Save the date for the Mount Vernon Chili Cookoff 2026! Team cooking begins at 11am and public tasting begins at 3pm. Winners will be announced at 5:45pm!

Time to register your team for the 20th Annual Mount Vernon Chili Cookoff

Teams cook 11am to 3pm | Public tasting 3pm to 5:30pm
Get your best chili recipe ready and register your team! On October 24th you can prepare your chili in historic uptown Mount Vernon, compete for cash prizes and have a great time. We’re planning another great event again this year including KZIA radio broadcasting live at the cookoff, a bags tournament, and beer stein holding competition. Forward this email to anyone else who might want to have a team. For further information please contact Sue Margheim at [email protected].

TEAM REGISTRATION LINK

CASH PRIZES FOR WINNERS!
Application Fee: $25
Early Bird registration deadline is September 1st!

These are a few guidelines to help make the cookoff a success for teams and for the public. 

Please note that food safety is critical!  Use sanitary practices that meet health code requirements; keep chili hot and dairy items must be kept cool. The Linn County Department of Health will inspect each team’s set up. 

• All ingredients must be prepped and cooked on-site under a 10’ x 10’ canopy tent per Linn County Health Department.
• Each team must make a minimum of 5 gallons of chili.
• Cooking on a camp stove, propane burner, turkey fryer is strongly recommended.
• Limited electricity is available; power strips are not allowed.Chili MUST be at the correct temperature before serving by 2:45 p.m. and will be checked by a committee member

You’ll need to bring: 

• Heat source for cooking 
• Extension cord (no power strips) if you’re using electricity 
• Ingredients to make your chili
• Utensils for preparing and serving your chili
• Hats or hair nets
• Hot and cold food thermometers 
• Canopy tent, 10’ x 10’ and leg weights are required (limited supply available for rent)
• Tablecloth & decorations for your canopy tent, costumes for you and your team (optional)
• Chairs, additional table for your own use (optional)

Provided to you:

• One 8’ table (for preparing and serving your chili)
• Handwashing station with catch bucket
• Sanitizing solution in a spray bottle
• Paper towels
• Waste buckets for compostables, recyclables, garbage
• Gloves, serving cups, napkins, spoons for serving your chili
• Common rinsing station for utensils (there will NOT be a place to wash dishes so please plan accordingly)

Timeline: 

• 10:00 a.m. – Teams can arrive and begin setup – NO COOKING BEFORE 11 A.M.
• 10:45 a.m – MANDATORY team meeting
• 11:00 a.m. – Cooking can begin
• 11:30 a.m. – Bags Tournament registration
• 12:30 p.m. – Bags Tournament begins
• 3:00 p.m. – Public tasting begins
• 5:30 p.m. – Ticket Sales Done // Token Buckets Collected
• 5:45-6 p.m. – Announcement of the Winners!

Judging:

Separate judging will be decided by a panel of local judges AND a people’s choice vote.  Judging will take place throughout the public tasting portion and winners will be announced at 5:45pm.  

Finally, we are endeavoring to make this a waste-free event. All supplies provided by the Chili Cookoff committee can be recycled or composted. We ask you to participate by avoiding use of styrofoam and other nonrecycleable, noncompostable trash as well.