1) Chili Cook-Off Contestants may enter as an individual or team.. Multiple entries may be submitted by a team for additional entry fees.

Traditional Red Chili is any kind of meat, or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients. Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed. Preference is not given to either cut meat, ground meat, shredded meat or cubed meat.

A Homestyle Chili– Anything Goes Chili - is any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients. Homestyle chili may be any color.

Veggie Chili – Part of Homestyle Chili Entry - is any kind of vegetable, or combination of vegetables, cooked with chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients. The use of meat and/or any meat by-product is not allowed. The use of soy and meatless “meat” substitutes is allowed. Veggie Chili can be any color.

Anyone is eligible to enter into the Suwanee Chili Cook Off -- from Amateur to a professional Chef! 

Entry fees are per category – you may enter in one category or all categories.   

You can enter as an individual or a team!

You can sample your chili from same table - all you have to do is identify each chili with a table tent to attendees.

You may not enter into the Judged Chili competition ONLY.  People’s Choice Chili competition is required by all contestants. You may however only chose to enter the People's Choice and not the Judged Chili.  Any type of chili may be served as PC chili. Fillers are allowed to be served with PC Chili. Winners are determined by the public. A minimum of 7 to 10 gallons is strongly recommended (896 = 1oz samples) with many chili cooks bringing 10 gallons or more to make sure to not run out. 

Judged Chili – Submissions of 16oz cups to the judges will take place between 1pm - 1:30pm left side of stage. You can submit different variation of the chili you are serving for PC Chili.  Winners will be announced on main stage around 4:30pm

3) Chili must be made from scratch.  Chili can be made at home and brought to the event or can be cooked onsite beginning at 8:30am

4) Event will provide a 10x10ft space, one 6ft table and two chairs. Cooks must bring their own Tents, additional tables, tent weights as tents are not allowed to be staked into the grass. Event will also provide sampling cups and napkins.  Spoons will be given to attendees with an arm band.

5) Power:  Each power outlet is $50 and can only handle a max of 2 cook tops or 2 crock pots.  If you need more power, you will need to purchase an additional outlet.  You can bring a small quiet generator as source of power or you can use a butane burner to cook on on.  The event does not provide electric cords or power strips. Cooks will need to provide their own appropriate power connections.

6) A prepared 7 gallons minimum is required for each entry.  However, 7 gallons of chili is 896 samples that are 1oz in size. It is strongly suggested that you bring 10 gallons of chili (or more) to ensure sampling availability through 4pm. You definitely do not want to run out.  The more you sample the better chances you have to WIN.

7) Chili needs to be served to the general public in provided 2oz cups. Chili being served to the public can be served alone or with fillers such as corn chips, corn bread, rice, etc.  Judged Chili – Submissions of 16oz cups to the judges will take place at 1pm left side of stage. You can offer different chili than what you are serving for PC Chili. No fillers allowed. 

8) Tasting Armbands with 1 voting token will be available for purchase by consumers for $15 each. Additional voting tokens will be available for sale at $5 for 2 or $10 for 5.  Chili Tasters will receive “voting tokens” to use for voting for their choice chili. Spoons will be provided to individuals at time of registration with wristbands. Due to limited amount of chili and because this event is a fundraiser for a 501c3 Childrens' Foundation (Project Green), Chili Cooks can buy discounted wrist bands for $10 each to sample their competitions' chili. 

9) Chili may not be sold to the public. Only “wrist band” holders are allowed to taste the chili your team prepares. Wristbands & voting tokens will be available at the registration table for sale.  Please make sure to NOT give chili samples to attendees without an arm band.

10) A team member must deliver containers with all tokens to the Registration table no later than 4:15pm.  Tokens (chips) will be weighed and only hand counted if the number of tokens is too close to call.

11) The event is over at 5pm. Each team is responsible for 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 cleaning fee of $200 will be billed back by the city of Suwanee.

12) Early Registration is highly recommended for Chili Cooking Teams. Please return participant registration forms (with payment) no later than November 1^st to guarantee your entry as space is limited.

13) Event set up will start at 8am the day of the event. All Chili cooks must be ready by 12:55pm as the People’s Chili Cook-Off hours are 1pm to 4pm