The Great Mac & Chili Challenge: Nov. 5

Westport, CT – The younger sister to Chowdafest, The Great Mac & Chili Challenge, will be celebrating its 3^rd annual competition at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, CT on Sunday, November 5, 2017. Those who attend get to judge who has the best classic and creative chili, along with classic and creative mac n' cheese.  

Like Chowdafest, everyone gets a spoon, pencil and a ballot when they check in. Then, guests can enjoy unlimited sampling of 20 different chili and mac n' cheese entries. Admission is just $15 for adults and $5 for kids (6-12), parking is FREE and the event is rain or shine. Tickets are available at the door or online at: www.MacAndChiliChallenge.com

Restaurants competing this year include Bobby Q's Cue & Co (Norwalk), Burger Bar & Bistro (Norwalk), Cask Republic (New Haven, Norwalk & Stamford), Drewba Q (food truck), Firehouse Grill (Monroe), Geronimo (Fairfield, New Haven), Harbor Harvest (Norwalk), Hub & Spoke (Bridgeport), Killer B (Norwalk), Little Pub (Fairfield, Greenwich, Ridgefield & Wilton), Old Post Tavern (Fairfield), Peaches (Norwalk), Prime 16 (Orange), Simply Delicious (Norwalk, Westport) and The Bind Rhino (Norwalk). 

“This event originally started out as Chilifest six or seven years ago but we added mac n' cheese three years ago as the two go so well together,” said event director Jim Keenan. “Now with the fall temperatures getting a close to normal, people crave comfort food like this. If the Mac & Chili Challenge booth we had at Chowdafest is any indication, we're hoping for a great crowd. People just devoured a creative mac we were sampling called Jacked Mac by Simply Delicious.

For additional information about The Great Mac & Chili Challenge, please visit or email event director Jim Keenan at www.MacAndChiliChallenge.com 

The Great Mac & Chili Challenge, is sponsored by: The Farmer's Cow, New England Coffee Company, Hummel Brothers, Cabot Creamery, Acadia brand water, WEBE 108, Clover, Lowe's, Harney & Son Teas and City Carting & Recycling