Raymore Chili Cook-Off

ARRIVAL: Competitors can start arriving at 8 a.m. Put 204 S. Adams St, Raymore, MO, into your GPS and we’ll start filling in 12x12 spaces along that street as you arrive. It will be extra helpful to coordinate arriving around the same time as the folks you want to be placed next to if you have placement preferences. Please note this is a different street than last year, but we’ve been blocking it off regularly for our farmers market so it’s much easier to deal with. Some of the area is going to be in full sun and some will be in the shade, so you may want to bring a pop-up tent or something similar for shade. We will provide coffee, water and some simple snacks in the morning. You are welcome to bring whatever you want to drink in your coolers. The Dizzy Blender will be serving soda and adult drinks and JSqueezy Lemonade will also be on site selling fresh lemonade once we open to the public.

You will need to provide your own table. We have folding chairs available in the storage building at the park, so you’re welcome to take a couple of those to use if you would like. Electricity is not available. Most competitors will use a portable propane cook stove for heating/cooking or, if local, will set up their booth space in the morning and return with a hot crock pot of chili prior to the event opening to the public at noon. A 12x12 foot space will be provided to each competitor.

CHECK IN AND REGISTRATION: Once you get all set up, you can check in and collect your turn-in containers at the table we’ll have set up nearby. We are supposed to be able to accept card payments on Saturday! It will be a brand new machine, so hopefully that goes smoothly. Checks and cash are still accepted for your entry fees as well. We've got stickers and koozies for everyone and t-shirts for those of you who registered early.
If you want to enter any category at the last minute, just let us know that morning!

SUPPLIES: The Raymore Arts Commission will provide sample tasting cups to all competitors before the event opens to the public at noon. Our attendees are paying $5 for a tasting spoon and will be sampling and voting on the homestyle chili with tickets they will receive when they buy a spoon. We’ll provide tip buckets and will tally up the votes around 2 p.m. $1 also equals 1 vote, so we’ll count it all up!

FOOD RULES: As a reminder, the only competition food that must be cooked from scratch on site is CASI Chili. (CASI Chili is beans and spices, no add-ins. Learn more and find CASI recipes at www.casichili.net) The other items can be premade but please ensure they’re kept at a safe temperature for serving. 

We ask that you have about two gallons of chili available for samples. If you’re entering other categories, you do not have to give out samples of those items (salsa, wings, beans) but you are welcome to if you want.

TURN-IN TIMES: Turn in your container for the appropriate category at the table near the playground sidewalk and one of our volunteers will bring everything to the judging area under the shelter pavilion. We will have large signs with the turn in times listed and will also make announcements leading up to each deadline.

Salsa - 11 a.m.

CASI Chili- Noon

Cookies - 12:30 p.m. (10 cookies will be enough for judging)

Jackpot Beans - 1 p.m.

Wings - 2 p.m. (10 wings will work for judging)

Homestyle Chili - There is no turn in time for homestyle chili since the top three winners will be determined by the most tickets/cash in the buckets.

SHOW: If you want to get into the spirit and decorate your area in a specific theme or any family-friendly way at all, please do! A secret judge will check out everyone’s booth between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. and we’ll give out awards to the top three for best in show.

ENTERTAINMENT: Enjoy face painting and airbrush tattoos for free from noon to 2 p.m. and live music from noon until the awards are presented. Share the event information with your friends and family and help get yourself votes in the process! 

AWARDS: We anticipate wrapping up scoring somewhere around 2:30-2:45 and will get the awards ceremony started around that time. Awards go to the top 10 in CASI, top three in Homestyle, Salsa, Wings and Youth Cookies. Jackpot Beans top three winners will split the entry fees 50%/30%/20%. 

This fundraiser benefits the Raymore Community Foundation to support the arts in Raymore. The Arts Commission hosts several community arts events throughout the year including a free concert series, an art competition and a free children’s hands-on art festival. We also bring public art to Raymore with both permanent installations and a rotating public art program in the city’s park system. We accomplish a lot on a modest budget, and this event will help us enhance our public art program. We’re so grateful for your support!

Chili Appreciation Society International is also a non-profit organization and we are thankful for the partnership with Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI)! She’ll have a 50/50 raffle if you want to bring any extra cash for a chance to win. Half will go to a lucky winner and half will cover costs associated with CASI’s expenses for what they provide for us at this event.

If you're on Facebook, follow The Raymore Arts Commission @RaymoreArts to share our event info with your friends.