For a decade, the Bradford Tomato Festival has been circled on the calendars of gardeners and foodies alike. This year’s fest, held at Bradford Research Center in Columbia, will run from 4 to 7 p.m. on September 4. The public is invited to the annual free event for an evening of sampling tomatoes and tips to help improve your garden’s next harvest.

A cook-off contest for area chefs who will prepare tomato-based dishes. Festival attendees will then vote for the best entry and the winning recipe will be featured in an upcoming article in the Columbia Daily Tribune.

Free samples from more than 150 different tomato varieties and more than 100 different peppers grown at the research center will be offered. Several species of tomatillos also will be available to sample.