10/13/2026
The 42nd Annual Chili Cook-off turned up the heat, and we're still buzzing from the flavor and community spirit. The weather was perfect, and our volunteers brought the energy that made the weekend shine.
A mountain of gratitude to the crew at Belleville Parks and Recreation , Maintenance, Streets, and Sanitation. From set-up to tear-down, your hard work helped create a welcoming event for thousands of visitors. Your teamwork truly made the dream work!
Thank you to the City of Belleville, Mayor Jenny Gain-Meyer, the Belleville Police Department , Belleville Fire Department , MedStar Ambulance , and the St. Clair County Health Department for keeping the Cook-off safe and family-friendly.
Special shout-out to the Belleville-O'Fallon Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for running the waste stations and keeping the grounds sharp all weekend.
To our event partners — you made it first-class: V1 Environmental, for portable restroom services; Bryan Peters and Sounds Alive, for stage setup, sound, and production; Grey Eagle Distributors, Robert "Chick" Fritz, Inc. - Belleville, and Koerner Distributor, Inc., for keeping beverages flowing; Sync Payments, for the credit card terminals; EQS Amusement, for ATM services.
A big thank-you to all 63 food vendors for the unforgettable eats, and to our Chili Judges for the tough job of tasting this year's standout entries.
To the Chamber's beloved Friends and Family — our legendary "Voluntold" crew — you gave it everything from first light to final cleanup. We couldn't do it without you, and we wouldn't want to!
Cheers to every entertainment act who kept the good vibes rolling and thank you to our sponsors and Chamber members who worked token booths, b**r tents, and every other volunteer post.
And to our Chamber team: Kim Tissaw, for coordinating event logistics and working closely with food vendors; Sarah Hillebrand and Casey Burress, for their marketing and communications expertise; our Chamber Ambassadors, who served as block captains during Thursday night setup and volunteered all weekend.
Finally, to everyone who came out — thank you for making the 42nd Annual Chili Cook-off so memorable. A special thank-you to those who voted for the People's Choice Award: your votes raised more than $3,500 for the Community Interfaith Food Pantry, supporting neighbors facing food insecurity.
For 42 years, Belleville has shown up strong for community, tradition, and great chili. Thank you, Belleville! Mark your calendars for October 8-9, 2027, when the 43rd Annual Chili Cook-off promises to be even more flavorful.
