Chili Fest Weekend 2026
Chili Cook-Off • Saturday, January 10 • 3 - 5 PM
Battle it out among over a dozen fellow amateur chefs at Findlay Market’s annual Chili Cook Off! Bring your best chili and a panel of judges will decide who will walk away as a champion from this year’s event. All are welcome to sample each contestant’s chili and vote for their favorite recipe to crown the “Fan Favorite” in addition to the top three prizes! This event is free to attend, and $10 to enter your chili into the competition.
Prizes:
1st Place: $100 Findlay Market Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $50 Findlay Market Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $25 Findlay Market Gift Certificate
Chili Fest • Sunday, January 11 • 10 AM - 4 PM
Come one, come all to Findlay Market’s hottest tasting event of the year! Chili Fest is our annual tasting event centered around all things spicy. Participating businesses whip up their best chili, cornbread, and other spicy dishes so you can sample them one by one.
Tasting event tickets are sold in bundles. One ticket = one sample. Tickets are 8 for $20 or 18 for $40. Purchase yours today!
Participating Businesses:
The Arepa Place - Colombian Vegetarian Chili with a Toast Arepa
Artichoke - White Turkey Chili
Babushka Pierogi - Cincinnati Lenti Chili Pierogi
Barlion’s Seafood & Poultry - Smoked Turkey Chili
Churchill’s Fine Teas - Some Like It Hot Black Tea
Dean’s Mediterranean Imports - Chickpea Chili
Gramma Debbies Kitchen - Chili (Beef, Chicken, or Vegan)
The Food Life - Bolognese with Garlic Focaccia
Fizzy Flamingo - “Chili” Inspired Dirty Soda
Harmony Plant Fare - Cincinnati Style Grilled Cheese or The Best Damn Bean Chili
Makers Bakers Co. - Cheddar Jalapeno BLT or Loaded Chili
Maverick Chocolate - Fahrenheit 513 Hot Chocolate
Neil Luken Meats - Damn Good Chili
Pet Wants - Beef Stew for Dogs
The Rhined - Rhined Chili Mac
Ruby’s Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Chili Bark
Tablespoon Cooking Co. - Sweet Heat Cookies and Hold Gold Snack Mix
Taste of Belgium - Belgian Chili
Wendigo Tea - Cincinnati Chili Spiced Chai
Programming:
Hot Pepper Hideout Scavenger Hunt: 10 AM - 4 PM
Find one of the hidden hot peppers for a chance to win an extra sample ticket!
Red Hot Rumble: 1 PM
Our Red Hot Rumble Hot Sauce Competition is back at Jane's! It’s a battle between Merchants, and the best hot sauce chef wins a homemade trophy and bragging rights until 2027. The sauces will be judged by a mix of Findlay Market Merchants and Local Heroes on the following three categories – taste, heat level, and uniqueness.
Refund Policy
Please note that payments are non-refundable and will be gratefully accepted as a donation to the Corporation for Findlay Market, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution directly supports vital food access and food entrepreneurship initiatives in our community.