Get Ready to Turn Up the Heat! 20th Annual Great Bowls of Fire Chili Fest Returns to Camp Landing This Saturday
Get Ready to Turn Up the Heat!
20th Annual Great Bowls of Fire Chili Fest Returns to Camp Landing This Saturday
Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
Get ready for a day filled with delicious chili, live music, community spirit, and plenty of friendly competition! The 20th Annual Great Bowls of Fire Chili Fest is happening Saturday, October 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Camp Landing, and this year's event promises to be a memorable celebration of everything that makes our community special.
Hosted in support of Ashland Community Kitchen, Chili Fest brings together local chili teams, businesses, churches, volunteers, and community members for a fun-filled day with a meaningful purpose: helping ensure that no one in our community goes hungry.
With 11 teams already signed up and organizers hoping to squeeze in a few more, there will be plenty of chili to sample and some friendly competition to enjoy. Whether you're a chili enthusiast, a live music fan, a car lover, or simply looking for a great way to spend your Saturday, there's something for everyone at this year's festival.
A Day Full of Flavor, Music, and Fun
The excitement will be cooking all afternoon as chili teams put their recipes to the test and attendees gather to enjoy the festivities. Adding to the atmosphere, live entertainment will feature performances by Feller and Evergreen, bringing great music to an already exciting day.
The event will also begin with a special opening program featuring the national anthem performed by a Bridge Builders student in partnership with United Way of Northeast Kentucky. An opening prayer will be offered by Joey Kennedy, pastor of Old Orchard Christian Church.
A panel of local judges will take on the important task of evaluating this year's chili creations. Judges include Mayor Chuck Charles, with the possibility of his wife joining him, along with Marty Gute and Mike Jones.
And there's even more reason to come out this year!
New This Year: Chili Fest Cruise-In and Car Show
For the first time, Chili Fest will feature a Cruise-In and Car Show, giving car enthusiasts another reason to head to Camp Landing on Saturday.
The first 25 cars to arrive will receive a special Chili Fest dash plaque, and car show participants will have the opportunity to win a trophy. Whether you're bringing a vehicle to show off or simply enjoy admiring classic cars and other favorites, the new addition promises to bring even more excitement to the festival.
With great food, live entertainment, a car show, and a cause worth supporting, this year's Great Bowls of Fire Chili Fest is shaping up to be a fantastic day for the entire family.
More Than a Festival: Making a Difference One Meal at a Time
While the chili, music, and festivities make for a great day, the heart of Chili Fest is the organization it supports: Ashland Community Kitchen.
Founded in 1982, Ashland Community Kitchen is a nonprofit organization that receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of the community to continue its work. Its mission is simple but powerful: to provide any hungry person with a hot, nutritious meal and to treat each person with dignity and respect. Its vision is a community where no one goes hungry.
The kitchen provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving more than 2,000 meals every month. It also distributes approximately 100 food boxes monthly to individuals and families in need. So far in 2026, Ashland Community Kitchen has served more than 21,000 meals to people throughout Boyd County and the surrounding region.
Behind every meal is a commitment to caring for neighbors, meeting essential needs, and ensuring that people facing difficult circumstances are treated with compassion and dignity. That's why Chili Fest is so important.
As Ashland Community Kitchen's largest fundraiser of the year, Chili Fest plays a vital role in helping keep the kitchen operational and ensuring it can continue providing meals to those who need them. Last year's event raised more than $10,000, and organizers hope to surpass that total this year.
Every bowl sampled, every team that competes, every sponsor that contributes, and every person who attends helps support this important mission.
A Message of Gratitude From Ashland Community Kitchen
TJ Torgerson, executive director of Ashland Community Kitchen, says the growth of Chili Fest over the past three years has been especially rewarding and reflects the incredible generosity of the community.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from local businesses, organizations, churches, volunteers, and the community. This year, we’re especially thankful to have New Hope Baptist and First Christian Church of Ashland involved. Camp Landing has also been such a generous and supportive host. It has been amazing to watch this event grow over the past three years that I’ve been the director. Chili Fest really shows what can happen when our community comes together. It’s a fun day for everyone, but more importantly, it helps us continue providing meals to people in our community who need them.”
That spirit of togetherness is what makes Chili Fest about so much more than a bowl of chili. It's an opportunity for the community to come together, celebrate local talent and generosity, and make a real difference in the lives of neighbors who need a helping hand.
A Huge Thank-You to Our Sponsors and Supporters!
An event of this size would not be possible without the generosity of the businesses, organizations, churches, and community partners who step up to support Ashland Community Kitchen and its mission.
A huge thank-you goes out to all of our sponsors and supporters because, without you, none of this would have been possible! Your generosity helps make Chili Fest a success and supports the work of providing meals to individuals and families throughout our community. Every contribution matters, and we are incredibly grateful for your willingness to invest in this important cause.
This year's sponsors and supporters include:
Camp Landing
UKKD
Marathon
Mary Boggs – State Farm
Ashland Credit Union
Sandy's Cares
City National Bank
Sunbelt of Ashland
First Christian Church
Shell Family Foundation
Toyota of Ashland
KFB- The Better Bank
Onan Appraisals
Desco Federal Credit Union
Community Trust Bank
PNC Bank
MAG Services LLC
A Plus Contractors
Members Credit Union
Andrews Tackett & Associates
Johnny on the Spot
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Ashland Area YMCA
HH Heating & Cooling
This list may grow as additional sponsors and supporters join the effort. We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who has contributed their time, resources, and support to help bring this year's event to life.
Make Plans to Join Us!
The countdown is on, and the community is invited to come out, enjoy some incredible chili, listen to great music, check out the cars, and support a cause that touches lives throughout our region.
The 20th Annual Great Bowls of Fire Chili Fest
When: Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Camp Landing, Ashland, Kentucky
Benefiting: Ashland Community Kitchen
Bring your family, invite your friends, cheer on the chili teams, enjoy the entertainment, and help make this year's festival the most successful yet. With last year's fundraising total of more than $10,000 as inspiration, organizers are counting on the community to help take this year's event to the next level.
And remember, every dollar raised helps Ashland Community Kitchen continue serving hot, nutritious meals to people who need them.
For those who would like to support Ashland Community Kitchen beyond Chili Fest, donations can be mailed to:
Ashland Community Kitchen
PO Box 1743
Ashland, KY 41105
This Saturday, let's fill Camp Landing with great food, great music, beautiful cars, and an even greater sense of community. Come hungry, bring your community spirit, and help us turn up the heat for a wonderful cause!
We'll see you at Chili Fest!
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