Essex Initiatives Announces the 3rd Annual Essex Chili Cook-Off!

Sunday, March 15, 2026 (snow date: Sunday, March 22)
at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall (1610 NYS Route 22, Whallonsburg, NY)‍

Shake off the mid-winter blues and celebrate local farmers and food growers!

Your FREE ticket includes a chili dinner prepared with local farm ingredients by Essex Initiatives, cornbread, cookie, non-alcoholic beverage, live music, and a taste of select chilis in the cook-off competition!

We’re excited to invite you to this FREE event!

Entrance to the Event, Chili Dinner, Chili Tastings, & Live Music by Too Tall String Band are all FREE! (Charges apply for beer sales.)

A limited number of chili dinners are available; please reserve your FREE ticket using this form to help us ensure there’s enough for everyone. Your ticket will be held at The Grange.

Do you have an amazing chili recipe? Register to compete using this form!

For competition information, sign up to be a judge, reserve your ticket, or volunteer for the event, go to www.VisitEssexNY.com.

This event is presented by Essex Initiatives with support from the Town of Essex and the Whallonsburg Grange Hall, and donations to Essex Initiatives‍.

About Essex Initiatives

The mission of Essex Initiatives is to promote and encourage economic vitality, quality of life and sense of community in Essex NY, our hamlets and the surrounding areas. If you want to assist Essex Initiatives in community projects or attend meetings — let us know. Contact EI at PO Box 38, Essex, NY 12936. Or by email at essexinitiatives@gmail.com or on Facebook.