The third annual Pot O’Hot Fest takes over Trailhead Beer Garden at Schreiner University on Saturday, and if you haven’t bought your ticket yet, you may be cutting it close.

Jeremy Walther, owner of Pint and Plow Brewing Co., which organizes the festival, said this year’s event is on pace to sell out its 300-ticket cap before the day of the event. That’s up from 150 tickets in the first year and 250 last year.

“Every year we increase the number of tickets, we increase the limit,” Walther said during a Friday appearance on The Lead Live. “And we’re on pace to sell out before the day of.”

The festival runs noon to 8 p.m. with live music throughout the day from Simon Flory, Jonivan Jones and Matthew Payne. Even attendees without a soup-tasting ticket are welcome to come out, listen to music and, as Walther put it, “watch people eat soup.”

This year’s field is capped at 25 soup makers, with 18 returning from last year. Walther said the high return rate speaks for itself.

“The fun was heavier than the work itself,” he said. “Apparently they’re coming back.”

Returning competitors include two-time winner Kyle Bond. New participants this year include Cartewheels and Turtle Creek Vineyard.

As for what qualifies as a valid entry, Walther was characteristically direct in debunking any misconceptions.

“We don’t have a rule,” he said. “If it’s in a bowl and you want to serve it, then it counts.”

That means hot soup, cold soup, gumbo and chili are all fair game.

Judges will evaluate soups on three criteria: quality of ingredients and preparation; whether the entry is representative of a particular style or culture; and what Walther calls gusto.

“Can we taste the love in that soup?” he said.

Tickets are available at trailheadbeergarden.com.