be held Tuesday, Sept. 11, at dusk with a memorial service to follow at Collins Football Field.

(Wendy Holdren and Sarah Plummer contributed to this story.)