untitled-2Thirty-three teams will compete for the Best Chili in Town honor at the ninth annual Pflugerville Pfall Chili Pfest at noon on Saturday in downtown Pflugerville.

Sponsored by the city of Pflugerville and the Pflugerville Downtown Association, the chili contest will be professionally judged at noon. For $5, attendees may purchase a package of tasting cups and tickets for judging a people’s choice top chili.

Arts and crafts along with food and drink vendors will line the downtown streets. The Heat Wave Car Show, with classic cars and hot rods, will set up at Main and Third streets. Nonprofits will have a presence with information booths, and a Kids’ Zone features a free petting zoo, face painters, a balloon artist and bounce houses.

The event includes:

  • Live music from Sawdust Road from noon-2:30 p.m.

  • A jalapeno eating contest, sponsored by Toy Time at 3 p.m.

  • Awards for the top 10 and people’s choice chilis at 4 p.m.

  • Car show awards at 4:30 p.m.


“Vendors are mostly local: Round Rock, Pflugerville, Georgetown and Cedar Park,” said Pamela Cosel, marketing and special events coordinator for the city of Pflugerville. “But we also have one from Spring and one from New Mexico.”

The rain-or-shine event is staffed by city personnel, though high school students help monitor different areas of the Kids’ Zone, Cosel said.

“It could be warm,” Cosel said, pointing out the forecast calls for 90-degree temperatures. “We were hoping for upper 70s. But the [cookoff] teams will have fun. They come up with cute names and decorate. It’s a fun day.”

Cosel said tasting cups with tickets to vote are on sale from 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m., “but the earlier [attendees buy cups and tickets] the better. Some teams will run out [of chili] as it gets later.”

A special flag at each chili team area will indicate if there is chili available.

Vendors and car show and cookoff participants with passes will be the only traffic allowed on several streets from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Closures include Main Street and First, Second and Third streets downtown.

Buses will shuttle attendees between Pflugerville High School, 1301 W. Pecan St., and downtown.

More information is available at www.pfallchilipfest.com.