Chili on the Comstock

Spicy, mild or chili verde? Pick your favorite at the 43rd Chili on the Comstock where the International Chili World Qualifier takes over Virginia City with mouth-watering chili. While some of the best chili cooks in the West compete for a spot in the International Chili Society World Finals, they’re also looking for your vote for ‘People’s Choice Chili’. Think you have an award-winning chili recipe? Sign up as a cook.

And what’s chili without beer? Pair those tastings with some frosty brews in our Craft Beer Tour. Virginia City’s famous saloons and the Chili on the Comstock Craft Beer Tents are pouring hand-selected local and regional craft beers all weekend long. Tour tickets guarantee you 12 beer samples and 3 sweet treats.

No event would be complete without a one-of-a-kind shopping experience and the return of ‘The Great Fire Hot Chili Pepper Challenge’. Test your limits and see how high you can go on the Scoville Scale. Each round of this fiery competition will feature a chili pepper hotter than the last. Contestants will have 2 minutes per round to eat the entire chili pepper but if you take a drink or can’t keep the chili down, you’re out. Registration includes two drink tokens valid at one of the event bars, 5 chili samples from Chili on the Comstock cooks, and your chance to be crowned the ‘Chili Eating Champion’! The top 3 finishers will win trophies and the champion will go home with a percentage of the registration pot. This event features a new challenge and new winners each day!

Taste your way through award-winning chili and brews and maybe sample a chili pepper or two along the way, all while exploring the historic merchants and saloons of Virginia City. It’s going to be fire!