Chili Cook-Off & Fall Festival

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Chili Cook-Off Materials

Event Hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm–This is a Rain Or Shine event.

Chili Team Entry Deadline–with Cooks Bag–is SEPT. 29

Join the fun at Madison's 17th Annual Downtown (small-town) Chili Cook-off & CASI GA State Championship Open Cook-Off in Town Park. Chili teams compete in two categories with public chili sampling beginning at 12:30 sharp. Tickets go on sale at two gates beginning at NOON. Sample, and then vote, for your favorite chili, shop the handmade/homegrown market, listen to great music at the Toe-tappin’ music stage on Second St.. and enjoy a great day in Madison.

Things To Do

The festival opens at 10:00 a.m. with live music from the Toe-tappin' music stage on Second St. On the Great Lawn, the Marketplace is full of shopping opportunities: seasonal locally grown (and produced) food products, and a wide variety of handcrafted wares made by talented regional artists. Too hungry to wait for chili sampling? Our food vendors will be ready and waiting to serve you delicious festival food starting at 10:00 a.m. on Second St.

Chili sampling starts at 12:30 and goes to 2:30–or until the chili runs out!!

Sampling wristbands go on sale at NOON–get in line early! There are two wristband tents, Tickets are sold at the Jefferson St gate tent and at the corner of Second St. & Jefferson. No wristband pre-sales. Cash or credit cards accepted.

$5 gets you a sampling wristband, a spoon, and a People’s Choice ballot...that's right, YOU help decide the winners for the coveted People's Choice Chili awards!

Relax in the park with great entertainment, great festival food, fun stuff for kids and an artists/farmers market starting at 10:00 a.m. Shop for locally grown produce, fall plants, and fabulous handmade arts and crafts by regional artists.

Buy a frosty beer on the Gazebo Terrace from Amici, and wander the festival, or sit and enjoy being outside.

See the schedule for Live Music on the the Toe-Tappin' Music Stage in 2023 listed at right. With emcee Jeff McLeod.

Madison Artists Guild PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST Decorate at home, drop off on the Pavilion, Pumpkins Go Home With You! Drop off between 10 and 11:00 for 11:00 judging • PRIZES! AWARDS! Winners announced at 2:30 p.m. from the Pavilion • Adult & Child Categories

And, last but not least, join us to cheer on the Chili winners–awards announced at 3:30 ('ish) from the Pavilion stage

Contests & Awards

OPEN Chili Prizes
1st Place - $400 in cash, an official Downtown Chili Cook-off trophy and a gift
2nd Place - $200 in cash, an official Downtown Chili Cook-off trophy and a gift
3rd Place - $100 in cash, an official Downtown Chili Cook-off trophy and a gift

CASI Chili Prizes
1st Place - An official Downtown Chili Cook-off trophy, CASI points and a gift
2nd Place - An official Downtown Chili Cook-off trophy, CASI points and a gift
3rd Place - An official Downtown Chili Cook-off trophy, CASI points and a gift

Showmanship Award
OPEN Showmanship Award - A special Downtown Chili Cook-off trophy and a gift

People's Choice Award
1st Place - A special Downtown Chili Cook-off trophy and a gift
2nd and 3rd place gifts