Mt. Crested Butte Chili & Beer Festival
25th annual - Saturday, September 9, 2023
The 25th Annual Mt. Crested Butte Chili & Beer Festival is a celebration of locally made Chili and Colorado brewed beer that draws both locals and visitors to the base area for a music, chili, and beer filled afternoon. The event is planned for September 9, 2023 and will be located at the Base Area of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Locals are welcome to enter chili into the competition along with participating restaurants. We ask brewers from all over Colorado to join us. Participants will be asked to vote on their favorite Beer and Chili. We expect this event to sell out this year as it has in years past. We will have up to 12 categories, each receiving a cash prize based on participant votes.
Please note: Chili & Beer is NOT a dog-friendly event. Dogs on leashes are welcome in Mt. Crested Butte and the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area, but will not be permitted inside the Chili & Beer Festival venue. While Crested Butte is a very dog-friendly community, the density of people inside the Chili & Beer Festival venue makes allowing dogs very challenging to manage.
Thank you for understanding!
Registration for brewers, cooks, and vendors is not yet open. Once it is, links will be available on this page! Ticket will go on sale in July, 2023.
We are looking for Chili Cookers, Brewers, and Non-Chili Food Vendors!
When Registration Opens, links will be available below!
Chili Cookers
In order to ensure success for all, we require chili cookers to make a minimum of 5 gallons of chili and encourage you to make at least 10 gallons.
The first 20 cookers to sign up for the festival and guarantee 10 or more gallons of chili will receive up to $250 ingredient reimbursement post event (receipts must be provided for reimbursement).
We will provide dishes, utensils, napkins, paper towels, and 3oz serving ladles (for portion control).
There is no charge for cookers to participate in this event. Both professional and amateur cooks are welcome at this event.
The chili will be blind taste tested and judged in the following category's:
-> International Red
-> Green
-> Vegetarian
-> Speciality
Brewers
In order to ensure the best experience for everyone involved, brewers must meet the following requirements:
-Bring at least two types of brew, each in 15 gallon kegs or canned equivalent. If participating in VIP hour please include an additional type of brew exclusive to VIP hour.
-Provide a 10x10 pop up tent, 8 ft. serving table, and TIPS certified pourer.*
*If you are concerned about staffing your booth at this event, let us know! This year we will be hiring locals to help our vendors out if they can not bring enough staff with them.
There is no charge for breweries to participate in this event. However, if you register for this event and cancel after August 10, 2022 you may be charged a cancellation fee and excluded from future events.
The award categories this year will be:
-> Wheat/ Belgian
-> Lager
-> Ale
-> Porter/Stout
-> Hard Cider
-> Hard Seltzer
-> Specialty Brew (for VIP hour)
Non- Chili Food Vendors
Vendor space is limited and will be on a first come, first serve basis and limited to food/beverage vendors and non-profits.
In order to be considered for a space, The Chamber must have a fully completed application from you by Wednesday, August 10 at 5pm.
Local Non-profit - Free
Chamber Member - $100
Non-Chamber Member - $200
If you am selling items, you will need to fill out and submit a Mt. Crested Butte Sales Tax form following the event.
*All spaces will be pre-assigned. A map of your location will be sent to you no later than Friday, September 2nd.
** You are responsible for bringing your own tent, tables, chairs, and providing your own electricity/power.
We are looking for Volunteers!
Want to help out with this fun local event? We have tons of opportunities to do so, including a few PAID positions!
When you volunteer for Chili & Beer, you receive a complementary GA entry to the festival to enjoy before or after your volunteer shift!