Gumbo Chili Showdown Frequently Asked Questions

The Showdown will be held at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The event will take place in the grass fields at the East corner of the parking lot – enter the stadium on Lott Street.

You may park at no charge in the Ladd-Peebles Stadium parking lot.

This is an outdoor event. High heels are not advised. Last year the weather was warm enough for shorts and tee-shirts during the afternoon.

There will be plenty of gumbo and chili for you to eat. Food is included with your admission. Soda and water will be available for purchase at vending booths.

Tickets are $10 the day of the event, but you can pre-order for $8. If you would like to pre-order a ticket, email your name and intent to attend to gumbochil@gmail.com. There will be soft drinks available for purchase at the event. All proceeds benefit the Regan Robinson Young Scholarship.

The People’s Choice Award is your opportunity to select your favorite gumbo or chili. Tasters vote for their favorite team by giving money to the teams at the event, $1 = 1 vote. All money goes directly to the scholarship.

Sponsorship at our event has many benefits. You can become a sponsor by contacting us at gumbochili@gmail.com.

This is an outdoor event. It will go on rain or shine. We have no rain location.

Each team will cook 10 gallons of either chili or gumbo, fresh, that Saturday on a propane burner. Cooking starts by 7AM and the event opens to the public at 10:30AM! (Sorry, no premixed or pre-cooked gumbo or chili is allowed. Electricity cannot be supplied and no generators or large batteries are allowed due to safety concerns.)

You will need a cooker with propane (enough for 8 cooking hours), pot & lid, and cooking utensils. The equipment should be large enough for cooking 10 gallons of chili or gumbo. Teams may bring their own drinks in an ice chest and chairs.

Cooking starts between 6 and 8 am Saturday, the event opens to the public at 10:30AM. Be ready to serve visitors and judges by 10:45AM.

We will provide breakfast, plastic gloves, bowls, plastic flatware, napkins, tables, and tents. We will have live music again this year and a bounce house for kids!

We encourage all teams to decorate their tents and tables!

The People's Choice Award is the attendees' opportunity to select their favorite gumbo or chili. The team that collects the most money at the event wins the People's Choice Award. Money may be donated by attendees (or contestants) or collected by teams by selling raffle tickets. Money raised goes to the Regan Robinson Young Scholarship.

Student teams are allowed to have a company cover the cost of participating in the Showdown. The teams will be responsible for recognizing their sponsors.

Please wear comfortable clothes, as you will be on location for about 8 hours. Many teams last year made team shirts or came in costumes to compliment their table decorations!

This is an outdoor event. It will go on rain or shine. We have no rain location. It has rained in the past, but that did not dampen our spirit! Should the weather become dangerous for our attendees, teams, and staff; we will wait the weather out in the stadium.

The time and place of the Head Chef's Meeting for the 2016 event will be announced at a later date. At this meeting, you will turn in your exam certificate for a Food Handler's Permit, review the Showdown rules, get your tent and table assignments, and have all other questions answered. Attendance is mandatory for the team Head Chef!

One member of each team needs a food handler's permit. If no team member has a permit, then take your food handler's course online at Safeway Classes. You may use your driver's license number or the last 4 digit of your social security number to register on the website. Bring the certificate to the Head Chef's meeting with your ID to obtain your permit. Teams pay for the online course and the Showdown will cover the Health Department Permit fee. You may get your license at any other class offered by the health department at your own cost.

We will not have power outlets available to the teams. Generators and batteries for running equipment are not allowed due to space and safety concerns.

There will be plenty of parking inside the fence at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. There will be no charge for parking on the day of the event.

Teams may have one vehicle in the event area to transport supplies. Vehicles must be out of the area prior to the event opening to the public.