Mills River Presbyterian Church

Community Chili Cookoff

Official Rules

• Contestants Pre-register HERE

• Contestants Arrive by 3:30 PM
• Contestants Must Provide:
  • Minimum of 6-8 quarts of cooked chili, ready to serve
  • Crockpot to keep chili warm
  • Ladle or spoon to serve chili
  • Each tasting sample should be about 3 tablespoons
  • Gloves must be worn by all servers. Gloves will be provided by MRPC
  • A list of ingredients to disclose any food allergens.
  • Signs, props, decorations, if desired, no larger than 24″x24″
  • Creativity and good clean jokes are encouraged.
• MRPC will provide:
  • Tables, tablecloths, electric outlets and cords
  • Bowls, spoons, napkins
  • Water, tea, lemonade & crackers
  • Welcoming committee, laughter, setup and cleanup
• Judging/Additional Rules
  • Contestants may not sell or vend anything other than their chili
  • Judging will be done by the public. Each guest will have one rating card and rank each chili using 4 categories: Flavor, Appearance, Creativity, and Humor.  Their vote for Best Chili will be their highest score using the following formula: 2*Flavor + 1* Appearance + 1* Creativity +1* Humor = Score.  Ties will be broken by the Humor score.
  • The contestant with the most Best Chili votes will receive the coveted Mill River Presbyterian Church 2026 Chili Cookoff Trophy. Winner’s acceptance speech must not exceed 20 minutes.

Good Luck and May the Best Chili Win!