JANUARY 12 – 14, 2024
Calling all Chili Cooks and Plungers
Come join the fun at our inaugural Big Chilly – Polar Bear Plunge & Chili Cook-off. Whether you’re a Pepper-head, a Plunger or both, this is a weekend not to be missed. Proceeds for the event will be donated to Matanzas Riverkeeper, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that the Guana, Tolomato, Matanzas rivers remain clean and healthy through our commitment to drinkable, fishable, and swimmable water. Eco Is On!
Saturday afternoon the 13th take the Polar Bear Plunge into the Atlantic Ocean on the beach behind the Guy Harvey Resort. Yeah, it’s January and it will be chilly! Plungers, enter individually or as a team. Come dressed in your best bathing suit costume and bring your floats. Individual and team prizes will be awarded for the best of each. Registration for the Polar Bear Plunge opens at 10 am.
Chili cooks will compete in this International Chili Society (ICS) sanctioned event in either Traditional Red, Homestyle, Verde, and Veggie Categories. Registration opens Friday evening 6:30 to compete on either or both Saturday or Sunday. The People’s Choice Big Chilly Champion will be awarded Saturday afternoon after guests have the opportunity for 1:00 -3:30pm to taste each teams chili and vote their favorite.
Proceeds for the event will be donated to Matanzas Riverkeeper, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the health of the Guana, Tolomato, Matanzas rivers and their watershed through advocacy, education, and community engagement. We will have a beach cleanup prior to the Polar Bear Plunge on January 13th from 8:00 am – 10:00 am.
Matanzas Riverkeeper’s work includes everything from advocating for stronger water quality protections, to organizing waterway cleanups, to teaching children and adults how to be good stewards of our environment. Waterkeepers combine firsthand knowledge of their waterways with an unwavering commitment to the right to clean, safe water.
Matanzas Riverkeeper is a project of The Friends of the Matanzas, a non-profit organization that has been fighting to protect the Matanzas River since the early 90s. Since its inception, Friends of the Matanzas has spoken out against poorly planned developments that would harm the Matanzas River or its tributaries.
TICKETS • ACCOMODATIONS • REGISTRATION
Calling all Pepperheads. Get your Big Chilly on!
Whether a chiseled chili cook or just jumping into the pot, we encourage cooks of all levels to join the fun. It’s is an excellent opportunity to learn from the pros and join in Chili Cook nation comradery.
This is a 2 Contest (Saturday and Sunday) Event and teams can compete in either or both days. Register for adult or youth divisions in any or all of the Traditional Red, Homestyle, Verde or Veggie categories. Teams required to make 3 gallons of chili.
People’s Choice: Saturday January 13th only, from 1:00 – 3:30 pm.
Teams must be a member of the International Chili Society to compete. To become a member please visit: http://www.chilicookoff.com/register.
CHILI COOK-OFF TEAM ENTRIES
- Adult Division: $25 Per Entry for Traditional Red, Homestyle, Verde and Veggie Categories.
- Youth Division: No Charge!
All registrations Include a designated 10 x 10 cook space. Cooks must provide their own canopy/tent, tables & chairs, and supplies.
Calling all Plungers, Ger your Big CHilly on & WIN a YETI Cooler!
Start off the New Year at our inaugural Big Chilly Polar Bear Plunge taking place beachside behind the Guy Harvey Resort St. Augustine Beach on Saturday, January 13th. We’re looking for plungers to help us beat the 2015 Guiness World Record with 1,799 polar bear wannabees!
Registration is open thru the start of the plunge. Everyone who pre-registers by December 26th will receive a Big Chilly medal at completion of the plunge. Those who register the day of will receive a medal as supplies last, so make sure you pre-register!
Pricing
- $25 Plunge
(includes Chili Tasting Tickets) - $20 Chili Tasting Only
Plungers Awards
- Best Floatie
- Best Dressed
- Best Dressed Team
For all who participate in the Polar Bear Plunge you will be entered into a drawing to win a YETI Cooler courtesy of Hagan Ace Hardware!
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Friday, January 12, 2024
| Cook Team Reception | 5:00 – 6:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Pre Registration Polar Bear Plunge / Chili Cook-off | 6:30 – 8:30 PM |
Saturday, January 13, 2024
| Chili Cook Team – Setup | 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM |
|---|---|
| Beach Cleanup with Matanzas Riverkeeper – ECO IS ON! | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
| Cook Team Mandatory Meeting | 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM |
| Homestyle Chili Cook & Turn In | 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
| Verde Chili Cook & Turn In | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Polar Bear Plunge Check-in & Day of Registration | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
| Veggie Chili Cook & Turn In | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM |
| Polar Bear Plunge Begins | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Traditional Red Chili Cook & Turn In | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
| People’s Choice Chili Tasting | 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM |
| Chili & Plunger Awards | 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM |
Sunday, January 14, 2024
FOR CHILI TEAMS ONLY (NO CHILI TASTINGS)
| Chili Cook Team – Setup | 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM |
|---|---|
| Cook Team Mandatory Meeting | 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM |
| Homestyle Chili Cook & Turn In | 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
| Verde Chili Cook & Turn In | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Veggie Chili Cook & Turn In | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM |
| Traditional Red Chili Cook & Turn In | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
| Award Ceremony | 4:30 PM |
COOKOFF SANCTIONING • COOK TEAM REGISTRATION • RULES
CHILI COOKOFF TEAM CATEGORIES
Traditional Red
Traditional Red Chili is any kind of meat, or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients. Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed. Preference is not given to either cut meat, ground meat, shredded meat or cubed meat.
- 1st Place Red – 12.5% of Chili Entries
- 2nd Place Red – 7.5% of Chili Entries
- 3rd Place Red – 5% of Chili Entries
Homestyle
Homestyle Chili is any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients. Homestyle chili may be any color. Beans are required. Preference is not given to either cut meat, ground meat, shredded meat or cubed meat. Seafood is allowed.
- 1st Place Homestyle – 12.5% of Chili Entries
- 2nd Place Homestyle – 7.5% of Chili Entries
- 3rd Place Homestyle – 5% of Chili Entries
Verde Chili
Chili Verde is any kind of meat, or combination of meats, cooked with green chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients. Non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed. Preference is not given to either cut meat, ground meat, shredded meat or cubed meat.
- 1st Place Verde – 12.5% of Chili Entries
- 2nd Place Verde – 7.5% of Chili Entries
- 3rd Place Verde – 5% of Chili Entries
VEGGIE CHILI
Veggie Chili is any kind of vegetable ,or combination of vegetables, cooked with chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients. The use of meat and/or any meat by-products is not allowed. The use of soy and meatless “meat” substitutes is allowed. Veggie Chili can be any color.
- 1st Place Veggie – 12.5% of Chili Entries
- 2nd Place Veggie – 7.5% of Chili Entries
- 3rd Place Veggie – 5% of Chili Entries
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