Chili Night Beckley 32nd Annual

Beckley’s Annual Chili Night will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

The block party is held along streets of downtown Beckley and is a fund-raiser for Beckley Events.

Chili Night is one of Beckley’s biggest events!  In addition to the chili competition, Chili Night features several stages of entertainment and carnival rides.

Beckley’s 31st annual Chili Night will fill the streets of downtown Beckley on Saturday, October 1, from 5:00 to 8:30 pm.  The 2022 version will include 34 chili vendors plus 30 non-chili vendors, 9 musical acts, and a mini-carnival.  

The $5 admission includes five sample tickets and a voting coin.  2400 strips of tickets (5 samples per strip) will be available for purchase this year based on the supply of chili planned at the chili booths. Additional booths will offer drinks and other food (such as funnel cakes, roasted corn, BBQ, baked goods and more), along with pop-up shops, and informational booths.  Plus, several downtown businesses will be open during the evening.

Advance ticket sales will be available at the Beckley Exhibition Mine or Youth Museum – cash or credit card (September 26-30, 10 am – 5 pm). Only cash sales will be accepted at ticket booths during the event.  Even with advance tickets, attendees are encouraged to arrive by 7 p.m. on event day as the limited chili supplies may go fast.  During the event, ticket booths will be located on Neville Street near Word Park and near United Bank on Main Street, selling tickets from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., or while supplies last.  A limited supply of Chili Night shirts will be sold at the event headquarters at 125 Main Street. 

Most of the chili vendors will be set up along Neville & Main Streets, while other vendors will be in the Word Park parking lot, and parts of Heber, Main and Fayette Streets. The streets will be blocked at 2:30 pm for set-up to begin. Free visitor parking will be available at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway and metered parking spots are free on weekends.

In addition to regular chilies, some of the participants are preparing spicy and/or specialty chili recipes (such as vegetarian, BBQ, coffee, and chicken chili). Panels of celebrity judges will select their favorite chili in the categories (restaurants/caterers/food trucks, non-restaurant businesses, organizations, and individual), along with the most unique specialty chili and best tasting spicy chili, and a hometown favorite. Awards are also presented to the most attractive booth and most exciting booth. The public can vote for the Peoples’ Choice with voting coins distributed with admission.

In addition to tasting chili recipes, attendees can enjoy a variety of musical entertainment at several stages.  Chili Night - October 1st Entertainment Schedule:

Word Park gazebo:  5:00 -6:00 pm – The New Gospel Singaleers (gospel)

7:30 -8:30 pm – The Danley Band (country & rock with a WV attitude)

WVU Tech plaza: 6:00-7:30 pm – DNS Entertainment (DJs – dance groups)

Main Street Stage: 5:00 – 6:30 pm – Bicycle (Urban Rock - songs from the 70s to current)

7:00-8:00 – Pink Casino (pop/rock/alternative)

Shoemaker Square:  5:00 -6:15 pm – - Quiet Enough (80s rock band)

7:00 – 8:00 pm – The Switch (young high-energy rock band)

Neville Street at The Raleigh Playhouse & Theatre – HGTA Theatre Group singers (Motown)

Park with the cardinal sculpture on corner of Neville & Heber Streets: 6:00-7:00 pm – Fool the Crow (metal rock band in recovery); 8:00 pm – Awards ceremony

Word Park – back of parking lot – Myers Amusements – mini-carnival

Event organizers request that attendees do not bring pets, skateboards, or coolers to the event.  The event normally attracts a large crowd, so for everyone’s safety, dogs will not be allowed.  Booth representatives and attendees should continue to be careful to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.  Also, the police department encourages parents with children under the age of 15 to please accompany their children during the event.  

Chili Night has become a fall tradition in southern West Virginia. Organized by the Beckley Events Committee and the City of Beckley, the money raised from ticket sales helps the committee to offer events throughout the year.  Jill Moorefield of Beckley Events says “Our committee is grateful for the community’s support of this event. The chili participants put a lot of effort into making their chili and decorating their booths. We appreciate our event sponsor- McDonalds, along with in-kind sponsors United Bank and WVU Tech, plus our media partners - The Register-Herald, WVNS59, WVVA, WOAY, 105.9 WTNJ, 103CIR, GROOVY 94.1, 93.5. THE BUZZ, WWNR, and WJLS. We are grateful for the volunteers, youth council, and city departments who help with events.”  For more information, visit www.beckley.org or “Beckley Events” on Facebook.