Monona Chili Cook Off

media release: There’s something special about chili that inspires top secret ingredients, wild experimentation, and family traditions passed down many generations.  That slow cooked, spice infused, hearty goodness warms your body and soul – it’s truly the ultimate comfort food.

Head to Ahuska Park on Saturday, September 27, for Monona’s 42nd Chili Cook-Off – the longest running in Wisconsin – to see why Destination Madison includes us in “FALL FLAVORS THAT DEMAND A TRIP TO MADISON“.

Get your wristband for unlimited chili sampling. Choose your samples wisely – we’ll have up to 40 cook teams (that’s 40 – 1 oz samples of chili!) you’ll have available to choose from.  Expect flavors all over the board.  In previous years we’ve had traditional to extreme heat, green chili to creamy white, smoky to sweet and tropical.

Sign up to compete in the 2025 Monona Chili Cook-Off. Register your team and tell us your chili plan — then submit your payment separately. Team fee: $100. Fees can be split among teammates — or better yet, businesses often sponsor teams in exchange for displaying their banner in your tent!

Schedule:

6:30am – Cooking may begin

7:00am - Staff & volunteers will begin to arrive

8:00am – All teams must be on-site and cooking

11:00am – Judging begins

11:30am – Public sampling begins

2:00pm – Winners announced from band tent