If you want to experience one of the biggest annual Evergreen Colorado events, mark September 12, 2026, on your calendar. The Big Chili Cook-Off Evergreen Colorado brings thousands of people to Buchanan Park for a full day of chili tasting, live music, local art, food, family activities and community spirit.
There is a reason this festival has become a September tradition in the foothills. Beyond the competition and entertainment, Big Chili raises funds to support mountain-area volunteer fire departments, bringing the Evergreen community together for a cause that matters locally.
Whether you are visiting for the weekend or searching for memorable things to do in Evergreen Colorado, this guide covers everything you need to know before you go, from tickets and parking to chili tasting, voting, food, drinks and the free shuttle.
Big Chili Cook-Off 2026 at a Glance
- Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM at Buchanan Park, Evergreen, Colorado
- Tickets: $25 in advance (or $20 each for groups of 8+); $30 at the gate. Kids 12 and under free.
- Included: Chili tastings while supplies last, live music, vendors, and digital People’s Choice voting
- Parking: Limited on-site; a free shuttle runs from Evergreen Middle School and Bergen Valley Elementary
- Don’t miss: Chili voting closes at 3:00 PM; awards ceremony runs 3:30–4:15 PM
What Is the Big Chili Cook-Off?
Big Chili is an annual community festival built around a simple idea: good chili, good music and a good reason to bring people together. Throughout the day, visitors sample chili from competing cooks, browse artist and commercial vendor booths, listen to live entertainment, and take part in family activities like the Kids’ Firefighter Challenge.
More than 3,000 people attend each year, drawing Evergreen residents, mountain-area families and visitors from the Denver region – but it still feels distinctly local, with proceeds supporting the volunteer fire departments that serve the surrounding foothills.
Where Is It Held?
Big Chili takes place at Buchanan Park in Evergreen, Colorado.
The outdoor setting gives the festival a different feel from a typical downtown street event. Much of the festival takes place on grass, with vendor areas, entertainment and activity spaces spread throughout the park.
Buchanan Park is located in North Evergreen near Highway 74, Evergreen Parkway and Squaw Pass Road. Buchanan Recreation Center is also part of the surrounding area and plays an important role in festival parking.
Because the event takes place outdoors, comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are worth considering before you leave home.
Tickets and Admission
- Advance (through Wed, Sept 9 at 5:00 PM MT): $25 each (1–7 tickets), $20 each (8+)
- At the gate: $30 per person, no discount
- Kids 12 and under: Free
Admission covers festival entry, vendor booths, live entertainment, chili tastings while supplies last, and voting. Food, alcohol and other purchases cost extra. All sales are final.
Will Call: Tickets bought before August 21 are mailed; tickets bought between August 21 and September 9 are held at Will Call at the main gate, bring valid photo ID to collect them.
Schedule
| Time | What’s Happening |
|---|---|
| 10:00 AM | Gates open — tasting, vendors, entertainment begin |
| 10:30–11:45 AM | Kids’ Firefighter Challenge (front parking lot) |
| All day | Chili sampling, vendor browsing, live music, food & drinks |
| 3:00 PM | Chili voting closes |
| 3:30–4:15 PM | Awards ceremony |
| 5:00 PM | Festival ends |
How Does the Chili Competition and Voting Work?
For 2026, voting is digital. You’ll get a ballot for jotting notes while tasting, then scan QR codes posted around the festival to submit your picks from your phone. Volunteers are on hand to help.
Categories:
- Best Red Chili
- Best Green Chili
- Best Vegetarian
- Best Showmanship
Tip: Track your favorites as you go — after a dozen tastings, remembering which booth had that great green chili gets harder than you’d think.
Food and Drinks at Big Chili
Chili tastings are included with admission while supplies last; everything else costs extra. Food vendors sell additional options throughout the day, and artist/commercial booths are worth browsing between tastings.
Alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, hard seltzer) run on a ticket system: $1 per ticket, roughly 7–8 tickets per drink. Valid ID is required for an age-verification wristband. Non-alcoholic drinks are available through vendors, and bottled water is sold via the event’s PTA fundraiser.
Big Chili Parking and Free Shuttle
Parking around Buchanan Park is limited, so the free shuttle is usually the easier call. It runs continuously from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM between:
- Evergreen Middle School — 2059 Hiwan Drive
- Bergen Valley Elementary — 1422 Sugarbush Drive
Handicapped parking is available at Buchanan Recreation Center’s upper lot, first-come, first-served. Please don’t block residential driveways or business access nearby.
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A lawn chair
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Layers for changing mountain weather
- A phone (for digital voting)
- Valid photo ID (if buying alcohol)
- Cash or card for extra purchases
Colorado foothill weather shifts fast – check the forecast before you leave.
Festival Rules:
- No dogs
- No personal tents, canopies or clamshell-style shade structures
- No smoking, no marijuana, no drones
- Lawn chairs are welcome
- Re-entry allowed with an official hand stamp
Is Big Chili a Good Event for Families?
Yes. The free admission for children aged 12 and younger is one reason the festival works well for families.
The Kids’ Firefighter Challenge provides a dedicated activity for younger visitors, while the open festival setting, music and food give families plenty to do throughout the day.
Parents should remember that the event takes place on grass and involves walking between different areas. Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, water and layers can make the day easier, particularly for younger children.
For families looking for Evergreen CO events that offer more than a short activity or performance, Big Chili provides enough to fill most of the day.
First-Timer Tips
- Buy tickets in advance to save on gate pricing
- Use the free shuttle — parking is limited
- Arrive early if tasting chili is your priority
- Bring your phone for QR-code voting
- Keep notes on your favorites as you taste
- Bring a lawn chair for the music sets
- Dress in layers for Evergreen’s unpredictable September weather
Planning Your Visit to the Big Chili Cook-Off
The Big Chili Cook-Off Evergreen Colorado event combines food, music, local businesses and community fundraising in one of Evergreen’s best-known annual gatherings.
If you are searching for things to do in Evergreen Colorado during September, it offers a full day rather than a quick stop. You can taste your way through the chili competition, browse local vendors, listen to live music and take part in the People’s Choice voting before the afternoon awards ceremony.
Buy tickets before the advance-pricing deadline, consider using the free shuttle and arrive prepared for a full day outdoors.
For visitors exploring the wider calendar of Evergreen Colorado events, Big Chili is a good reason to spend a September Saturday in the foothills.
Get Your Tickets
Tickets and full event details are available at the official site, bigchili.org.
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