Annual Chili Festival

42nd Annual Chili Festival

NC State Chili Cook-Off

The 42nd Annual Havelock Chili Festival will be held in Walter B. Jones Park, downtown Havelock, NC.

join us for a fun day of great food, music, vendors and more!

The Havelock Chili Festival Committee has worked to ramp up the fun at this year’s Havelock Chili Festival, bringing back the Beer Garden, Car Show and the NC State Chili Cook-off, while adding a pumpkin patch, more games and a dedicated bounce house area for the kids. The 42nd Annual Havelock Chili Festival, a 1-day event featuring music, food, shopping and fun is back to its traditional 3rd Saturday in October, rain or shine at Walter B. Jones Park in the center of Havelock.

Chili Sampling and Beer Garden both open at noon. The Shortway Chilifest Beer Garden, sponsored by Shortway Brewing Co. of Newport, is back for a second year and will be serving 4 locally-brewed beers from noon to 5pm. The 2nd Annual Chilifest Car Show is adding to the fun with a variety of vehicles for car enthusiasts. Awards are scheduled for 3pm. While this year’s Chili Cook-off is NOT sanctioned by the International Chili Society, some of the best chili cooks in the area will be competing in the Traditional Red category. Local chili cooks and organizations are also competing for the $500 People’s Choice prize. Festival patrons will purchase $10 wristbands for unlimited chili sampling and use the wristband to vote for their favorite. Voting hours are noon to 4pm. Sampling continues until chili runs out. Added attractions include children’s games, a pumpkin patch, a dedicated bounce house area and over 90 vendors, talented artisans and nonprofit organizations selling food, drinks, crafts, and merchandise, plus raising awareness about their various causes and missions.

Festivities kick off at 10am with the Havelock High School Marching Band playing the National Anthem, followed by an hour of music from these talented students. Head-On Collision is back bringing hits from the late 80’s to the early 2000’s at 1pm and an acoustic set from Joes Baes Music at 3:30pm rounds out the entertainment. Local Community groups will also be on hand with performances. In addition to food, shopping and music, the Havelock Chili Festival will host K9 dogs and their handlers from the Craven County Sheriff’s Department and Havelock PD doing demonstrations throughout the day. Havelock Chili Festival visitors can choose from a wide variety of foods including turkey legs, seafood, Honduran & Salvadoran dishes, BBQ ribs and plates, lumpia, Asian dishes, Chili dogs, kebabs, and nachos, plus treats like funnel cakes, Italian ice, ice cream, shaved ice, cotton candy, and of course, chili! Drinks will include Boba tea, coffee brews and lattes, smoothies, lemonade and more! There will be two ATMs on site and credit cards can be used to buy chili wristbands, beer and HCF souvenirs.

The Havelock Chili Festival was created as a means for nonprofit organizations to raise funds and awareness for their causes. Proceeds from the annual community event also benefit nonprofit organizations in our local area. In the last 7 years of The Havelock Chili Festival, the all-volunteer HCF Committee has had the pleasure of giving out over $69,000, including $21,000 in 2023, to the local community in the form of 7 scholarships to Havelock seniors and grants to a wide variety of local nonprofit organizations. The community event is planned and executed entirely by volunteers both on the Havelock Chili Festival Committee and from local nonprofits and school groups. Generous corporate sponsors, such as Metronet, Carteret-Craven Electric Foundation, Fisher Oil Company and Craven Community College, in addition to support from The City of Havelock, are also invaluable to ensuring the success of the Havelock Chili Festival every year.

The Shortway Chilifest Beer Garden sponsored by Shortway Brewing Co., is back this year! Serving hours are noon to 5:30. There will be four brews to choose from:

-- ID Check

-- Beer Permitted Inside Beer Garden Only

-- Four local brews to choose from!

Selections:

-- Chatham Street Wheat - This award-winning American wheat is pale-colored and refreshing with classic American hops and a sweet cracker-like aroma.

-- Fire Tower Red - This medium-bodied red ale is malty with sweet caramel notes.

-- Lookout Blonde - Light-bodied, crisp and refreshing, this easy-drinking beer is a great introduction for craft beer newbies.

-- Sound of Freedom - This west-coast style, American IPA is jam-packed with loads of modern American hops.

-- Patrons must provide valid ID. Beer must be consumed inside Beer Garden area. Beers $6 each.

CHILI SAMPLING WRISTBANDS

We've heard your feedback and we've changed how we're selling chili samples.

-Patrons will be able to buy a $10 wristband at the Chili Wristband Sales Tent located at the center of the field. The wristband will entitle the wearer to unlimited sampling of chili. You may only receive one sample at a time. If you would like another sample, you will need to return to the back of the line.

-If you do not have a wristband secured on your wrist, you will not receive a chili sample. Torn or cut wristbands will not be accepted.

-Save your wristband. When you are done sampling, return to the Chili Wristband Sales Tent and drop it in your favorite Booth's container. Be sure to vote by 4pm for your voice to count.

-Sampling will begin at noon and continue until chili runs out.

-We will have a status board at the Chili Wristband Sales Tent tracking which booths have chili available and which have sold out.

-We will be taking credit cards. However please be aware that connectivity problems may arise. A 4% Convenience fee will apply to all transactions.

-There will be two (2) ATM machines located at the Chili Wristband Sales Tent.

-We hope you'll join us and sample as much delicious chili as you can!

K9 Demonstrations All Day

Teams from Craven County Sherriffs Department, and City of New Bern and City of Havelock PD

Demonstrations will take place all day long.  Come see these beautiful dogs and their handlers show off their impressive training!

Sorry, No Pets!

While we are all pet lovers, personal pets and other animals are not permitted at the Havelock Chili Festival, per City Ordinance. Service animals are welcome.

No Exceptions!

Join us for the 2nd Annual CHILIFEST CAR SHOW!

7am Roll In
- 3pm Awards

$20 Pre-Registration per car
- Top 10
- Best Classic
- Best Jeep
- Best Muscle Car
- Best Import
- Best Truck
- Best Rat Rod
- Sponsor's Choice
- People's Choice
- Best of Show

Registration Now Open. Roll in at 7am, Awards at 3pm.

Click Here For Registration