WELCOME TO THE LARGEST ONE-DAY CHILI COOK-OFF IN THE WORLD!

The Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off brings together talented cooks from across the region for a day of friendly rivalry, community spirit, and incredible flavor. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or trying your first cook-off, this is your chance to showcase your best recipe, win prizes, and help raise funds for local charities. Applications are reviewed by the Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off Committee, and confirmation will be sent by email. For questions or to sign up, contact Erika Jennings at ejennings@tustinca.org.

2026 CHILI AND SALSA COMPETITION FORM

Join us as a Chili or Salsa Team for this year’s Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, June 1 from 11:00am-6:00pm in Old Town Tustin!

• Chili Teams: FREE to enter

• Salsa Teams: $15 entry fee
  Applications are due Monday, June 1 and can be submitted via email to ejennings@tustinca.org or mailed to:
  Tustin City Hall – Attn: Erika Jennings
  300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA 92780

• Chili and Salsa Competition Form (pdf)

CHILI FOR A CAUSE

Every 3 oz. chili taste served at the Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off is donated by participating teams. Each team prepares at least 20 gallons of their best recipe, which is sold by the taste on event day. All proceeds from these sales benefit local non-profit organizations. Last year, our teams donated over 450 gallons of chili, raising thousands of dollars for the Tustin community.

When you join, you’re not just competing—you’re making a real difference for local charities.

WHAT TO EXPECT AS A TEAM

Joining the Chili or Salsa Competition is a fun and rewarding way to be part of the Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off—but it’s also a hands-on event that requires planning and teamwork. Here’s what you can expect:

• Prepare Your Chili in a Registered Kitchen – All chili must be cooked in a registered/commercial kitchen to meet Orange County Health Department regulations. To help, the City of Tustin opens the Tustin Area Senior Center kitchen to teams in the days leading up to the event (reservation required).

• What the City Provides – The City supplies a booth space, table, chairs, electricity (if needed), tasting cups, tasting spoons, napkins, and tickets for chili sales.

• Provide Your Own Supplies – Teams are responsible for purchasing all ingredients, cooking equipment,  handwashing station, serving utensils, and other supplies.

• Team Volunteers – On event day, you will need multiple volunteers to help serve chili to attendees. This is especially important during peak hours when lines are long.

• Early Check-In - Chili Teams are are able to pick up their supply bag consisting of tasting cups, tasting spoons, napkins, trash bags, and more in advance of the event on Tuesday, May 26 from 3:00pm-7:00pm at the Tustin Area Senior Center located at 200 S C Street. 

• Arrival and Set-Up – Teams check in at the event site between 7:00 am and 8:45 am on the day of the event. Vehicles must be unloaded and moved to designated parking before 9:00 am.

• Serving Time – Chili tasting for the public begins at 11:00 am and continues until chili runs out or the event ends at 6:00 pm. Teams participating in the Last Call Chili category begin distributing at 1:00pm. 

By meeting these requirements and coming prepared, you’ll be ready for a fun, successful day that benefits the community and showcases your chili skills!

COMPETITION CATEGORIES

There are several categories to compete in for both beginners and professionals alike. Our event is an International Chili Society (ICS) sanctioned cook-off, which means winners can move on to higher-level competitions. Below are the competition categories for the event:

• ICS Traditional Red Chili – Meat and red chili peppers, no beans.

• ICS Homestyle Chili – Meat and/or vegetables with beans, any color. 

• People’s Choice Chili – Any style of chili  judged by the public.

• Judge's Choice - Any style of chili evaluated by community judges. 

• Last Call Chili - Any style of chili served starting at 1:00pm.

• Restaurant Chili - Chili prepared by food service providers and industry members.

• Salsa Competition – Fresh, flavorful, and creative! 

PRIZE AMOUNTS 

To recognize the outstanding efforts of our chili teams, cash prize amounts will be awarded across multiple competition categories. Awards are presented to the top three (3) entries based on judging results and include both juried and crowd-favorite distinctions.

Please refer to the table below for a complete breakdown of prize categories and corresponding award amounts. Winners will be announced live during the event, and all decisions by judges are final.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL CHILI SOCIETY (ICS)

Founded in 1967, the International Chili Society is the world’s foremost chili organization, sanctioning hundreds of cook-offs each year. ICS events follow strict rules to ensure fair judging and top-quality chili. Winning at an ICS event can qualify you for the World Championship Chili Cook-Off, where the best of the best compete for global chili glory.

Learn more about ICS: www.chilicookoff.com