Name: 2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off
Start: 2026-01-10T15:00:00-06:00
Location: Lemont VFW Post #5819

The Pirates Of The Canal proudly present the 2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off!
Join us on January 10th, 2026 at 3 P.M. at the Lemont V.F.W. Post for an afternoon of bold flavors, friendly rivalry, and a dash of pirate-level mischief.
Admission:
$15 at the door.
Private Competitor Entry:
$25 entry fee. Registration closes on January 3rd, 2026.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2nd-annual-chili-cook-off-registration
Business Entry:
To compete as a business, email:
[email protected]
Once registered, you'll receive a confirmation email with the event rules and regulations.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SdFgzyf7AewHd8gUG_lO4LBIwObnz253ULGJaI2UzII/edit?usp=drivesdk
Additional day-of details will be shared as the date approaches.
We’ll be judging both private and business recipes.
Private Category Awards:
1st Place People’s Choice
2nd Place People’s Choice
3rd Place People’s Choice
Pirates’ Choice 1st Place Award
Pirates’ Choice 2nd Place Award
Pirates’ Choice 3rd Place Award
Pirates’ Choice Hottest Batch
Cash Prize for the 1st Place Peoples Choice Winner (just like last year!)

Business Category Awards:
Lemont People’s Choice (Business)
Pirates’ Choice (Business)

Raffles:
We’ll also have raffles throughout the event—treasures aplenty for those feeling lucky.
The Chili Cook-Off fires the starting cannon for our long-run 50/50, with tickets rolling straight through to the 2026 Pub Crawl. And while the pots are boiling, the playoff games are too—each one dropping fresh chances to win with quarter-score and final-score payouts. Big heat, big stakes, and every ticket sold helps fuel our charitable mission, turning good chili into good deeds.
Charity:
All proceeds from the event will be donated to local charities, helping us support the community the same way we’ve sailed beside it for years.
Whether you're throwing your hat—or your ladle—into the contest, or simply coming to feast and cheer, join us on January 10th for chili, camaraderie, charity, and playoff football on the TVs.