Chilifest
Save the date! September 14 & 15, 2019
Chilifest 2018 was a blast! Mark your calendar for next year’s pepper party - a full weekend celebrating all things spicy! Come on down to Mike's Maze for a chili cook-off and hot sauce competition, spicy food and local beer and great live music! Taste the hottest peppers from around the world grown right here in Sunderland. Or get a chili pepper tattoo. Here is the full Schedule of Events for 2018 including music line-up, cooking demos and kids' activities - check back for next year's festival details. The Chili Cook-Off on Saturday is a battle of the Valley's best restaurant chefs. Registration for the Hot Sauce Competition on Sunday will open in August 2019! Up to 20 hot sauces will compete!
Chilifest Memories
chili cook-off & hot sauce competition
Registration for the Chili Cook-Off on Saturday is open to restaurant chefs only. Entries can be vegetarian or not, in any style, and will be judged for texture, flavor, consistency, aroma and appearance. Recipes must feature local ingredients!
Registration for the Hot Sauce Competition on Sunday will open in August 2019. Contestants should prepare 1 quart of hot sauce and deliver it to the festival at Mike's Maze, 23 South Main St, Sunderland on Sunday no later than 11am.
Tasting
& Judging
Chili Cook-Off tasting will be free and open to festival-goers from 12-3pm on Saturday. The panel of judges will taste and critique entries at the cooking demo tent at 3:15 pm.
Hot Sauce Competition tasting will be free and open to festival-goers from 12-3pm on Sunday. The panel of judges will taste and critique entries at the cooking demo tent at 3:15 pm. Prizes will be awarded around 3:45 so plan to be there in case you get lucky!
Prizes
First Place
The winners of the chili cook-off and hot sauce competition will receive a selection of Kitchen Garden Farm sriracha, salsa and swag, cookbooks from Storey Publishing - plus a framed prize certificate!
People's Choice Award
The winner of the People's Choice Award will receive a selection of Kitchen Garden Farm sriracha, salsa and swag!
