Belleville Chili Cook-off
Jessica
Belleville (yes, as in Illinois) hosts the best chili cook-off in the Midwest! Every year thousands of people drive over the river to taste chili from over 70 vendors with mass amounts of chili in all varieties. They’ve got regular chili, white chicken chili, napalm chili, chili with no beans, chili cheese dogs, fritos ‘n chili, chili cheese fries…ok, I’m starting to sound like a line from Forest Gump. But seriously, the amount of chili will blow you away!
It’s not just the chili that brings people though. For starters, if you’re not a chili fan, there are plenty of other fair foods available like kettle corn, funnel cakes, ribbon fries and hot dogs with no chili (that’s just some of them). Then you have your beer stands and live music also.
Live Music – Friday, October 7th
Fan Fare – 12pm
Well Hungarians – 6pm-10:30pm
Saturday, October 8th
Junior Idol Finalist Competition – 1pm
USAF Band of Mid America Starlifter – 3pm
Queens Boulevard – 6pm-10:30pm
80s cover band, Queens Boulevard, who you may have seen at Ballpark Village, Syberg’s, Helen Fitzgerald’s or other St. Louis music venues, will be shutting down the 33rd annual event on Saturday night and it will be tons of fun!
Need something for the kids? On Saturday, from 11am-4pm, there will be a children’s play area with bounce house, batting cages, face and nail painting, and a wall mural for them to design. Wear them out and then get back to the chili!
The Chili Chase 5K Run/Walk & Kids Pepper Dash will be held at 9am on Saturday. It will start at East Main & Church. The registration fee is $20 for adults, $15 for kids 16 and under. The Pepper Dash registration fee is $5. If you wait until race day, registration is $25.
Belleville Chili Cook-Off
Downtown Belleville, IL – 101 S Illinois St
October 7th & October 8th – 11am-10:30pm
A word from the wise: Don’t wait until Saturday at 8pm to go or there won’t be any chili left for you.
It can be a bit overwhelming if you’re a first timer: Here’s this year’s map to help you guide you.
Brought to you by Mills Apartments
Jessica
Doesn’t know how to cook and survives pretty much on macaroni and cheese and pizza, so naturally, loves to eat out at restaurants. However, one day when she is married and has a family to cook for, she would love to take cooking classes and learn awesome skills like the chefs on Iron Chef America...as long as she doesn't have to clean the dishes afterwards.
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