Frederick Oklahoma’s
Chilifest
Frederick’s ChiliFest:
A Community Celebration of Food & Fun🌶️
Every year, as the crisp autumn air arrives, Downtown Frederick comes alive with the sound of live music and the unmistakable aroma of chili! On the first Saturday in November, the Frederick Chamber of Commerce proudly hosts our signature community event: The Annual Frederick ChiliFest.
This is more than just a cook-off; it's a full-blown street festival and a celebration of our local spirit.
Chilifest is a day where businesses, civic organizations, families, and friends fire up their cookers, each bringing their own secret recipe to compete for the ultimate chili bragging rights. Our downtown streets fill with neighbors, visitors, and families, all on a mission to taste every entry and help crown the crowd favorite.
From its humble beginnings, ChiliFest has grown into a cornerstone Frederick tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate food, fun, and friendly competition. It’s a day to see old friends, make new ones, and enjoy the incredible atmosphere of our vibrant downtown.
Save the date for the next Annual Frederick Chilifest: Saturday, November 7, 2026
…From a Classic Tradition to a Spicy New Celebration!
For nearly 20 years, our community has gathered every fall to celebrate the Frederick Cotton Festival. It was a wonderful tradition that honored our town's roots, but let's be honest—a certain spicy aroma quickly began to steal the show.
The Chili Cook-Off soon became the undisputed main event. It was the part of the day everyone crowded around, where secret family recipes were put to the test and the friendly competition for a year's worth of bragging rights got hotter every single year. The chili cook-off was where the real sizzle was.
As our town looks to the future, we asked ourselves: "What part of this tradition sparks the most excitement?" The answer was unanimous.
So, we decided to take the part of the festival everyone loved most and turn the heat all the way up. Welcome to the Frederick Chilifest!
This is the evolution of a 20-year legacy—an all-out celebration of food, live music, and pure community spirit right in the heart of downtown. We're carrying forward the same goal of bringing everyone together, but now we're doing it with a renewed focus on fun. It’s the tradition you love, reimagined to be a little louder, a little spicier, and a whole lot of fun!
2024 Kristy Barnett won the People’s Choice Award!
We always have lots of local support from the community!
The chili cook off is always full of heat! This isn’t a lazy competition…
Applications + More Info
What to Expect at Chilifest
When you come to Chilifest, be sure to bring your appetite! Here’s what makes the day so special:
The Chili Showdown: Dozens of talented local teams spend the day perfecting their craft, competing for our top honors.
Two Ways to Win: Our cookers are competing for two separate, prestigious awards:
The Judges' Choice: A panel of expert judges conducts a blind taste test to award the top technical honors.
The People's Choice: This is where you come in! Every tasting ticket comes with a ballot, allowing you to cast your vote for your favorite chili.
Live Music & Entertainment: We provide the perfect soundtrack for the day with live bands playing right on the street, creating a festive, party-like atmosphere.
A True Community Event: This is a day for everyone. It’s a showcase of local pride and a chance to celebrate what makes Frederick such a special place to live.
Be a Part of the Fun!
We are looking for participants to make each year the best festival yet!
Chili Cooks Wanted! Think you've got the best chili in Tillman County? Prove it! We’re looking for contestants to compete for trophies, prize money, and ultimate bragging rights. You can cook on-site or bring your chili pre-made. All types are welcome! $30 per team (includes 2 music tickets). Check back in fall 2026 for application details.
Vendor Booths - Now Closed. Check back in fall 2026 for application details.
For more information, or to get an application for the Chili Cook-Off or a vendor booth, please call the Frederick Chamber of Commerce at 580-335-2126.
ChiliFest 2026:
November 7, 2026
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Applications are closed. Check back in Fall 2026 for updated info.
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Check back in Fall 2026 for updated info.
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Applications are closed. Check back in Fall 2026 for updated info.
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Official
In this competition the chili will be blindly judged and scorecards will be based on the following characteristics:
Aroma
Texture
Flavor
Color
People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award will be chosen by the public. After purchasing a ticket for the Chili Cook Off, the ticket holder will show their ticket to get a sample of your team’s chili. Make sure you mark the ticket with the marker provided and then using the 2 oz. sample cups provided, give the ticket holder a sample of your chili.
Once the ticket holder has sampled each team’s chili, they will vote by placing their ticket into your team’s voting container (provided)- at that time you may then serve them one bowl of your team’s chili. Once you are out of chili or wish to leave, make sure you turn in your ticket container to the Chamber booth. The container with the highest number of tickets will be awarded the “People’s Choice Award” and cash prize.
Questions?Contact the Frederick Chamber of Commerce by calling (580) 335-2126 or email frederickcc@pldi.net
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Applications are closed. Check back in Fall 2026 for updated info.
FAQ + FYI
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The event runs from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. If you have a chili tasting ticket, we highly recommend arriving right at 5:30 PM for the best selection! Chili is available while supplies last.
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Please bring your own lawn chairs to relax and enjoy the music! We will have food and drink vendors on-site for all your refreshment needs.
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Yes, for the safety and enjoyment of all attendees, no outside food or drinks of any kind are permitted. This includes tumblers, water bottles, and any other reusable drink cups. All bags are subject to search.
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We recommend parking at the Tillman County Courthouse on Main + Gladstone if you don’t mind a short walk. Otherwise we suggest parking on Floral Avenue.
Please note: We will have some of Main blocked off for Chili Teams, so don’t plan to park there. We will also have south 9th blocked off and part of North 9th.
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We have dedicated express pickup lines!
Chili Only: Corner of 9th & Grand
Music Only: Corner of 10th & Grand
All-Access Pass: Either location!
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Yes! A limited number of tickets will be available at the entrance, but the fastest way to get in is to buy online beforehand at https://frederickokchamber.org/chili.
We can't wait to celebrate with you all on Saturday!
2025 ChiliFest Gallery
A Community Event Powered by Our Sponsors
The Frederick Chilifest is only possible because of the incredible generosity of our local sponsors. Their commitment to our community is what allows us to host this amazing event each year. We encourage you to support the businesses that support Frederick!