TVC's 2026 Chili Cookoff
Official Chef Competition Rules & Contestant Information
Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
Public Event Hours: 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Contestant Check-In: 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM
Location: St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church
312 E 11th St, Lockport, IL 60441
All participating chefs must review and agree to the following rules before entering the competition.
1. Registration and Entry Fees
The competition is limited to 30 chili entries, accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
The entry fee is $20 for a chef's first chili entry and $10 for a second entry.
Each chef may submit a maximum of two different chili recipes.
Each chef must complete registration, pay the applicable entry fees, and sign the official contestant agreement.
Competition entries must be homemade. Chili purchased from restaurants, grocery stores, or other commercial food establishments is prohibited.
2. Chili Preparation and Submission
All chili must arrive fully cooked in a clean, working electric Crock-Pot or slow cooker.
Each slow cooker must be capable of maintaining chili at a safe serving temperature of at least 135°F throughout the event.
Each chef must provide their own slow cooker and lid.
Contestant check-in begins at 12:00 PM.
All chili entries must be submitted by 12:45 PM.
Entries arriving after the submission deadline may be disqualified.
Each chef is responsible for ensuring their chili is safely prepared, transported, and maintained at the required temperature.
All entries must comply with applicable food safety and health department requirements.
3. Anonymous Entry Identification
To ensure fairness, all chili entries will remain anonymous throughout the competition.
Each entry will receive a randomly assigned number from 1 through 30 at check-in.
Each entry will also receive a dietary classification:
V: Vegan, containing no animal-derived ingredients.
N: Non-vegan, containing one or more animal-derived ingredients.
Each entry will be identified by its number and classification, such as 12-V or 24-N.
Contestant names will not be displayed with entries.
Only authorized event organizers will have access to the list identifying which chef prepared each entry.
4. Contestant Conduct
To preserve the integrity of anonymous voting:
Chefs may not remain near their chili entries during public tasting and voting unless directed by an event organizer.
Chefs may interact and socialize with attendees.
Chefs may not reveal which numbered entry belongs to them.
Chefs may not provide hints, descriptions, or other information intended to identify their chili.
Chefs may not solicit votes for a specific numbered entry.
Chefs may not offer gifts, incentives, or compensation in exchange for votes.
Chefs may not interfere with another contestant's entry or the voting process.
Chefs must follow instructions provided by TVC event organizers and volunteers.
Violations of these rules may result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of prize eligibility.
5. Tasting and Voting
All-you-can-eat chili tasting tickets are $10 per person.
Each paid ticket includes one official voting voucher.
Each voting voucher allows one vote for one chili entry.
Additional voting vouchers cannot be purchased separately.
Chefs may purchase tasting tickets and vote for their own chili, following the same rules as all other attendees.
Family members and friends of contestants may attend, purchase tasting tickets, and vote.
Children under 5 eat free. Complimentary admission does not include a voting voucher.
Unlimited disposable paper bowls and plastic cutlery will be available for attendees.
Attendees may sample as many available chili entries as they wish.
Tasters are limited to one ladle of chili per entry per serving to ensure fairness and allow as many attendees as possible to sample each chili.
All votes must be submitted to the designated voting collection area before the announced voting deadline.
Invalid, duplicated, or altered voting vouchers will not be counted.
Votes will be counted and verified by at least two authorized TVC representatives.
6. Competition Results and Ties
The chili entry receiving the most valid votes will be ranked first, followed by the remaining entries in descending order of votes.
Each chef may receive only one cash prize, regardless of how many entries they submit.
If both entries from one chef would otherwise place, only their highest-ranked entry will be eligible for a prize. The next highest-ranked eligible entry will advance.
If two or more eligible entries tie for a prize placement, the prize allocations for all positions occupied by those tied entries will be combined and divided equally among the tied chefs.
If two chefs tie for first place, the first- and second-place prize allocations will be combined and split equally. The next eligible chef receives third place.
If two chefs tie for second place, the second- and third-place prize allocations will be combined and split equally.
If multiple chefs tie for third place, the third-place prize allocation will be divided equally among them.
If three chefs tie for first place, the first-, second-, and third-place allocations will be combined and split equally.
Any rounding adjustments will be made to ensure the total amount distributed equals the winners' prize pool.
7. Prize Pool Distribution
All paid competition entry fees will be combined into one entry-fee pool.
70% of the total entry fees will be allocated to the winners' prize pool.
The remaining 30% will be retained by Tutti Voce Collective to support its mission and activities.
The winners' pool will be distributed as follows:
First Place: 60%
Second Place: 25%
Third Place: 15%
Prize amounts will depend on the total entry fees collected.
Revenue from tasting tickets, silent auction purchases, merchandise, concert ticket sales, and donations will not be included in the competition prize pool.
8. Chili Availability and Allergens
Contestants should provide sufficient chili for attendees to sample throughout the event.
If a chili entry runs out before voting closes, it will remain eligible for all valid votes received.
Entries will not be disqualified solely for running out of chili.
A general allergen advisory will be prominently displayed, notifying attendees that chili may contain common allergens, including milk, wheat, soy, nuts, and other ingredients.
Attendees with food allergies or dietary restrictions should exercise caution when sampling.
9. Event Schedule
12:00 PM - Contestant check-in and event setup begin
12:45 PM - Chili submission deadline
1:00 PM - Public admission, chili tasting, voting, and silent auction begin
3:00 PM - Voting and silent auction bidding close. Ballot counting begins
3:15 PM - Chili Cookoff winners announced and silent auction checkout
3:30 PM - Public event concludes. Cleanup begins
4:00 PM - All equipment removed, cleanup completed, and venue vacated
All contestants must remove their slow cookers and personal belongings by 4:00 PM. Contestants and volunteers are responsible for completing cleanup within the designated time.
10. Disqualification and Organizer Authority
Tutti Voce Collective reserves the right to disqualify any contestant who violates the official competition rules, interferes with the voting process, compromises the anonymity of entries, or fails to comply with applicable food safety requirements.
Disqualified contestants forfeit eligibility for prize money.
All decisions regarding rule enforcement, ballot validity, and final competition results will be made by authorized TVC event organizers.
11. Contestant Agreement
By participating in the TVC Chili Cookoff, each contestant acknowledges that they have read, understand, and agree to follow the official competition rules.
Each contestant must sign the official contestant agreement before their chili entry is accepted into the competition.
We look forward to an afternoon of delicious chili, friendly competition, and community support for Tutti Voce Collective!