Battle of the Service Clubs set for 2025 Charles City Great Chili Cook-Off

To The Press

Friday, Feb. 28, will present a chance to warm tummies along with community spirit for the 27th Annual Great Chili Cook-Off in Charles City.

Organized by Main Street Charles City, the Chili Cook-Off brings people together, warms up the winter season with a variety of chili recipes and grants bragging rights to the cook with the winning recipe and that cook’s sponsor.

Each year a different theme and collection of local celebrity chili cooks is assembled, with the 2025 edition being the Battle of the Service Clubs.

These organizations serve the public good on a regular basis, but on the last Friday in February they will be serving up their best chili concoctions and vying for the coveted “Golden Ladle” award.

This year’s featured cooks and the service groups they represent are:

• Kip Hauser from the Community Center.

• Jennifer Lantz representing the Foster Grandparents program

• Victoria Mead from C.A.Y.A Transition Home for Women.

• Chuck Meyer from the Charles City Lion’s Club.

• Mike Thome on behalf of the Charles City Knights of Columbus.

• Ann Troge from the Charles City Rotary Club.

• Sally Vowell from the Elks Lodge.

• Zolton Zorzi on behalf of the Charles City Community Fund.

The public is invited to sample each of the eight batches of chili and vote for their favorite, as well as enjoy dessert prepared by the Family and Consumer Sciences classes and FCCLA students at the Charles City Middle and High Schools. Beverages will also be provided.

Tickets are $10 per person and available in advance at the Main Street Charles City Office at 401 N. Main St., or at the door the day of the event at the Columbus Club, 502 Clark St., while supplies last.

Serving and voting will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, and all are invited!

Helping to make this community event possible are these sponsors: C.A.Y.A. Transition Home for Women, Charles City Knights of Columbus, Charles City Lion’s Club, Charles City Rotary Club, CUSB Bank, First Citizens Bank, First Security Bank & Trust and Yokohama TWS.

Main Street Charles City is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization under the Main Street Iowa program that works to preserve, beautify and enhance the Charles City downtown district. For more information, call (641) 228-2335 or email info@charlescitychamber.com.