Eat or Compete in the Lyons Garden Club Chili Cook-Off
Put your chili-cooking skills to the test in the Lyons Garden Club Chili Cook-Off, or simply come grab a a bowl (or a taste!) of chili before or after the Lyons Spooktacular Parade and downtown Halloween activities! Past years have seen 30+ local chilis entered for the cook-off and available for purchase.
The 2023 Chili Cook-Off will take place on Saturday, October 28 at MainStage Brewing, right at the end of the parade route with access to local libations alongside your home-cooked chili, with chili drop-off between 3:30-4:30, and judging/tasting starting at 4:30 (and lasting until 7:00).
Photo: G. Bhan Photography
Lyons Spooktactular
Join the Chili Cook-Off on Main Street
3:30p - 4:30p: Chili drop-off @ MainStage Brewing
4:00p - 5:00p: Games @ Lyons Elementary
4:30p - 5:00p: Chili Cook-Off judging @ MainStage
4:30p - 7:00p: Chili samples & bowls for purchase
6:00p - 6:30p: Parade down Main Street
6:30p - 7:00p: Trick or Treat on Main Street
Compete in the Cook-Off
Anyone can join the Chili Cook-Off! No prior registration required. Simply bring a crockpot of chili and our judges will carefully select winners in three categories: red, green, and vegetarian.
1 / Make Your Best
Make your best pot of chili.
2 / Drop Off Chili
Bring your crockpot and a serving ladle to MainStage brewing between 3:30 and 4:30 pm on October 28th (be sure your crockpot and ladle are labeled with your name and phone number).
3 / Create a card
Bring a ~6x4 ingredients card to display with your chili that includes your category (red, green, or vegetarian), a list of your ingredients (including the type of meat), a note on how hot (spicy) your chili is, and if your chili is gluten free or vegan.
4 / Time to Judge
Judging will begin at 4:30! Chili Cook-Off winners from each category will receive both bragging rights as well as a $50 gift card to a local Lyons establishment.
5 / chili for all
The remainder of your chili will be sold by the taste or by the bowl, with all proceeds going to the Lyons Garden Club. Buy samples from your competitors and judge for yourself!
6 / pick up your pot
Pick up your crockpot and ladle between 7:00 and 7:30pm.
Chow Down on Chili
Anyone partaking in the downtown Lyons festivities can purchase chili during the Chili Cook-Off!
Simply stop into the MainStage Brewing beer garden beginning at 4:30 pm. You'll be able to taste all of the recipes entered into the Chili Cook-Off. Tastes are available for $1 each ($5 for 5 tastes), or you'll be able to purchase a bowl for $5. Past participants often purchase several tastes and then settle in on a bowl of their favorite.
All chilis will be labeled with their ingredients, vegetarian/vegan status, whether or not they are gluten free, and other details.
Proceeds from the Chili Cook-Off to to the Lyons Club as we continue to beautify Lyons, Colorado one flower at at time.
