Suwanee Chili Cook Off & Music Festival
Suwanee Chili Cook Off & Music Festival

Suwanee Certified Chili Cook-Off Sign Up Info

Join us at this year’s Chili Cook-Off and Music Festival – our 2nd Annual Event.


This is a fun filled community event in Suwanee, GA that features a Chili Cook-Off, vendors, artists, non-profits, a Kids’s Fun Zone and Live Music sponsored by ARN Entertainment.   The Suwanee Chili Cook-Off and Music Festival is a fundraiser for Project Green, a local children’s charity that helps sponsor kids to summer camps, day trips and educational school excursions across the Southeast.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

The Suwanee Chili Cook-Off and Music Festival is an Official ICS CERTIFIED CHILI COOK-OFF 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       




The event will take place from 12pm until 5pm

 Chili Cook-Off competition will take place from 1pm to 4pm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

The event will additionally host vendors, artists, a kids area, Food Trucks (non-chili) and LIVE Bands on the Music Stage.


To Enter the Suwanee Chili Cook Off - please email us and we will send the Entry Form to you.  


Email our Vendor & Sponsorships Manager  -- Kim Condrick at Kim@AliveExpo.com 

Or you can reach out to Patrycja Towns (Founder of Project Green & Suwanee Chili Cook Off) at ChiliCookOffMusicFestival@gmail.com   

Currently an online application is not available but we are working on it....


Vendor Booths - $150

Artist Booth - $55 (must qualify)

Non-Profit Booth - $25 (must be a certified non-profit with proof)

Food Truck (non-chili only) - $225 very limited space

Push Cart Vendor - $85

Chili Cook-Off Entry Fee - $40 per category



CHILI COOK-OFF COMPETITION ENTRY
Anyone is eligible to enter from Amateur to a professional Chef!  Entry fees are per category – you may enter in one category or both.   

ALL CONTESTANTS should prepare a minimum of 5 gallons (that's only 640 one oz samples) of Chili for the People's Choice sampling.  Chili for judges does not have to be same as that for People's Choice.  We will need about 12oz of chili for the judges.  There will be Best of Show Winner, Runner Up and People's Choice.  Best of Show winner and top category winners will receive an official ICS certified Cook-off certificate and a Qualification plus a paid entry fee into the World Open Chili Challenge (amateur division) at the following year's WCCC.


CHILI ENTRY CATEGORIES:


TRADITIONAL RED CHILI                  HOMESTYLE CHILI
Entry Fee: $40.00                           Entry Fee: $40.00


Prizes:         People's Choice Best Chili:  $250 plus Trophy & Paid Entry into 2024 World Open Chili Challenge (Amateur Division) at the ICS Cook Off  

                   

                          Best Traditional Chili                   Best Homestyle Chili:

                          $200  plus Trophy & Paid Entry into 2024 World Open Chili Challenge (Amateur Division) at the ICS Cook Off  
                 

                   Traditional Chili 2nd Place         Homestyle Chili 2nd Place: 

                          $100 plus Trophy and Free entry into 2024 Suwanee Chili Cook Off & Music Festival  


                   Traditional Chili 3rd Place           Homestyle Chili 3rd Place: 

                          Trophy plus Certificateand Free entry into 2024 Suwanee Chili Cook Off & Music Festival  


Rules & Regulations for Chili Cook-Off
1) Chili Cook Off Contestants may enter as an individual or team.  Multiple entries (one per individual/team and up to 3 per category) may be submitted by a team for additional entry fees.  For each entry in a category - the individual/team should prepare a minimum 5 gallons of chili for people's choice and 12oz for judges. 

2) For purposes of this event, chili is defined as any kind of meat, or combination of meats, cooked with chili peppers plus various other spices
         * A Traditional Red Chili may have any meat (or combination of meats), red chili peppers, and spices. 

              No beans or fillers such as pasta or rice are allowed.   
         * A Homestyle Chili may have meat (or meats), beans, and other veggies.  Fillers such as pasta or rice are not allowed. 

Chili for People's Choice may be served with items such as corn bread, corn chips, cheese, sour cream, etc.  Chili for judges must be served alone with no fillers on the side.


3) Chili must be made from scratch.  Chili should be made at home and brought to the event then can be heated on table top cook tops or in crock pots.  

4) What is provided:  To each chili team/individual registered, the event will provide a 10x10ft space, one 6ft table and a chair.  No TENT will be provided but should be brought it plus an additional table or even 2. 
Additionally each chili cook/team will receive sampling cups.  Spoons will be given to tasters at time of their arm band purchase. 


5) Power:  Each power outlet is $50 and can only handle a max of 2 electric cook tops or 2 crock pots.  If you need more power, you will need to purchase an additional power outlet.  The event does not provide electric cords or power strips. Cookers will need to provide their own appropriate power connections.  

6) A prepared suggested 5-Gallon minimum (640 - 1oz samples) is strongly suggested for People's Choice Chili. You do not want to run out before all attendees have a chance to vote for YOUR chili in the hopes to win the 1st Prize!  Bring your chili heated and ready to serve in crock pots or in a pot on a hot plate and a ladle.

7) Chili needs to be served to the general public in 2oz cups. The overall event is FREE to attend. Tasting Armbands will be sold for $10 each. Chili Tasters (with armband) will also receive 2 “voting tokens” for their TOP People's Choice Chili Choice. Spoons will be provided to individuals at time of registration with wristbands.
     
8) NO Cash may be accepted when serving chili to the public. Only “wrist banded” individuals may be allowed to taste the chili your team has prepared and vote in your Chili category.  You may not sell chili to attendees.

9) Chili for the judges should be delivered to the Judges' Table no later than 3:30pm.  Judges will taste and vote on their best chili taste from 3:30pm until 4pm. A chili team member must deliver the Vote Tokens to the Registration table no later than 4:30pm so that all can be tallied to announce the People's Choice winner.

10) The event is over at 5pm. Each team is responsible for completely policing and cleaning up their area at the end of the day and removing all items from the area. DON’T FORGET GARBAGE BAGS!!!  No items shall remain after the close of the event. Any items remaining after the event will be discarded and a minimum cleaning fee of $200 will be billed back to you.


11) Pre-registration is highly recommended for Chili Cooking Teams. Participant registration forms must be received in our office (with payment) no later than October 23rd to guarantee entry.


12) Event set up will start at 8:30am the day of the event. All Chili cooks must be ready by 12:45pm as the Cook-Off hours are 1pm to 4pm

13) Remember to be sure to put a large sign on your tent to identify your team name & chili category – let people know who is doing the cooking and what you are serving