Visit our listing at the International Chili Society website to register online or download the mail/fax form and rules.
Downloads: Contestant Info (PDF) | Contestant Application Form (PDF)
We would like to say thank you for expressing your interest in becoming a part of ChiliFest 2008 the West Virginia State Chili Championship. This year's event promises to be just as successful for both the community and the Ronald McDonald House to which the charitable proceeds are donated. We look forward to your becoming a part of Huntington's biggest downtown festival!
Lodging
Lodging rates have been discounted by many of the hotels / motels to meet the needs of our traveling chili cooks. The Pullman Plaza Hotel (formerly the Radisson) has limited rooms available at a discount price due to heavy booking. They will hold a block of rooms until August 22nd and their telephone number is (304) 525-1001. The Holiday Inn Suites Hotel also has a limited number of rooms available at a reduced rate. Their telephone number is (304) 523-8880.
Please mention ChiliFest when booking your reservation. The Ramada Inn Limited just outside of town along the I-64 interchange at Hal Greer Blvd. has rooms available at a reduced rate of $79.95 / night. Their telephone is (304) 523-4242. The Super 8 Motel just above the Ramada Inn Limited is offering rooms at a reduced rate of $62.95. Their telephone is (304) 525-1410. There are also hotels at the Huntington Mall that include the Hampton Inn (304) 733-5300 and the Best Western (304) 736-9772.
Arrival
All cooks should plan to arrive starting at 8:00 a.m., Saturday, September 20th to set up. You will need to enter the cookoff area at 3rd Ave. by way of 10th Street. Please unload your equipment after registration and move your vehicle outside the cookoff area to one of the parking garages or other lots nearby. Vehicles should be out of the cookoff area no later than 9:30 a.m.Registration
Registration will begin at 8am and end at 9:30am at the registration tent on 3rd Ave. and 10th Street. You will have a preassigned tent and cooking area. Tables are provided in all assigned cooking areas. At the registration area you will receive your official ICS judging cup(s) and hospitality kit. Verification of ICS membership will take place at registration. Please be ready to present your current ICS membership card when registering.
Cooks Meeting
The cook’s meeting will begin at 10:30am at the judging tent located at 3rd Ave. & 8th St. A final roll call will take place and answers to any questions you may have at that time along with final instructions for the Cookoff pertaining to rules and turn-in times. This meeting will end at 11:00am after which you may return to begin cooking Chili Verde and Salsa. Please observe the schedule of events posted for times of events and turn-in for chili and salsa.
Rules
See "Official Contestant Rules and Regulations" found on your official ICS application.
Judging
ICS Chili Verde turn in time is 2:00 pm at the Judging Tent at 8th Str. & 3rd Ave.
ICS Red Chili turn in time is 3:00 pm at the Judging Tent at 8th Str. & 3rd Ave.
Salsa turn in time is 12 noon at the Judging Tent at 8th Str. & 3rd Ave.
Equipment
Stoves will need to be of a "Coleman" type, which means fuel or propane stoves, as electricity is not available. We will have tents and tables available for all registered participants. Registered participants will be considered those applicants that have pre-paid the ICS membership fee and the ChiliFest registration fee.
Cabell County Health Department
The following are the requirements by the Cabell County Health Department for outdoor events. If you have any questions you may contact them at (304) 523-6483 and ask for Environmental Health, or contact us at (304) 529-4857 and ask for Ron Smith or Lisa Daily. The following minimum guidelines are for food safety:
- 1. All raw meat products must be prepared in advance and arrive on site at a temperature below 45 F. This means no slicing, dicing, cutting, chopping, etc.
- 2. Foods must be protected from contamination as much as possible at all times. Pots and pans must have lids. The public must not have access to the product until it is served.
- 3. All service will be with single service bowls and/or plates, and individually wrapped utensils.
- 4. All food products must be from an approved source.
- 5. The food preparation area must be covered with a canopy or top covering.
- 6. All potentially hazardous foods, unless being prepared, must be kept either cold, 45 F or lower, or hot, 140 F or higher.
- 7. Hair must be restrained with a hat, sweatband, or tied back.
- 8. Hand cleansing wipes must be present and used.
- 9. Sanitizing water must be used to wipe all surfaces after preparation.
Entry Fees
ChiliFest 2008 is the International Chili Society sanctioned West Virginia State Championship. All cooks participating must be current ICS members or register to be an ICS member before cooking. You may register for the ICS the morning of the cook off at the registration tent. A one year membership into the ICS is $42.00. The registration fee into ChiliFest is $35.00 for non-commercial cooks, and $100.00 for commercial entries, ie, business's represented at the cook off for a marketing purpose. Entry fees should be made out to ChiliFest 2008 and mailed to: ChiliFest 2008, 1315 4th Avenue, Huntington, WV, 25701. Entry can be made as late as 9:30am, September 20th, but your cook off site is determined by how early we receive your entry. Therefore, if you have special needs for your cook off team, receiving your entry early will assure us we can meet your needs.
Prizes
Prizes will be awarded for all of the following categories of judging.
ICS Red Chili:
- 1st Place: $1500.00, WV Grand Champion Trophy, representation at the 2008 World's Chili Championship Cookoff.
- 2nd Place: $300.00 and a Blenko Glass trophy.
- 3rd Place: $200.00 and a Blenko Glass trophy.
- 4th Place: Blenko Glass trophy.
- 5th Place: Blenko Glass trophy.
Best Booth/Showmanship Award: The Showmanship Award will be given to the booth that best displays the spirit of the event. Each booth will be judged in three categories (Booth, Costume, Spirit) and the points will be tallied for a final score. The decision of the judges is final.
- 1st Place: $100.00 and a Blenko Glass trophy.
- 2nd Place: Blenko Glass trophy.
- 3rd Place: Blenko Glass trophy.
"Hardest Working Chili Team" Award: Based on a number of chili sample tickets collected there will be a $150.00 cash prize and a Blenko glass trophy awarded. Please turn in your chili sample tickets no later than 4:00pm for tallying. Tickets should be turned in to the appropriate representative at the Ronald McDonald Tent located at 9th Street & 3rd Ave. Cooks combining tickets are reminded that this would violate the spirit of the award which is to aid the fund raising efforts for the River Cities Ronald McDonald House by providing the most chili samples to the public.
Best Salsa Contest: There is no doubt that this contest has become one of the fastest growing and a favorite of ChiliFest! In a few short years it seems that everybody has a new take on salsa! There is a $10 entry fee. You must be an ICS member and you must provide one quart of salsa for judging purposes. Judging will be conducted under the normal ICS guidelines. Prize information is as follows:
- 1st Place: $100.00 and a Blenko Glass trophy.
- 2nd Place: Blenko Glass trophy.
- 3rd Place: Blenko Glass trophy.
Chili Verde Contest: Chili Verde, as defined by the ICS, is the same as regular chili only "predominantly green." As with regular chili there will be no beans or pasta and will be judged the same as regular chili using ICS guidelines. The entry fee for Chili Verde is the same as regular chili; you must be an ICS member and registered in ChiliFest.
- 1st Place: $300.00 and a Blenko Glass trophy.
- 2nd Place: Blenko Glass trophy.
- 3rd Place: Blenko Glass trophy.