Each contest entry (whether individual or team) requires a $20 entry fee. All contest entrants will receive a limited edition 2026 Del Ray Chili Cook Off apron upon arrival to / set up at the chili cook off. Your entrant ticket also entitles you to your own chili sampling card, drink tickets, and voting bean. If you’d like to drink beer, please make sure to visit our ID Check at the gym entrance to get your 21+ bracelet.
In purchasing your entrant ticket, you certify that you have received a copy of these official rules (below) and that you agree to and will abide by them. Additionally, you agree that you understand that a violation may disqualify your team from the competition and any awards or prizes.
2026 Del Ray Chili Cook Off Rules
Who can enter the Cookoff?
Anyone who lives or works in Del Ray can enter the Cookoff! Individual entry or team entries are welcome.
What do I need to bring?
Contestants must bring their own ingredients, equipment, utensils, and fuel. Power will be supplied, but extension cords and power strips are the responsibility of the contestants. Contestants are encouraged to bring propane or electric cook tops, if needed.
Please feel free to decorate your table any way that you’d like! You can bring signs with your team name and / or chili name, big flashy decorations, tablecloths, balloons, whatever you’d like. Please bring your own extension cords or powerstrips if you think you’ll need them.
We’ll provide every entry table with disposable sample cups, tasting spoons, napkins, and a jar where attendees can place their vote if they choose you as their People’s Choice winner.
Chili information
Chili recipes can be made with or without meat, with or without beans. Meat may be beef, pork, lamb, chicken or turkey – but please, no wild meats. “Vegetarian” entries = No meat.
Each contestant must cook a minimum of four quarts of competition chili, but we recommend bringing way more than that: the more chili you cook, the more people can taste it – increasing your odds of winning the People’s Choice Award. Chili should be prepared prior to the event, in order for the it to be judged. All chili must be cooked to completion prior to the event; chili should be brought “ready to eat.” Entrants are encouraged to bring their own condiments. All contestants are responsible for the maintenance of chili’s proper temperature for serving.
Please have a list of the all ingredients used for allergy purposes on hand. If peanuts or peanut oil is used, please display a warning sign. You may not use canned or store-bought chili / mixes, but pre-cooked beans are okay to use.
Where and when do I set up?
The Commonwealth Academy gymnasium will have tables set up and available for you to use. The size of each table is 6’ wide x 3’ deep. Table location will be on a first-come basis. The event starts at 5pm; at 4pm, you can arrive and start setting up. You may decorate your booth any way that you would like!
How will the chili be judged?
There will be a panel of judges; they will be looking for taste, aroma, texture, aftertaste, and heat of chili. Heat of chili will not necessarily determine the winner, so feel free to make your chili as mild or hot as you’d like.
There will be three prize categories awarded: 1st place Meat; 1st Place Vegetarian; and 1st place People’s Choice. The People’s Choice Award will be decided by attendees of the event, not the judges. Each winning entry will be awarded a very large trophy.
For People’s Choice Award: Your table will have a little jar on it for folks to place their “voting bean.” When attendees enter the gym, they’ll be given 2 drink tickets, their sample card, and a “voting bean” ( = a single dry pinto bean). Attendees vote for People’s Choice by putting their voting bean in the jar of their favorite chili entry. We’ll count beans to tabulate the People’s Choice winner. Winners will be announced at 7:30pm.