WELCOME

To The 7th Annual West Chester Rotary Chili Cookoff

 

Questions? Email us at

Info@WestChesterChiliCookoff.com

Call 484-343-4577

 

Who: Hosted by the West Chester Rotary, meets Thursday's at noon at the West Chester Country Club

 

What: 7^th Annual West Chester Chili Cookoff, presented by Infiniti of West Chester. Returning again to be our Presenting Sponsor.

 

Where: Downtown West Chester, PA on Gay Street from High St. to New St.

Rain or Shine event.

 

When: October 11, 2009, Noon to 3pm,

Gates open at 10:30,

National Anthem will be sung by Madison Wilcox at 11:55

All Chili Released at noon

Awards Ceremony at 3:30pm at Church and Gay Streets.

 

How: Purchase your $10 All-You-Can-Eat Chili wristbands at the event's sales booths located on each corner of Gay Street during the event. Discounted 3/$25 wristbands are available now online while supply lasts. Wristbands can be purchased in town at the West Chester Chamber of Commerce office. Price is
3/$25 from now until Friday, Oct. 9, 2009.

 

Rain or Shine Event: The show must go on, so come on out even if the weather seems a little iffy. All the cooking teams will be under cover (tents) preparing the best chili in the world just for you to taste. Don't disappoint them, show your Chili Trooper Pride and join us Rain or Shine!

 

If severe weather is expected, we will keep the Competitors and Public updated via our WestChesterChiliCookoff.com homepage. Check it throughout the weekend for any changes.

 

Expect wonderful, crisp, fall weather

Event Schedule - Click Here

 

Overview:

The 7^th Annual West Chester Rotary Chili Cookoff, presented by Infiniti of West Chester and hosted by the Rotary Club of West Chester, returns to downtown West Chester on October 11 from noon to 3pm. Over 70 teams will compete for the People's Choice Award and the acclaim of having the "Best Darn Chili in Chester County."

 

These 70 teams will also compete in one of five divisions: Business, Restaurant, Non-Profit, Volunteer Organization or Hometown Cook (for family, friends and neighbors). Thousands of hungry Chili fans will gather on Gay Street to vote for their favorite chili and enjoy over 40 food, business and craft vendors, too. Count on the chili being hot and the competition smoking!

 

You Need A Chili Wristbands:

All-You-Can-Eat-Chili Wristbands can be purchased online prior to the event at a discounted price of 3/$25 at westchesterchilicookoff.com., or buy them early for the same discounted price at the West Chester Chamber of Commerce office 119 N. High Street, 610-696-4046. The Chamber is a fabulous sponsor of this community and business event and we thank them for this help.

 

Wristbands can also be purchased the day of the event for $10 at sales booths located at each corner of Gay Street between High St. and New St. You will also be given three wooden nickel with each wristband sold. These are your VOTING nickels; use them in each block.

 

Pick Up an Event Program:

At each Chili Sales Booth you will be given a 2009 Chili Event program with your wristband. Inside the program you will find a complete map of the Chili Cookoff so you can find where your favorite team is located this year. Also it highlights restrooms and where the vendors are located for those who want to eat something other than Chili or may want a Hot Dog to go with the chili.

 

Chili, Chili, Chili

Expect to taste between 70+ different types of Chili. All for the low price of $10, too! Here's how it works . . .Go up to any booth and pick up a sample cup of chili (3-4 spoonfuls). Give it a taste. If you like it, great. If you don't like it, no need to freak out, just toss your finished chili cups into the dozens of trash cans placed along Gay Street and move on to the next booth.

 

How Do I Know If It's Spicy or Not?

Posted at every Chili team's both will be a sign that identifies whether the chili from that booth is Mild, Medium, Hot or Vegetarian. If you are unsure, just ask the team, they will be happy to share more details about their chili fixins.

 

YES, Virginia There Will be Vegetarian Chili!

This is a popular request, and many of the teams make vegetarian chili and some make two batches, one with and without meat. Be sure to check your event program for where the Vegetarian Chili booths are located. At each booth the team sign will also tell you.

 

VOTE!

As you walk each block & try chili, vote along the way . Three wooden voting nickles, three blocks of teams - you get the idea. Vote early and often. They'll love you for giving them your precious vote. Orange Pumpkin buckets are at each booth to collect your nickels.

