Chili Cook-off

Smoky Hill Museum

Free Admission
- Tuesdays through Fridays 11 am-5:00 pm
- Saturdays 10:00 am-5:00 pm
- And by Appointment during non-regular hours.
- Closed on Sundays, Mondays and major holidays.

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1997.

211 W Iron Ave

Salina, KS 67401

Phone 785.309.5776

Store 785.309.5775

museum@salina.org

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1997

2025 Chili Cook-Off!

Get Ready to Spice Things Up at the 2025 Boiling Pot Chili Cook-Off!

Calling all chili enthusiasts! It’s time to showcase your culinary skills and unique chili creations at the 2025 Boiling Pot Chili Cook-Off during the Street Fair. We’re providing you with a generous starter kit—15 lbs. of beef, plus onions and tomatoes—to kickstart your masterpiece. The rest is up to you! Add your secret ingredients to craft a chili that will wow the crowd.

Man and Woman in chef hats behind a big pot of chili at the Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair Chili Cookoff

Why Join the Fun?

Be a Community Champion: Promote your organization or business while helping make our city great.
Support the Museum: Proceeds benefit year-round free events, exhibits, and presentations.
Enjoy the Experience: Have a blast creating, competing, and meeting fellow chili lovers.

And, of course, the prizes!

People’s Choice Winner: Voted on by the public, announced at 2 pm. Cash + prizes valued at $150.
Judge’s Choice Winner: Selected by our panel of local judges, announced at 2 pm. Cash + prizes valued at $150.

For more information contact Rosa De la Cruz at 785-833-8021, rosa.delacruz@salina.org

or Joshua Morris at 785-833-8024, josh.morris@salina.org

Here’s How to Enter:

✅ Assemble Your Team: Up to 4 people are allowed per team—only team members allowed in booth.

✅ Complete the Form: Fill out the enclosed form and return it with the entry fee by August 29.

✅ Choose a Theme: Personalize your booth to showcase your organization or let your creativity shine.

✅ Perfect Your Recipe: Prepare your chili for a day of flavor-filled fun!

Winners will be announced on the main stage following public sampling and judging. Don’t miss this opportunity to earn bragging rights and prizes while making a difference in our community.

If you have questions or need assistance, Rosa De la Cruz (785-833-8021, rosa.delacruz@salina.org) and Joshua Morris (785-833-8024, josh.morris@salina.org) are here to help.

Grab your team, turn up the heat, and secure your spot by August 29! We can’t wait to see you at the Boiling Pot Chili Cook-Off!

Rules and Regulations

All entrants must provide their own supplies, cooking source, canopy tent and weights, ingredients and cooking equipment including food thermometer, hand and ware washing and fire extinguisher. Each team will be provided with a set of starting ingredients, one 8’ table, two chairs and tasting cups and spoons.
Each entry can have a MAXIMUM of four people on the team. Each team needs to have a team captain, and up to three assistants.
Load-in is between 7-9 am.
Cooking must not begin before 7:00 am.
Aside from preparing spice mixes and or roasting of peppers, no off-site prep is allowed.
Chili must be cooked on site the day of the cook-off, from scratch. Cooking will take place in the open, no cooking in motor homes or in enclosed tents.
No electricity will be provided. Propane systems or generators are suggested.
Cooks are to prepare and cook chili in as sanitary a manner as possible. Cooking conditions are subject to inspection by the judging committee. Failure to comply is subject to disqualification. Cooks must bring chili to 165⁰ before serving and maintain a safe serving temperature of 140⁰ or above.
If you decide not to decorate your booth, you will need to have at least a poster with the name of your group or organization and the type of chili you are serving. Please list known high-allergen ingredients. No alcohol is permitted on site. *Please label your chili as either HOT, REGULAR, or MILD *This is for the publics' information. Regardless of heat level, all chili will compete for the People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice.
Entrants must prepare a minimum of five (5) gallons of chili for each variety they are entering into the contest. Public sampling begins at 11am.
Teams must not tear down their tent until the conclusion of awards at 2 pm.
Awards will be given to the team receiving the most votes from the public and the most votes from judges.
Teams that cancel 10 days or less before the event are responsible for paying for the starting ingredients. ($60 on top of the non-refundable entry fee that has already been paid.)

ENTRY FORMS DUE BY AUGUST 29.

Team Name

Team Captain

Address

Country

Address Line 1 *

City *

State/Province *

Postal Code *

Email

Phone

ext Extension

Payment field

$30 Application Fee (non-refundable)

Each team will be provided with a set of starting ingredients listed below. You will provide additional ingredients to make your chili unique. A team may wish to pass on the provided ingredients, but the museum will not provide alternate options from those stated below. Following the public sampling and voting period, a winner will be announced on the main stage. Proceeds from the competition will go towards the Smoky Hill Museum to maintain year-round events, exhibits and presentations free to the public.

You are responsible for:

A 10 x 10 pop-up canopy, water, cooking source, hand & ware washing equipment and a fire extinguisher.
We will provide the following: 15 lbs beef, 5 lbs onion, 4 -105 oz cans of tomato sauce or whole or crushed tomato (your choice), tasting cups & spoons, one 8’ table and two chairs. Each team space is 10 x10.
Substitutions will be made depending on product availability.

Tomato Product selection (4 total cans):

Sauce

Crushed and or Diced

Whole Stewed

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Onion

yes
no

15 lbs Ground Beef

yes
no

Your total payment will be

Your credit balance will cover

Your credit card will be charged

Your bank account will be charged

By submitting your application, you agree to all rules and regulations of the Boiling Pot Chili Cook-off. Violations of the rules will result in disqualification. No alcohol is permitted on site.

Our Impact This Year

Volunteer Hours

450
Dollars Raised

11,199
Program Participants

7,086
People Reached

42,276

Allison K.

A great museum for the whole family! We were traveling from the kc area to Colorado and had to stop due to the interstate being closed. We saw the museum was open and were able to spend about 3 hours there walking around the museum. We have three kids, ages 2, 5, 7 who asked if we could go to it again on the way home. Thanks for allowing us to spend a good chunk of our day there! We will be back!