The Great Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-off

The 15th Annual Great Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-off will feature chili prepared by approximately 30 restaurants as they compete for the titles of Best Meat/Overall Chili, Best Vegetarian, and People's Choice Chili. In addition to Chili, there are other Chili related food items. The Chili Cook-off will feature a farmers market with vendors and local wineries, breweries, and farmer's sampling their goods. All activities will take place on the Commons and surrounding streets.
There will be other events occurring throughout the day of the cook-off including:

• Chili Olympics (11:30-3:30pm at the Bernie Milton Pavilion)
• 2:00 Sign Up - 2:30 start for Hot Pepper Showdown (Cayuga Street Pavilion)
• Chili 'Stache Competition (3pm at Bernie Milton Pavilion) 
• Chili Idol Karaoke ( All day) Amphitheater
• DJ

FOR TICKETS:
Pre-Sale VIP Packages- Available February 9th
-10 VIP tickets for $20 or 22 VIP tickets for $40 & Sassy Chili Necklace (while supplies last)
Sale Locations: Autumn Leaves Used Book Store, Collegetown Bagels (Collegetown and Downtown), the DIA office located in Center Ithaca at 171 E. State St.
***** The additional cost associated with the VIP ticket allows the patron access to a separate fast moving VIP line. In order to avoid waiting in long lines to purchase tickets, the DIA encourages attendees to purchase their tickets in advance. (VIP and Non-VIP tickets)*****
******Will-call is only available before Friday and will be picked up at the Aurora Street Ticket Booth

Pre-Sale - Non-VIP tickets - Available February 9th
$5 for 5 or $10 for 11 for sampling chili, wine, beer or cider.Day of Tickets

Both VIP and Non-VIP Tickets will be sold at the entrances to the commons on Chili Cook-off
A limited number of VIP packages will be sold on February 16th
Locations: (Aurora, Cayuga, and Bank Alley)

For more ticket information call the DIA office at 607-277-8679

For the 15th Anniversary the Chili Cook-offs theme is "Giving Back"
Although the cook-off and local restaurants have supported many non-profit organizations throughout the years, the Downtown Alliance has set a goal of $5,000 to raise for hunger programs which will be matched 100%.
The United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) received a Challenge Grant from an anonymous donor. It is a $1 for $1 match up to $20,000 for funding Hunger & Food Security Programs in our community.
Over the years, UWTC funding has provided warm dinners for children and families, fresh fruits, vegetables, and entrées for lunch, backpacks filled with child-friendly nutritious food for consumption on weekends and holidays, infant formula and baby food to ensure food security, support for community gardening programs, and a new commercial refrigerator to increase a local pantry's ability to provide meat, dairy products, and other perishable food items for the consumers.

In addition, the annual Cornbread for Kids fundraiser will take place, with patrons being able to purchase cornbread to go with their chili with proceeds benefiting the Healthy Food for All program.

Attendees may also compete in the new "Chilympics", an obstacle course that includes activities such as the Chili on the Spoon Race and the Hot Tire Challenge. This new event will award prizes for the fastest such as Downtown Ithaca gift cards and VIP upgrades.

This year's cook-off will feature the Chili Idol singing competition, wine and beer tastings, a farmers market and a hot pepper show down. The mustache competition returns for its 4th year. Grow it, craft it or stick it on and be spotted at 3:00 pm in front of the Bernie Milton Pavilion during Chili Cook-off for your chance to win VIP chili tasting tickets and other prizes.

The official after party of the Chili Cook-off is the ComedyFLOPs ComedyFEST, Ithaca's first comedy festival, once again brings big comedy to downtown for the second time with more than 50 stand-up comedy performers at multiple venues in downtown Ithaca. Make if a full weekend of exciting entertainment with Galumpha Sunday the 17th at the State Theatre.

The Chili Cook-off will be the last major event on the Ithaca Commons before renovations are set to begin in April 2013.

The event is sponsored by the Tompkins Trust Company , Cayuga Radio Group, MAINES Paper and Food Service and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. For more information and event details, please like us on Facebook, visit downtownithaca.com or call the DIA office at 607-277-8679.

2013 CHILI COMPETITORS:

AGAVA
Aladdins Natural Eatery
AIDS Ride For Life
Bandwagon Brewpub
Cayuga Medical Center
Center Cafe
Cornbread 4 Kids
Crooked Carrot
Collegetown Bagels/ Ithaca Bakery
Green Star - Oasis
Ithaca Ale House
Just A Taste
Kilpatricks
La Tourelle
Lincoln Street Diner
Longview
Mahogany Grill
Mate Factor
Max's American Grill
MIA Restaurant
Moosewood Restaurant
Sahara Mediterranean Restaurant
Shortstop Deli
Simeon's On the Commons
Stella's
Taste of Thai Express
Taverna Banfi
Tellez's Mexican Grill & Catering
Viva Taqueria & Cantina

Local Beverages & Farmer's Market Products:
Cortland Beer company
CTB Selling Tickets
Ithaca Beer Company
Life's So Sweet
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
Six Mile Creek Winery
Three Brothers Winery

Non-Profit Tables
Girl Scout Troop 40483
Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways
Ithaca Avengers Rugby
Ithaca College Theatre
Lansing Ithaca Rotary
Tompkins County Quilter Guild
United Way
VIC
WICB
Women's Opportunity Center
Wood's Earth Living Classroom
WVBR