This post was written by Hatchet reporter Ashlyn Frassinelli. 

There’s a reason why five blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue will shut down this weekend: The Taste of D.C. food festival brings together nearly 40,000 hungry locals and tourists every year.

The event showcases over 50 local restaurants offering scaled-down menus and cheap, appetizer-sized tasting samples. A cross-section of local bands will be performing on two stages while festival-goers eat and drink.

Steuart Martens, CEO of Taste of D.C., said he thinks the low price of the festival ($10 entry, plus a few bucks for cheap samples) and the variety of vendors will be a draw for college students.

“There’s going to be a lot of good, cheap food,” Martens said.  “Restaurants that would normally cost $150 for two to have dinner are going to be serving samples for only $1 to $3. Students get to try restaurants that they usually couldn’t afford on a college budget.”

Campus favorites such as Circa, Sprinkles Cupcakes and Captain Cookie and The Milkman will be featured at the 9th and Penn Culinary Stage on Saturday afternoon.

For those who like a little bit of competition to go along with their food, the 2013 World Chili Eating Championship, presented by Ben’s Chili Bowl, will take place on Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. Attendees may recognize famous competitive eaters Joey Chestnut and Sonya Thomas, who will join in and compete for the 2013 title.

The festival’s newest competition, hosted by BGR The Burger Joint, will feature teams of three competing to eat 15.4 pound burgers in nine minutes.

Martens also said businesses sponsoring the event will be offering giveaways, including Car2Go and Uber.

“We have 60 different sponsors, all handing out free stuff,” Martens said.  “It’s going to be great.”

Tickets for the event are $10 online. Proceeds will benefit D.C.’s Habitat for Humanity.