 

Voting Ends at 3PM

All pumpkin buckets will be picked up and the nickels counted at 3pm.
NOTE TO TEAM: Once that envelope is sealed it will NOT be opened to take any last minute nickels that were given to you after 3pm.

 

Restrooms

Check in your event program for exact locations. Once we have finalized the street logistics, we will post the locations here.Cookoff.

 

Bring Your Own Beano!

There is a drug store on the corner of Gay and High that can help you be fully prepared for Turbo Chili Eating!

 

Trash

Trash receptacles are located every where throughout the streets of the Cookoff. They are also emptied on an hourly basis. Please help our West Chester streets remain clean by not dropping your spoons, napkins or chili cups on the ground during the Cookoff. It will also make the street merchants happy and help in the long clean up efforts.

 

Recycle

The West Chester Rotary Club will have recycling cans on each corner to collect your plastic bottles during the Cookoff. Please use them often.

Just For Kids:

Kids 10 and under EAT free with a paid adult. Take your lil' buckaroos to the YMCA Kiddie Korral for face painting, Moon Bounce fun, Arts & Crafts, and great games. They will be located on Church St.

 

Football Fans: Never Fear, the Game is Here!

Football lovers can watch the game at the Comcast Spotlight Sports Booth. Several wide screen flat screens are going to cover all the exciting Green & White grid iron action. What could be better than chili and football on a crisp fall afternoon!

 

So You Think You Make The Best Darn Chili?

If you apply online by Sept. 25 at 5 PM we can still get you in the 2009 Chili Cookoff.. Click HERE to sign up

 

Cash Prizes:

Win cash prizes in five competitive divisions:

Restaurant, Business, Non-Profit, Hometown Cook, or Volunteer Organization. Each team will prepare their best darn chili and submit a sample to our panel of local "celebrity judges" who will name the Best Chili in each category. Winner of the 2009 People's Choice Award will receive a grand prize of $300. Each first place divisional Chili winner will receive a $250 prize.

 

Where do the Cookoff proceeds raised go?

Fundraiser proceeds benefit the Good Works of the West Chester Rotary and many local charities. The Chili Cookoff is the largest and most profitable fundraiser for the West Chester Rotary Club. Proceeds go directly to programs that the Rotary Club of West Chester supports, such as, but not limited to: the Rotary Readers Program that supports the West Chester Area Elementary School Reading Programs, Operation Warmth (coats for needy area kids), Habitat for Humanity of West Chester, the Youth Exchange Program, The Rotary Foundation's Worldwide Polio Eradication Program, and more. Whether locally or internationally, the Rotary Club of West Chester stands on its proud record of "Service above Self." Sharing our time and talents with those in need is what makes us proud Rotarians. Interested in becoming a Rotarian? Click Here.

 

No No's:

No Alcohol and No Pets. The West Chester Police will strictly enforce this policy. Wristbands will not be sold to folks who bring a pet to the cookoff.

 

Parking is FREE.

Several parking garages are a very short walk to the West Chester Rotary Chili Cookoff on Gay Street. Remember the Moestellar Garage (corner of Chestnut and Walnut) is being torn down, so your best bet is to go to the one on High Street, right past Market St. Or the Justice Center Garage on Market Street, near Darlington. Street parking is free and also available on Sunday.

 

Volunteer at the Chili Cookoff.

There is a tab on the Homepage that says "Be A Volunteer," send us your info and we'll let you know closer to the event whether we will be needing your help. We really appreciate the many volunteers (over 180) that make this event the huge success it has become. Thank YOU.

 

There's plenty of time to still join as a Vendor. . .

join all the Chili Cookoff fun and have a presence at the fastest growing festival in Chester County. If you're a vendor call Dan Cosgrove at 610-429-1808 or e-mail vendors@westchesterchilicookoff.com. If you're not sure, come to the event this year and check it out.

 

Taking Pictures

If you take pictures that day and want to share them with us, send them to Jeannie McGinn at 460 W. Gay Street, Suite 200 WC 19380, or email them to jeannie@westchesterchilicookoff.com. Make sure they are digital high res/300dpi pics, and send along any identification of pics if you are so inclined. We reserve the right to use and post any and all pictures received.

 

MOST IMPORTANTLY - HAVE FUN!

And share with us your feedback info@westchesterchilicookoff.com

Share The News

Send the chili cookoff link www.westchesterchilicookoff.com to everyone on your email list and let's make this the biggest and best chili cookoff yet. Thank you for helping us spread the good news about this fabulous event & fundraiser.