PETERBOROUGH —Though cold and chilly, Saturday’s weather was perfect for the Monadnock Wellness Festival’s fifth annual Soup Tasting event.

“Days like today are kind of perfect; nice and dreary soup-tasting days,” said Monadnock Rotary member Chuck Simpson.

The rotary club has held the Wellness Festival in Peterborough for the past seven years.

The first year, the festival centered on the free health screenings offered.

The free tests from a foot clinic, skin analysis, flu shots, heating test, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more are still central to the festival, but the event has expanded to include live music, a food court, family activities, pet exhibits and demonstrations, and more than 30 exhibitors in the Peterborough Town House, including massage therapy demonstrations.

For many the midday soup tasting is the premier event of the festival.

For a $5 donation to the Monadnock Area Food Bank, attendees got to sample soups and breads and then cast a vote on the best.

Warming the chilly attendees Saturday were soups from served up by 14 local businesses and nonprofits, including Hungarian mushroom, turkey corn chowder, lobster bisque and gluten-free chili.

Taking home three of the four awards this year was Nature’s Green Grocer. The West Peterborough market and restaurant won for best presentation, wicked healthy and tastiest soup for its organic harvest roasted chicken vegetable.

Winning the wicked exotic award was Waterhouse Restaurant with its Rabbit Stew.

The Soup Tasting attracts over 300 people each year and raises $1,000 to $1,500 a year for the Monadnock Area Food Bank, said Simpson.

“It’s an integral part of the Monadnock Wellness Festival. It’s fundraiser it’s a great way for restaurants to come and sell their culinary crafts. … It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “We have a lot of return people that come year after year now. It’s gaining momentum.”

mpierce@newstote.com