Happening in late August, summer activities take over downtown Okotoks, including the central event - the chili cook-off!
Spice up your weekend with chili sampling, activities, a corn-on-the-cob eating challenge, an outdoor dodgeball and cornhole tournament and an artisan street market!
2025 info coming soon!
Chili, Corn on the Cob & BBQ Contestant Registration
This annual festival is a crowd favourite and it wouldn't be possible without the chili cookers and grillers of the community bringing everything to life.
Welcome to the Cobzilla Challenge, the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and sheer corn-crunching skill! In this high-stakes relay race, teams of four will face off in a battle of appetites and agility. Each team member must devour an entire ear of corn-on-the-cob before tagging their partner to take on the next. With buttery, golden goodness dripping and kernels flying, this is not just a race—it's a spectacle of tenacity and teamwork. Get ready to munch, race, and reign supreme in this epic showdown of competitive eating!
Do you have what it takes to conquer the Cobzilla Challenge and claim the title and 1st place prize, of Corn Conqueror!
- A contestant meeting will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at the Elks Hall. This meeting is mandatory for contestants as it will cover all safety information for the event. Event volunteers will also be available to answer any questions you have about the event.
- Registration fee is $50. Sobeys Okotoks is providing a letter authorizing 10% off purchases for Chili/BBQ cookers.
- Contestants will provide a minimum of 300 servings (2 oz) of chili, grilled meat, vegetable or other substitute.
- Ground beef (25 lbs for up to 8 teams) has been secured and other donations (meat and vegetables) are currently in process. Contestants are also welcome to provide their own. Please indicate on the registration form if your team will require donated beef or will be supplying your own. Meat pick-up times and dates will be provided at least one week prior to the event.
- Vegetarian options are permitted.
All food and cooking equipment will be supplied on a first come first served basis.
Event attendees will vote for "People’s Choice Best Chili." The judging panel will select the winner for "Judges Choice."
Involve your business or group!
Looking for a way to boost your visibility & engage with the community? Consider registering to participate within the downtown core event zone and get your brand in front of thousands of festival attendees
Interested participants can purchase a 10x10 spot within select events in the downtown core throughout the year. These 10x10 spots are available to all Okotoks and local area businesses and organizations. If you have an idea for a game, activity or contest that will amp up the fun meter, let us know so we can help plan the best location for you to set up. Space is limited for event zone locations so registration is on a first-come first-served basis.
This opportunity offers you:
- Affordable Exposure: Get your brand/group in front of thousands of festival attendees at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising.
- Community Engagement: Connect directly with potential customers through interactive activities and showcase your business or group in a lively, engaging environment.
- Support Local Events: Your participation helps enhance community events, ensuring they remain vibrant and enjoyable for all.
- Maximize Your Impact: Make a memorable impression on attendees, driving interest and potential business your way.
When you engage, you help increase the excitement of the event!
Event Details
Please note that this event will require road closures of Elizabeth Street from Northridge Drive to Veterans Way from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2024.
Tired of driving around trying to find parking before a major community event? This year we are bringing something new to encourage active transportation, a bike valet! You can ride your bike right down to the event zone and park it at the bike valet free of charge. Your bike will be safely monitored by volunteers while you enjoy the event and you can pick it up when you're finished.
The Bike Valet will be be open from 11:00am to 4:00pm and any bikes left at the valet after 4:00pm will be left unattended, and can be picked up by their owners at anytime.
At events throughout the summer, the Town's Conservation Educators setup Waste Stations throughout the event zone to help sort the waste produced throughout the day. This assures we can divert as much waste as possible away from the landfill!