2025 Chili Cook-Off

Join us for our fourth annual chili cook-off. This is our primary fundraising event which we use to contribute to youth-related events and organizations throughout each year.

Where does the money we raise go? We use it to award college scholarships to local high school seniors and to sponsor a wide range of youth-related causes in Vigo and surrounding counties. Here’s a partial listing of recent contributions we’ve made.

Sponsors

Our sponsors make it possible for us to bring you the Chili Cook-off each year. In addition to paying the costs related to the event, their contributions provide a significant portion of the funds we contribute to youth-related causes in Terre Haute/Vigo County community.

 We are ever so grateful for their support!

 

Gold Sponsors

The Hometown Savings Bank
Cannonball Harley Davidson

Silver Sponsors

Terre Haute Police Department
Your Logo Here
Your Logo Here
Your Logo Here

Bronze Sponsors

  • Be our first bronze sponsor

Interested in Becoming a Sponsor?

If you are interested in sponsoring this year’s Chili Cook-Off, click the button below to get more information.

Cooks

 If you cook a mean chili and you’d like to participate in this year’s cook-off, we have some great awards.

Awards

Categories

First place in each category receives a trophy. Second and third places are awarded a plaque.

Bowl of chili prepared for the 2023 Terre Haute Breakfast Optimist's Chili Cook-Off

Best Chili

We recognize first, second and third places.

Bowl of chili prepared for the 2023 Terre Haute Breakfast Optimist's Chili Cook-Off

Hottest Chili

The hotter the better!

Bowl of chili prepared for the 2023 Terre Haute Breakfast Optimist's Chili Cook-Off

People's Choice

People vote for their favorite!

Chef competing for showmanship in the 2023 Terre Haute Breakfast Optimist's Chili Cook-Off

Showmanship

Judged on theme’s, decorations, costumes and/or performance.

Overall Winner

In addition, the club will select an overall winner who will be awarded custody of our Traveling Chili Cook-off Winner Trophy.

Who’s Cooking?

Here’s a list of who has signed up to cook:

  • Be our first cook to sign up!

We’re looking for more cooks!

If you are interested in participating in this year’s Chili Cook-off, there is still time to signup.

Vendor Garden

This year, the Breakfast Optimists adding a new feature to our annual Chili for Kids Cook-Off. We call it our Vendor Garden. Before, during and after visitor enjoy sampling chili cooks offerings, they can stroll through the Vendor Garden and shop.

Booths may contain boutique clothing, non-profit information and perhaps even dessert treats. The cost to rent a booth space is $75. If you are interested in space in our Vendor Garden, please complete the form below.

Vendors

Here’s who will be in our Vendor Garden on October 5th.

  • Contact us to reserve a spot in our Vendor Garden.
Vendor Garden Form

Event Details

Starts: October 4, 2025 at 11:00 am
Ends: October 4, 2025 at 4:00 pm

Vigo County Fairgrounds

3901 S US Hwy 41

Terre Haute, IN 47802

Vigo County Fairgrounds

3901 S US Hwy 41

Terre Haute, IN 47802