Iowa’s Best Damn Chili Cook-Off
Schedule
Sun, 22 Feb, 2026 at 10:00 am
UTC-06:00Location
3530 Westown Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA | West Des Moines, IA
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🔥 IOWA’S BEST DAMN CHILI COOK-OFF 🔥Hosted at Westown Tap — Party Room
📅 Sunday, February 22, 2026
Think YOU make the best chili around? Time to prove it 😎
We’re doing a FULLY BLIND judged chili cook-off with a 💵 $1,000 GRAND PRIZE 💵 for Best Overall — plus a People’s Choice winner!
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS 👇
• Chili Turn-In: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Judging: 12:15 – 1:00 PM
• Public Tasting: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
• Winners Announced: By 3:30 PM
ENTRY FEE
✔ $25 if you sign up before Feb 1
✔ $35 after Feb 1
(Pre-registration highly encouraged — limited spots!)
💯 TRUE BLIND TASTE TESTING 💯
When you arrive, turn your chili in AT THE BAR:
• If it’s already in a half-pan, we’ll label it and take it back
• If not, the bartender will transfer it into an identical half-pan
All pans go into the party room in RANDOM spots — nobody knows whose is whose (unless you REALLY know your own chili 😆)
So what actually counts as CHILI? 👇
Chili must have a chili-style seasoning/flavor profile and a sauce base (like tomato or broth).
Beans or no beans. Meat or vegetarian. Red or white. Smoked, beer chili, creative twists — all welcome… as long as it clearly EATS like chili.
Not chili = soup, gumbo, chowder, jambalaya, pasta dishes, salsa, etc.
🍲 Please bring at least 1 gallon so everyone can sample
🏆 Grand Prize (Judges): $1,000
⭐ People’s Choice: Prize TBA
🥄 PUBLIC TASTING TOPPINGS BAR 🥄
We’ll have:
• Cinnamon rolls
• Shredded cheese
• Diced onions
• Jalapeños
• Sour cream
• Crackers
• Oyster crackers
• Fritos
• Tortilla chips
Think you’ve got what it takes?
Message us or stop in to register.
SPACE IS LIMITED — GET IN NOW! 🔥
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Where is it happening?
3530 Westown Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
