TVC's 2026 Chili Cookoff: Chef Competition Entry

Think your chili has what it takes to bring home the heat?

Tutti Voce Collective (TVC) is calling all home cooks, chili enthusiasts, and secret-recipe masters to compete in our 2026 Chili Cookoff!

Whether your chili is smoky, spicy, sweet, savory, or packed with a secret ingredient that keeps everyone coming back for more, we want to taste what you've got!

We're bringing together up to 30 homemade chili entries for an afternoon of friendly competition, community fun, and cash prizes. The best part? The people tasting your chili will decide who wins!

Event Details

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
Public Event Hours: 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Chef Check-In: 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM
Location: St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church
312 E 11th St, Lockport, IL 60441

Enter the Competition!

Think you've got an award-winning chili recipe? Put it to the test!

We're accepting up to 30 chili entries, with registration available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Competition Entry Fees:

• First Chili Entry: $20

• Second Chili Entry: $10

• Maximum: Two different chili recipes per chef

Each entry must be registered separately. The discounted second entry is available only to chefs who have registered a first entry.

All chili must be homemade. Store-bought or restaurant-prepared chili is not permitted.

Cash Prizes Are on the Line!

70% of all competition entry fees go directly into the winners' prize pool!

The winners' pool will be distributed as follows:

• 1st Place: 60% of the winners' pool

• 2nd Place: 25% of the winners' pool

• 3rd Place: 15% of the winners' pool

The remaining 30% of competition entry fees will support Tutti Voce Collective and its mission of bringing choral music to our community.

Prize amounts depend on the total entry fees collected. In the event of a tie, the affected prize allocations will be combined and divided equally among the tied contestants.

Each chef may receive only one cash prize, even when entering two different recipes.

Let Your Chili Do the Talking!

This is a people's choice competition, and we're keeping things anonymous to make sure every chili gets a fair shot!

Each chili entry will receive a randomly assigned number at check-in. Entries will be displayed using that number and a dietary classification:

• V: Vegan

• N: Non-vegan

Your name will not appear alongside your chili, and chefs may not reveal which numbered entry belongs to them.

Attendees will sample the competing recipes and cast their votes for their favorites. Each paid $10 tasting ticket includes one voting voucher.

Chefs, family members, and friends are welcome to purchase tasting tickets and vote, including for their own chili, provided everyone follows the official competition rules.

The chili with the most votes wins!

What Do You Need to Bring?

Every participating chef must:

• Prepare their chili at home using their own recipe.

• Bring their chili fully cooked in a clean, working electric Crock-Pot or slow cooker with a lid.

• Ensure their chili arrives at a temperature of at least 135°F and remains at or above that temperature throughout the event.

• Arrive for contestant check-in between 12:00 PM and 12:45 PM.

• Submit all chili entries no later than 12:45 PM.

• Follow the competition's anonymity, conduct, and food safety rules.

• Remove their slow cooker and personal belongings by 4:00 PM.

To help ensure everyone has an opportunity to taste the competing recipes, tasters will be limited to one ladle of chili per entry per serving.

If your chili runs out before voting closes, your entry will remain eligible for all votes already received.

Important Competition Rules

To keep the competition fair, chefs may not remain near their entries during public tasting, identify their numbered entries, or encourage attendees to vote for a specific entry.

Chefs are welcome to socialize, enjoy the event, and sample the competition!

Voting closes at 3:00 PM, with winners announced at approximately 3:15 PM.

All contestants must review and sign the official competition rules and contestant agreement before participating.

Violations of the competition rules may result in disqualification and forfeiture of prize eligibility.

More Than Chili!

While your chili competes for the top prize, enjoy everything else our event has to offer!

Silent Auction: Browse and bid on gift baskets supporting Tutti Voce Collective.

Event & TVC Merchandise: Pick up exclusive Chili Cookoff merchandise and official TVC items.

Concert Tickets: Purchase tickets to upcoming Tutti Voce Collective performances.

All-You-Can-Eat Chili Tasting: Chefs can purchase a $10 tasting ticket to sample the competition and cast their own vote.

Great Chili for a Great Cause!

The TVC Chili Cookoff is about more than bragging rights and cash prizes. It's an opportunity to bring our community together, share great food, and support the music that connects us.

Whether you've been perfecting your recipe for years or think your homemade chili deserves its first shot at a trophy, we'd love to have you compete!

Only 30 chili entry slots are available, so register early, fire up that slow cooker, and show us what you've got!