ChiliFest is an annual chili-cooking competition that takes place every October in South Bethlehem!
Our local restaurants and businesses compete to win your vote in hopes of capturing a coveted glass chili pepper trophy, handmade by ArtsQuest's Glass Blowing Studio.
Two prizes are awarded each year for the following categories:
- People's Choice Chili
- Judge's Choice Chili
In 2023, ChiliFest saw over 20 South Bethlehem businesses compete with their chilis, and 300 Chilifest voters crowned The Marquee Kitchen's Smokey Beef Roja chili as the winner of the People's Choice Chili award.
Judges Christina Russo of Lehigh Valley Food Magazine & Podcast, Blakely McHugh of WFMZ's Channel 69 News, and Andrea DeJesus of A-List Salon selected Northampton County Community College's Culinary Department students' Pork Belly Sofrito chili with Cool Ranch Dorito aioli for the Celebrity Judge's Choice award.
2024 Festival Information
ChiliFest 2024 is scheduled for Saturday, October 19 from 12-4 PM, with winners announced at 4:30 PM outside of Molly's Irish Grille & Sports Pub.
Chili Trail Stops:
Each trail stop offers a sample-sized serving of their unique chili recipe. Sample them all, and then vote for your favorite!
- Molly's Irish Grille & Sports Pub
- F&A Grog House
- Sotto Santi Restaurant
- NCC Culinary Department & Bethlehem Public Library SouthSide Branch
- NCC Fowler Center
- Playa Bowls Lehigh
- Roasted
- Country Club Brewing
- Zest Bar + Grille
- The Marquee Kitchen at Rise Above Hair Studio
- Mister Lee's Noodles
- El Jefe's Taqueria
- Social Still Distillery
- Flavor Nation Food Truck at Colony Meadery
- The Nest Sports Bar + Grille
- Essentials Cafe at Five Maidens Cider Co.
- La Lupita
More locations to be announced soon!
Tickets: $35 per person
Includes access to all chili trail stops + the 2024 commemorative chili spoon
We recommend parking in the South New St. Garage, located at 324 S. New St, Bethlehem PA 18015. The SouthSide Arts District Office is located next to the entrance of the garage on S. New Street.
Parking is also available at the Polk Street Garage located at 418 PA-412, Bethlehem, PA 18015. If you have already picked up your tickets, you can park in this garage to be close to most of the tasting locations.