6:30 AM

Competitor Check-In & Setup

Time to set up your cook station and start prepping your ingredients. Don’t arrive early, staff won’t be there to direct you to your spot until check-in officially begins.

7:00 AM

Cooking Begins

Stoves on, no cooking before 7:00.

9:30 AM

Last Chance to Check-In

Hit that snooze button if you want, but don’t be late! 9:30 is the final check-in, and by 10:00 your chili better be cooking.

10:30 AM

People’s Choice Collection Boxes

You’ll get a special ticket box—this is how tasters vote for you as their favorite when you start serving them at noon.

11:30 AM

165 Degree Temp Check

Chili must be at 165 degrees for food safety. A coordinator will stop by your booth to verify the temp. Then cool down your chili to 135 degrees to keep tasters safe and their palates happy (no burnt tongues here!).

12:00 PM

Time to Serve the Public!

You will be provided with plenty of 2-ounce cups and spoons to dish out your chili to eager tasters. Be sure to check that each person has a tasting wristband—only wristband holders get to vote for People’s Choice, and you don’t want to waste a taste on someone who can’t vote for you!

12:15 PM

Turn In Your ICS Chili for Official Judging

You’ll receive 32-ounce containers—fill them with your chili (and any other categories you’ve entered) and get them to the judges’ table.

3:30 PM

Last Call for People’s Choice Tickets

Final push to snag those votes! Coordinators will be making the rounds to collect your People’s Choice ticket box.

4:00 PM

Award Ceremony

Time to celebrate! Winners will be announced, cash prizes and trophies handed out, and champions named. Don’t miss the cheers, photos, and bragging rights—you might be the star of the cook-off!

5:00 PM

Booth Tear Down and Check-Out

Chili’s gone, winners are announced, and it’s time to pack it up. Break down your booth, check out with the coordinator.

11:00 AM

Gates Open & Tickets Available for Purchase

Chili tasting begins at high noon, but come early to get your tasting wristband, watch the cooks add their final touches, and enjoy the mouth-watering aromas as the pots simmer.

Wristbands are available for purchase at the entry. Purchase your tasting ticket early? Head to the will-call line, and your wristband will be waiting.

Pints Up! Brewfest Opens

Enjoy a full pour of local beer, wine and cider favorites.

12:00 PM

Tasting Begins!

It’s chili tasting time! From spicy to savory, sample as many pots as you can before they run out and cast your vote for People’s Choice.

Test Your Grit: Mechanical Bull Riding Kicks Off

Think you’ve got what it takes to hang on? Climb aboard “Starburn” the bull and put your rodeo skills to the test—ride ‘til you get tossed!

1:45 PM

Pie-Eating Contest Check-In

Competitors check in at the pie-eating stage. Want to enter but too scared to preregister? Stop by the check-in area to see if seats are still available.

2:00 PM

Pie-Eating Contest

Who can eat the most pie without using their hands? Cheer on contestants as they dive face-first into a delicious pie—no forks, no fear, just sweet victory!

3:15 PM

Last Call to Purchase a Tasting Wristband

Chili pots will be running low and some may be empty, but there’s still time to buy a wristband and sample the remaining flavors before they’re gone.

3:30 PM

Last Call to Vote for People’s Choice

Last chance to turn in your People’s Choice tickets. This is your final chance to vote for your favorite chili.

3:45 PM

Final Rides on Starburn

The mechanical bull shuts down at 4:00, so saddle up while you still can.

Last Chance to Enter the 50/50 Raffle

Last Call for a Brewfest Drink

4:00 PM

Award Ceremony

Find out who takes the top prizes and if your favorite chili won People’s Choice.

50/50 Raffle Winner Announced

If you purchased a 50/50 ticket, this is when we’ll draw the winning number. You don’t have to be present to win, but if you are, you’ll walk away with your cash prize on the spot.