FAQ

Yes, you will be able to purchase tasting tickets online in September.

Yes, you may bring water and non-alchoholic drinks inside the event area.

No, dogs are not allowed at the event. Please leave your four legged friends at home. Service animals are of course allowed.

Yes, but please don’t arrive before 10 because we may still be setting up the event area.

Parking will be available in the East Hunter’s Creek parking lot (off Safari Dr.) and neighboring streets. Please be mindful of residents and do not park in front of driveways.

Handicap parking will be available in the parking lot of the event area. Traffic control volunteers will be able to assist you into the parking lot when you arrive.

Yes, feel free to bring your own easy fold chair if you think you’ll need to give your feet a rest or want to sit to watch the pie-eating contest and award ceremony.

No, you must prepare and cook your chili during the event.

All teams are required to make a minimum of 5 gallons for the People’s Choice category. For the all other chili categories, teams are required to make 32 ounces for the official judges plus any amount you decide for the public to taste.

Yes! We will be giving out awards for the top three best decorated booths, most spirited team, and most unique theme.

You need to bring your own propane stove. Typically cooks bring a propane camp stove. BBQs, generators, etc are not allowed.

Your cooking and serving area must fit within a 12′ x 10′ area and include a 10’x10′ canopy. Contact us if you want to request a wider space.

We will give you the tasting cup and spoons for the public tasters, chili collection containers for ICS official judging (if entered), and a People’s Choice ticket collection box.

Tasters will purchase a wristband at the tasting ticket booth. Anyone requesting a tasting must show you their wristband, then you will give them a sample cup (provided by the Chamber) filled with your chili.

Tasters receive three voting tickets when they purchase their tasting wristband. You will receive a specially marked People’s Choice ticket collection box to display in your booth. Tasters will put their voting tickets in their favorite team or teams. They can put all tickets in one team box or in up to three different team boxes. The collection boxes will be collected at a specific time and all tickets will be counted. The top three teams who receive the most tickets will win People’s Choice 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Place.

They are judged by official community judges who follow the ICS judging rules. For more information, visit www.chilicookoff.com/ and read the ICS official rules.

International Chili Society. First place ICS category winners qualify to compete in the ICS World Championship Chili Cook-Off in Myrtle Beach, FL.

Yes, ICS requires you to get a membership in order to compete in this sanctioned event. Different membership levels are available from the 1-Cook (one cook-off) membership for $10 to the Annual Adult Membership (unlimited number of cook-offs for the year). To register with ICS, visit https://www.chilicookoff.com/cookoffs, find the ‘Star Chamber Chili Cook-Off’ on October 5, 2024 and select ‘Register’. We will confirm you have registered with ICS at the pre-team meeting.

Yes, see the Pie-Eating Contest page to register early.

Yes, you will need a parent or guardian to sign the required waiver at the event.

We don’t know for sure since the pies will be donated on the day of the event but it will be a berry flavor of some kind.

Each age group is limited to six contestants.