Chili season is here, and Wadena is turning up the heat with the Wadena Area Chamber’s annual Chili Cook-Off, Thursday, September 26th from 4 to 6 p.m. in downtown Wadena.
23 local businesses, civic organizations and schools are all signed up to compete for $200 in Wadena Chamber bucks and to have their name engraved on the prestigious traveling trophy. A new Best Fire Department Chili category has also been added this year.
Judges this year include the mayors of Wadena, Bluffton, and Deer Creek as well as the Miss Wadena Royalty.
Last year, the Wadena Elks Lodge #2386, earned the title of People’s Choice Chili Champion. The Superstation K106/KWAD team will be one of the 23 teams challenging for the 2024 Chili Championship.
Teams competing are:
- Wadena Police Department
- Wadena Pioneer Journal
- The Rising Phoenix
- Rural Minnesota CEP/CareerForce
- Uff-Da Barbecue
- AmericInn by Wyndham
- Magnifi Financial
- Drastic Measures Brewing
- Knute Nelson Home Health and Hospice
- Creative Adventures with Art
- Glamour Salon
- Share-A-Home
- Wadena Elks Lodge
- Star Bank
- Wadena Rotary Club
- Escape 2 Fun
- The Uptown
- Wadena County Humane Society
- Wadena VFW
- Hubbard Radio – Superstation K106 & KWAD
- Bertha Fire Department
- Hewitt Fire Department and Auxiliary
- Wadena Fire Department
Three blocks of downtown Wadena will be closed off and dedicated to chili tastings. It’s free to attend and sample and everyone is invited. Taste all the entries and cast your vote for the next People’s Choice Chili Champion!
For more information, visit WadenaChamber.com.