Judge Chili for Local Veterans at American Legion Post 139's Fall Fest

Every fall, a debate starts up in Northwest Arkansas kitchens. Someone swears the secret to a good chili is a slow simmer, someone else swears by the spice, and nobody leaves the table convinced. Cool weather gives the argument a fresh round, because a warm bowl hits differently once the air turns crisp. Springdale’s Fall Fest & Chili Cook-Off gives you a place to bring those opinions out in the open, with neighbors close by and a spoon in your hand.

THE DEETS

📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026
🕒 3 PM to 7 PM
📍 American Legion Hall, 200 Spring Street, Springdale, AR 72764 (corner of Spring Street and Johnson Street, downtown)
🎟️ $5 donation for a chili dinner and/or cook-off judging ticket
🌶️ $20 fee to enter the cook-off
💙 All proceeds go toward helping local veterans
🔗 https://www.downtownspringdale.org/events#f4e751a1-de75-42bb-9e66-15843ab7d9cb

Source: Downtown Springdale

Your Spoon, Your Verdict

You can take the chili dinner, the judging ticket or both. Eat for fun, or eat with opinions and cast your vote. If you would rather compete than judge, enter a pot of your own and play for prizes and bragging rights.

Source: Downtown Springdale

The Fun You Stay For

Once your ballot is in, the rest of the afternoon is family-friendly:

• Silent auction: bid quietly, brag loudly
• Cake walk: the old-school game where the music stops and somebody goes home with dessert
• Bake sale: a sweet chaser if the chili brought the heat
• Kid’s Zone and games: a spot for the little ones while the grown-ups argue beans versus no beans

Source: Downtown Springdale

The VFW Post 2952 Auxiliary holds this Fall Fest every year, so your appetite and your strongest chili opinions go to a cause that comes back around. Round up your family and friends, and come hungry for an afternoon in downtown Springdale. Come for the chili, stay for the fun. See you there, NWA.