SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2026 | 12pm - 3pm | DURHAM
It’s time for our annual Ponysaurus Brewing Co. Chili Cook-Off!
Join us for our EIGHTH Annual Chili Cook-Off! Our judges will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies, but the People’s Choice title is up to you. Bring a canned good to donate to PORCH Durham to sample the chilis and cast your vote.
Come hungry and help us crown this year’s chili champion while supporting a great local cause!
REGRISTRATION FOR THE 2026 COOK-OFF IS CLOSED!
Bring a donation item for PORCH Durham to get a taste of this year’s contestants and vote for your favorite!
ENTRY RULES
All styles/types of chilis (vegan, vegetarian, beef, pork, etc.) are welcome, but will be judged in the same category
Chili will be prepared off-site and then heated at Ponysaurus Brewing Co. and served to our panel of judges
Contestants should prepare at least 2 quarts of chili for the panel of judges
Additional chili SHOULD BE prepared and provided to Ponysaurus guests on the day of the contest. There will be a separate prize given to a publicly voted People’s Choice Award
All contestants must provide a full list of ingredients at check-in (yes, toppings are allowed & very welcome! But please note that chili will be judged on chili taste only)
All contestants must provide their own heating source (crock pot suggested) to warm and serve their entry. Ponysaurus Brewing Co. will provide sampling cups, tables, and electricity to all entrants
Chili should be homemade and not store bought
Salt is a TRULY MAGICAL ingredient. Please use it!
As goes without saying, poisoning the judges will result in disqualification
PLAY-BY-PLAY
11AM: Contestant arrival and set-up
12:15PM: Judges tasting begins
1PM: Public tasting begins / judge’s deliberation
2:15: People’s Choice Award votes are collected from each contestant station
2:30PM: Winners are announced!
3:00PM: Participants must be present to break down / clean up at 3:00PM.
WINNER, WINNER!
One GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected by our esteemed panel of judges. They will receive a gift certificate for $50, swag, AND a trophy! Cause what's the point of winning if you can't take a lap around the beer garden holding a trophy over your head?
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: This year we are asking Durham to judge! Become a chili judge for the People’s Choice Award by bringing a canned good to donate to PORCH-Durham. Each person will be able to sample all of the participant’s chilis and vote for their favorite. Will you agree with our esteemed judges on who that champion of chili should be?
There will also be awards granted to 2nd place, 3rd place, Most Creative Name, & Cutest Crockpot. So we expect everyone to bring their A-game!
DONATE
To judge the People’s Choice Award we are asking you to donate a non-perishable food item to PORCH-Durham.
We suggest the following non-perishable food items:
Macaroni & Cheese
Canned vegetables and fruit (no soft-tops please)
Protein-rich foods (canned tuna, canned chicken, pasta with meat)
Snacks (raisins, granola bars, crackers, pretzels)
Pasta (Ramen noodles, chef boyardee)
JUDGES
Tony Zirpolo, Head Chef at Dashi
Jeff Seizer & Roxy Garza, Executive Chef & Chef de Cuisine at Ponysaurus Brewing Co. – Raleigh
Griffin Metzger, Chef at Ponysaurus Brewing Co. – Durham
