Labor Day has
come and gone, leaves are turning various shades of orange, red and yellow,
and kids are back in school—yes, autumn is here. Along with this colorful
time of year comes an array of seasonal beverages, snacks and dishes. Our
favorite, indisputably, is chili. Chili recipes are often as diverse as the
chefs who make them—from red, white or green to veggie, beef or poultry, the
sky is the limit for those with a taste for this delectable dish. So add a
little spice to your calendar this fall and attend a chili cook-off near
you.

Here’s a look at a few International Chili Society
(ICS)-sanctioned events across the country. These cook-offs feature chili,
chili verde or salsa categories, and most have an amateur or community
division as well.

Happy Trails
Regional Chili Cook-Off

The 12th
Annual Happy Trails Regional Cook-Off takes place in mid-October in
Apple Valley, California. Local businesses, clubs and individuals are
encouraged to enter the community division, while professionals have a shot
to qualify for the 2014 ICS World Championships by entering into the
International Chili Society division.

This cook-off is an
annual fundraiser for the Apple Valley Rotary Club. Entry into the chili
tasting is $5 per adult and includes a tasting kit and ballot for
voting.

Other event offerings include food vendors and a
beer garden, live music, a car show, a horseshoe tournament, and a special
area for families – featuring an actual pick-up truck that your kids can help
paint.

Nearby
Accommodations

Victorville Shady Oasis RV
Park

This park offers campsite
rentals for tents and RVs, as well as small cabin rentals. Amenities include
free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, a mini-mart and more. Guests can also rent
bicycles and take advantage of the various sporting courts
on-site.

Oak Hills RV
Park

This RV park offers daily,
weekly and monthly rates to accommodate travelers. Located on the historic
Route 66, amenities include a library/book exchange, laundry facilities and
24-hour registration.

Chillinois
Regional

Also known as the Taylorville
Chillifest, this event is much more than your average cook-off. In
addition to the chili cook-off and traditional chili tasting, the festival
also holds Miss and Mister Chilli Pepper pageants, a 5K run, beard and apron
contest, and parade.

The Taylorville Chillifest, taking
place Oct. 4-5, will also celebrate the 175th anniversary of the town of
Taylorville, Illinois, and the county in which it resides, Christian
County.

Nearby
Accommodations

Springfield
KOA

The Springfield KOA offers
tent camping, RV campsites and cabin accommodations for rental. After hitting
the Taylorville Chillifest, guests can swing over to Springfield and tour the
historical home, office and library of Abraham
Lincoln.

Double J
Campground

This campground, also
located in Springfield, offers extra long RV campsites, and family-friendly
activities, including mini golf, Frisbee golf, and a dog-walking
area.

Moosehaven Regional Chili
Cookoff

The Fifth
Annual Moosehaven Heart of the Community Chili Cook-Off takes place
on Saturday, Nov. 8 in Orange Park, Florida. The day’s festivities include a
community breakfast, craft show, car show and, of course, chili tasting.
Special guest Bobby Brantley of TruTV’s “Lizard Lick Towing” will join the
fun this year.

People’s Choice chili judging is just $5,
and visitors can register a car in the car show for $20. All proceeds from
this chili cook-off benefit the Mooseheart School Project.

Nearby
Accommodations

Whitey’s Fish Camp

Whitey’s
Fish Camp is a restaurant, fish camp and RV park combined into one location.
The restaurant and bar features nightlife activities including bingo, Texas
hold’em, and live music, while those looking for daytime fun can stop by the
bait and tackle shop then hit the water for a fishing
adventure.

Fleetwood RV
Park

Located in Jacksonville, this
centrally located park is just a 20-minute drive to Orange Park, home of the
Moosehaven Chili Cook-Off. Fleetwood’s amenities include on-site laundry,
free cable and Wi-Fi, and, as a plus, it’s also close to several
beaches.

Capon Bridge Founders Day
Homestyle Chili Cook-Off

This
festival, located in Capon Bridge, West Virginia, offers free
admission and parking for a day of a chili cook-off and tasting, food and
craft vendors, live music, craft demonstrations, a lumberjack competition and
a kid’s zone for family-friendly fun. All chili is cooked from scratch
on-site.

Nearby
Accommodations

The Cove
Campground

This campground,
nestled on 3,000 acres in the Appalachian Mountains, is a certified tree farm
with 100 campsites and several small cabins for visitors to reserve. Three
spring-fed lakes are on the grounds, as well as a target range, volleyball
court and a sandy beach area for water
recreation.

Candy Hill
Campground

Located in Winchester,
Candy Hill Campground offers cabin rentals, as well as RV and tent camping
access. On-site amenities include a swimming pool, bike and golf cart
rentals, cable and Wi-Fi, and a family game room.

Saint Nick’s Chili Fix Chili Cook-Off

This
cook-off takes place just in time for the holidays. Five dollar
admission and dish entry fees benefit the local Meals on Wheels in Anderson,
South Carolina. Professional and amateur chili cooks face off for the honor
of first prize. Parents, bring the kids, as Santa Claus will make an
appearance during the day.

Nearby
Accommodations

Carolina Landing RV
Resort

This RV resort offers
luxury and deluxe cabin rentals in addition to RV hook-ups. The campground is
near Lake Hartwell and is a gateway to water recreation with a marina and
boat dock, along with other on-site amenities including mini golf, RV storage
and a fitness center.