Monona’s 41st

Chili Cook-Off

What is it about chili?

 

There’s something special about chili that inspires top secret ingredients, wild experimentation, and family traditions passed down many generations.  That slow cooked, spice infused, hearty goodness warms your body and soul – it’s truly the ultimate comfort food.

Head to Ahuska Park on Saturday, September 28th from 11-2p for Monona’s 41st Chili Cook-Off – the longest running in Wisconsin.

The Chili

 

Get your wristband for unlimited chili sampling. Choose your samples wisely – we’ll have up to 40 cook teams (that’s 40 – 1 oz samples of chili!) you’ll have available to choose from.  Expect flavors all over the board.  In previous years we’ve had traditional to extreme heat, green chili to creamy white, smoky to sweet and tropical.

The Cooks

 

The chili cooks begin setting up and cooking before sunrise, using gas powered stoves.  Ingredients should be prepped, but all cooking must happen on site. Many will serve themed chili in a decorated tent in full costumes to match the theme of their chili. Clearly there’s a lot of love that goes into this day!

The Events

 

Enjoy live music from Monona’s own Progressive Lane All Stars, and a cookbook popup sale from Friends of Monona Library.  We’ll be announcing more activities, our beverage tent menu, and concessions menu soon!

What To Bring

 

Many of our chili tasting pros choose to bring muffin tins to help them hold many chili samples at a time, and help keep track of which team was the cook.  Teams will receive awards based on voting from both the crowd, and our panel of judges.

Come to Cook, or Come to Taste

 

Grab your friends, family, or coworkers and register to compete in the 41st Chili Cook-Off. Registration per team is $200 and includes a $100 gift card to two local favorites—Fraboni’s Italian Specialties & Delicatessen or Ken’s Meats and Deli. Many teams opt to be sponsored by a local business, display the business banner in their cooking tent, and have their registration fees covered.

Prizes will be awarded for:

Best Chili (voted by our judges) – First $250, Second $150, and Third $100

Best Chili – Crowd Favorite – $100

Best Team Theme – for costumes, tent decor, and name of chili – $100

Most Unique Chili – $100

Cook Team Registration - $200
General admission is $15.  This wristband gives you access to unlimited chili sampling, live music, fun activities, the beverage tent and concessions, and seating at picnic tables.
General Admission Tickets - $15
Or, splurge on access to the Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial VIP luxury tent for $50. VIP admission includes all the features of general admission, plus access to the temperature-controlled lounge with comfy seating, waitstaff, hors d’oeuvres, specialty drinks in addition to beer and other canned beverages, door prizes, and gift bags.
VIP Luxury Tent Tickets - $50
Want free admission?  Volunteer!  Many hands make this event possible, and we are so grateful to have you.
Free Admission - Volunteer
Questions?  Reach us at [email protected].

 

Schedule of Events

 

10:30a

ticket sales begin

refreshment tent opens – sponsored by Guild Mortgage & Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison

concessions open – sponsored by Lake Ridge Bank

11a

VIP tent opens – sponsored by Modern Woodmen Financial

live music begins – sponsored by One Community Bank & TDS

Share your memories

 

With 41 years of chili events, we’ve heard some really special memories and seen some great photos.

Share yours with us – we’ll demonstrate the history and traditions for those new to the event – [email protected].

Thank you to our sponsors!

 

Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial – VIP tent, One Community Bank & TDS – Entertainment, The Cozy Home – Furnishings for VIP tent,  Lake Ridge Bank for concessions, and refreshment tent by Ho-Chunk Gaming – Madison & Guild Mortgage.