Combine one-part live music, two parts festive atmosphere with great food and a dash of a car cruise for the perfect Wheeling Feeling Chili Cook-off recipe!

The annual event is set for noon to 6 p.m., rain or shine, Saturday, June 4 at Wheeling’s Heritage Port, and organizers are aiming for the biggest and best ever. The event is free and open to the public, but “taster” cups for chili and beverages will be sold by the United Way.

Committee Chair Rose Humway-Warmuth said all proceeds from the Cook-off will benefit the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley.

“We’re hoping our many restaurants and individual cooks will create many great pots of chili as we aim to set another fundraising record again this year. We have waived the restaurant’s entry fees because we know the past few years have been difficult on their industry,” she said.

Humway-Warmuth said she’s thrilled to once again be holding the Cookoff in June as the kick-off to summer events at Heritage Port. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the cookoff until August last year and in 2020, the Cookoff was cancelled. 

“We are thrilled to be able to hold this event again this year and to welcome back our chili cooks, judges and the public,” she said. “We can hardly believe that this is the 22^nd year of the annual event.”

Entertainment will be provided throughout the day by 7 South and Steel Cassa. A car cruise will also be held as a part of the cookoff from noon to 4 p.m. at 12^th and Water Streets. There will be door prizes and dash plaques will be given to car cruise participants. There is no entry fee.

All chili cooks are invited – both commercial, restaurants, individual and youth, ages 6-17 – to enter the Cook-off, which is presented by the City of Wheeling and sanctioned by the International Chili Society. 

Cash prizes will be awarded in several categories including Salsa, ICS Chili Verde, ICS Homestyle and ICS Red. Other awards will also be given.

The first place winners in all the categories will be eligible to enter the 2022 ICS World Cook-off as well as qualify for the 2022 World Food Championships. All youth participants will automatically qualify for the World Cook-off in Myrtle Beach, Sept. 23-25. 

Commercial cooks may also enter the Wheeling Feeling Chili Cook-off, but they compete in a separate division than the individual cooks. They, too, will receive awards. The Commercial category includes restaurants, businesses, professional/fraternal/educational groups, or a combination of these groups as a team to cook and serve the chili samples. Entry fees for restaurant and commercial cooks will be waived this year.

“Vendors are welcome again with the fees waived this year,” Humway-Warmuth said. “Crafts, food and spice products, apparel, jewelry – almost all vending sources will be a welcome addition.”           

To register for the Chili Cookoff, visit www.chilicookoff.com. To join the ICS, or for information on the event, email chilicookoff@wheelingwv.gov or call 304-234-3636.