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Humboldt County Fair Chili Cook Off 

Hosted by Guy Fieri

Live music: Monument Road

Participate: Join for free or Help choose a victor with the People's Choice Award and the Golden Buzzer Award

Get Fired Up for the 2025 Humboldt County Fair's Chili Cook-Off with Guy Fieri!

Hold onto your taste buds— the Mayor of Flavortown is coming home! This year’s Humboldt County Fair is turning up the heat with an electrifying Chili Cook-Off, hosted by none other than Ferndale's own honorary Mayor and Food Network superstar, Guy Fieri! 🌶️

Step into the sizzle on Thursday, August 21st, where the grandstands will be blazing with bold spices, secret recipes, and the ultimate culinary showdown. Amateur chefs, local legends, and spice-slinging professionals will compete for chili glory in front of roaring crowds and Guy himself, so get ready to bring the heat, the flavor, and the flair—all Fieri style.

Expect high-stakes cooking, smoky aromas wafting through the air, and nonstop excitement as contestants battle it out for bragging rights and fiery prizes. With Guy on the mic and the crowd fired up, this isn’t just a cook-off—it’s a full-throttle celebration of Humboldt flavor and hometown pride.

One day. One legend. One unforgettable chili throwdown. Be there or be mild. 🌶️🔥

Awards and Prizes include: 

Grand Champion:

$1,000 Cash & Prizes - Rule the chili kingdom with the crown of flavor and flair—this title means you wowed the judges and earned ultimate bragging rights!

 

Reserve Champion:

$500 Cash & Prizes - Just a spoonful shy of the top, but still a fiery force—your chili nearly stole the show! Go home with the glory and prizes that your team earned with all of your hard work!

 

People’s Choice Champion:

$350 Cash & Prizes - The crowd went wild for your chili—win the hearts (and tastebuds) of the masses with this fan-favorite award! Voting public must have People's Choice tickets to vote in this competition.

 

Golden Buzzer Award:

Camp Chef Grill and Chef Knife signed by the Mayor of Flavortown himself – Bring your friends and have them buy Golden Buzzer Tickets for this special award where popularity is the determining factor, not flavor! All friends and family connections are encouraged to vote – who cares if it’s too bland or doesn’t have enough salt? With enough friends you can still win big! Voting public must have Golden Buzzer tickets to vote in this competition. 

 

Additional Competitions:

  • Craziest Crew: Show off your most outrageous outfits, over-the-top personalities, and unforgettable team spirit. The wackier, the better for this award - this is your time to stand out!

  • Flaming Chili: Crank up the spice and serve up a chili that delivers a fiery kick and unforgettable taste. This award is all about flavor that sizzles and leaves a lingering kick to the tastebuds!

  • Spiciest Booth: Deck out your booth with bold décor, creative flair, and over-the-top style. Whether it's fiery colors, dazzling lights, or standout themes, go all out—because in this competition, anything goes!

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🔥Get ready to bring the HEAT, Humboldt!🔥

The 2025 Chili Cook-Off is turning up the flavor during the 129th Annual Humboldt County Fair — and YOU get to crown the winner!

 

Join us August 21st at the Grandstands for a sizzling showdown of homestyle chili like you've never tasted before.

With every ticket, you’ll get:

 A celebratory tasting mug & TEN tickets to pick your favorite chilis of the day

That’s right — you get to help decide who wins the People’s Choice Award! 🌶️🏆 Taste. Vote. Celebrate. It’s all going down at the Humboldt County Fair, and you won’t want to miss a single bite!

VIP Meet and Greet with Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri

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Help support the Humboldt County Fair with a closed event and truly hometown inspired meal with the honorary mayor and star chef himself. This event also includes the People's Choice Participant admission - this separate event will include a collectable mug and ten tickets to vote for your favorite chili of the day!

Only 100 tickets available, book now!

Golden Buzzer tickets are also available for purchase, so don't miss out!

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Chili Cook-Off Contestants - Apply Here!

Are you entering as a Business or Individual?

All approved participants will be provided parking in our vendor lot for after setup and admission tickets as deemed necessary - please include an address where these can be mailed to. Loss of these may mean you must pay for public parking or grounds admission on the day of.

Entry Fee
$250
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