Chili Cook-Off

The Basics:

• Saturday, September 19, 2026
• 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Dunphy Park
• Live music by Back Porchestra
• Unlimited Tasting wristbands $25 pre-sale, $30 week of event.        
  • Wristbands can be picked up day-of at our wristband booth at 11:30am. 
  • Wristbands will be for sale at the event.
  • PURCHASE YOUR WRISTBANDS HERE (Tickets go on sale July 7)
•  Hot Pepper Eating Contest 
  • Starts at 1pm
  • Contestants will eat peppers of gradually increasing spiciness, according to the Scoville Scale. Those who successfully swallow the entire pepper move on to the next round, those who fail are eliminated. The final contestants will compete to eat the spiciest pepper in the shortest time. 
  • Register here to participate. 
  • Maximum of 10 participants. 
  • Winner will earn a prize!
• Lions Club will be selling beer, wine, and margaritas
• Parks and Recreation will be selling drinks and sodas
• Other food will not be sold on site this year.
• Water bottle filling station will be available
• Tasting starts at 12:00 p.m. sharp (you can buy or pick up your wristband starting at 11:30am)

• Please leave your dog at home. This event is crowded and dogs and leashes create tripping hazards. Pets are not allowed near food booths and must be leashed at all times. 

• Theme: Team spirit

Registration to compete as a chef is completely free, and you'll have the chance to battle it out in three exciting contest categories: Judge's Choice, People's Choice, and Best Booth. All cooking must be done on-site, and chefs should be ready to whip up at least 20 gallons of chili. Don't worry, advanced cooking skills are not required, just bring your passion for chili! Register to be a CHEF! 

Thank you to our 2026 Sausalito Chili Cook-off Chef Teams: 

Adrian Brinton for City Council

Barrel House Tavern

Chili Kai

Chili Slingers

Chili Without Borders

Chili Wonka and the Bean Factory

Cyara’s Chili

Joan Cox for Sausalito City Council 2026

La Forja de Fuego

MT

Sausalito Cruising Club Unsinkable Chili

Sausalito Sustainable Waterfront Association

Sausalito Working Waterfront Coalition

Shamrockin' Chili

Southern Marin Professional Firefighters Association

Judges Choice:

1^st Chili Wonka and the Bean Factory

2^nd Shamrockin' Chili

3^rd Chili Slingers

People’s Choice:

1^st Unsinkable Chili by the Sausalito Cruising Club 

2^nd Chili Kai

3^rd Shamrockin' Chili

Best Booth: Unsinkable Chili by the Sausalito Cruising Club

Hot Pepper Eating Contest Winner: Jesse from Berkeley