1st Annual Sweetshoots Chili Fest & RAFFLE
FUNDRAISER for the Manton Parks Community Center
Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 2-4pm
Music by local talent Hunter Graham and his band Apricity!!!
Do you cook an awesome pot of chili? Then read the rules and register HERE. Public sampling between 2-3:30 pm with an opportunity for the public to vote for their favorite by dropping voting tickets or tips in the donation jars. Judging is to take place at 2pm and awards to 1st place, 2nd place and Public’s Choice announced at 4 pm.
Cook’s Registration is $25 and will be limited to 12 contestants, first come first serve basis.
Public’s Choice tickets and Raffle Tickets cost $5 each
Raffle Winners announced at 3:30pm !
Sign up
Contestant sign up and registration may be done ahead of time. Please sign up online at the sweetshootscafe.com website. Registrations may also be turned in by 11am the day before the contest.
Set Up and Tear Down Information
1. Contestants may begin setting up their booths/tables on Saturday, Feb 15 after 8am. The contest area will be designated and marked prior to the event.
2. Chili cooks must provide their own display tents/canopies, chairs, tables, etc. Your tent/canopy must be anchored with adequate weight or a method to secure it in the event of high winds. Please provide a small trash receptacle.
3. Chili cooks typically run out of chili before the end of the event. We kindly request that you do not tear down your booth/table until the judging has officially ended.
4. Sweetshoots will provide the tasting/sampling cups, spoons, voting and raffle tickets.
Chili Cooking Rules
1. Chili Cooking Equipment. Cooks are expected to provide their own propane cook stoves, serving utensils, pot, fire extinguishers, etc. One 120v outlet can be provided for each station if requested in advance. Each cook is expected to utilize safe and clean stoves, pots, utensils and other equipment. Event organizers reserve the right to disqualify any contestant for food or equipment safety reasons if deemed necessary. Food service gloves will be provided for contestants.
2. Chili Preparation. Chili may be prepared in advance or at the event, but should be kept warm in a healthy and safe manner.
3. Ingredients. Any and all ingredients that are safe to be consumed are permitted.
4. Cooks Must Be Willing To Taste Their Own Chili. If requested to do so by a judge or event organizer, a contestant must taste their own chili. Within reason, failure to do so may result in disqualification. It is also requested that your chili be labeled as to its heat for the public’s benefit.
5. One Chili Per Entry. Each head cook is responsible for serving a sufficient amount of chili that he/she intends to be judged and turning in one cup from that pot. No more than one judging sample may be taken from any one pot.
Cooks are asked to prepare 4 quarts or more of chili for the event.
6. Cooks Must Sign Number Slips. Chili cooks will be assigned a random, anonymous number in order to keep each chili cook confidential.
7. Filling Cups. Judging cups will be filled to 3/4 full prior to being turned in to the judges.
8. Judging rules. A complete set of judging rules will be given to the judges on the morning of the event. A single score will be computed for each entry, with consideration given to the five criteria for scoring chili. These criteria are Aroma, Color, Consistency, Texture, and Taste. NOTE: Heat is not a grading scale factor!
9. Penalties. Failure to comply with event rules is subject to disqualification of that entry. The decision of the officials is final. In the event of a disqualification, the official monitoring the event must immediately notify the head cook and give a reason for disqualification.
Prizes
1st place winner: Prize + ½ of all registration fees collected
2nd place winner: Prize + $25 (registration fee)
Public’s Choice award
There will be a Public’s Choice Award for the best chili which the public can sample. This will be determined jointly by the amount of tips and voting tickets in those jars. The donation jars will be provided to each contestant at the beginning of the contest. Simply put, the chili cook with the most tips and tickets at the end of the contest will be declared the winner and the tips will be donated to the Manton Parks Community Center !
Any questions can be directed to:
DOWNLOAD the ENTRY FORM here - thank you!