🌶️ Turn Up the Heat at the Fourth Friday Chili Cookoff! 🌶️

Get ready to spice up your evening on February 27th from 5–7 PM in Downtown Tryon! We’re bringing the community together for a fiery, flavor-packed chili showdown—and we want YOU to be part of the fun.

Whether you prefer your chili smoky, savory, or hot enough to make you break a sweat, this is your chance to taste, enjoy, and help crown a champion. The event is free to attend, but you can purchase a tasting spoon for $5 to help choose the winning chili. Every ticket dropped in a team’s bucket brings them one step closer to victory!

🔥 Think your chili has what it takes?
We’re calling all cooks—restaurants, families, friends, neighbors, and culinary daredevils—to sign up and compete. Bring the heat, bring the flavor, and bring your best pot to the table!

Mark your calendars, gather your crew, and come hungry. This is one sizzling night you won’t want to miss! There will be a judges choice winner as well as people’s choice winners.

Sign up to cook chili here: https://forms.gle/7yNjLh8vkqZPfGVj9

Come out to support all those who are cooking & lend a hand in crowning a people’s choice champion.

CHILI COOK-OFF RULES

Traditional Chili is defined as any kind of meat (or meat substitute such as tofu) or combination of meats cooked with chili peppers, spices, and other ingredients, with the exception of pasta, which is strictly forbidden. Beans may be used in competition chili. Toppings such as cheese, onion, cilantro, or others may be added for presentation.

There is no entry fee. Contestants may enter more than one batch of chili and may enter as a team or individually. Clever team names and chili names are encouraged—costumes, too, for the bold. Register online at https://www.downtowntryon.org/events.

All ingredients must be pre-cooked and prepared prior to the event. The chili is to be brought ready-to-eat.

All cooking is to be done in a sanitary manner. Suspicion of failure to comply will lead to disqualification for that team.

Each individual or team is responsible for preparing no less than two gallons of chili and turning in one pint of chili for judging. Judging bowls will be supplied. Each team should have a crockpot for samples, which will be served in 1‑oz cups.

Each chili entered will be assigned a number by the judging committee, and each contestant is responsible for turning in their chili with that number by 5:30 p.m. There will be someone who comes around to pickup your sample. Each team must be set up by 5 p.m. in their assigned location.

Judges will vote for the chili they like best based on the following considerations:
(a) Presentation & Color
(b) Aroma
(c) Consistency
(d) Taste

Each participant’s chili will be distributed to event guests as well as submitted for judging. TDDA will provide bowls, spoons, and napkins for distributing chili samples to guests. Teams should name their chili (the funnier, the better!).

The Best Chili Award will be determined by the Judging Committee. The winner will retain possession of the Copper Cauldron for one year (to be returned the following year).
People’s Choice Awards (1st, 2nd, 3rd) are determined by the public. Guests are entitled to taste each chili and cast votes. The more chili a team brings and the more people who sample it, the more votes they may receive. Decisions of the judging committee are final.

All contestants must provide their own electric heating apparatus (hot plate, crockpot, Instapot), table, and extension cord. TDDA will provide the staging area, sample cups, judging bowls, and electric connection.

The competition is open to individuals or teams of any age, including restaurants, companies, organizations, and community groups. Professional chefs and amateurs are all encouraged to compete. All teams must provide a valid email address when registering as communication will occur via email.

For questions or additional information, email downtowndirector@tryonnc.gov.