Chili on the Comstock Calls Craft Beer and Chili Lovers back to Virginia City for its 40th Celebration

Posted May 22, 2023

VIRGINIA CITY, Nev. — Perfectly seasoned, award-winning cauldrons of chili and locally acclaimed craft beer is the name of the game in historic Virginia City, Nevada, this May 20-21 when Chili on the Comstock returns for its 40th year. Professional and amateur chili cooks from around the region come together each year to tantalize taste buds with savory chili. New this year a hot chili pepper eating contest will have attendees and participants clambering for those frosty beers on the Craft Beer Tour. The region’s largest chili cook-off offers a relaxed and casual atmosphere sure to refuel the history and love of all things Western.

Local and visiting chefs descend upon Nevada’s largest national historic district for one weekend to go head-to-head for bragging rights on best chili recipe on the Comstock and hopefully earn a spot at the International Chili Society World Finals. There’s no better way to explore the best-preserved 19th century silver boomtown in Nevada than with savory chili and a craft beer in hand, offered at more than 20 locations throughout historic Virginia City as part of the Craft Beer Tour. Guiding participants through Virginia City’s famous old-west saloons and highlighting the best craft brews in the region, the Craft Beer Tour is the perfect complement to a day of chili sampling.

Those looking to crank up the heat can enter the all-new hot chili pepper eating contest, The Great Fire – Hot Chili Pepper Eating Challenge. See how hot it can get on the Comstock as daring participants chow down on piping hot chilis both days of the event. Watch the Scoville Scale go up and craft beers go down during this entertaining and all-for-fun part of the event. For $30, participants also receive two drink tokens valid at one of the event bars, five chili samples from Chili on the Comstock cooks, and the chance to be crowned the Chili Eating Champion. The top three finishers receive trophies, and the champion will go home with half of the registration pot. Entries can be purchased in advance online.

Individual beer and chili sampling packages are available online now, as well as packages offering a combination of chili and beer tastings and entries to the chili pepper eating contest:

Chili Sampling Only (which guarantees 10 samplings): $30
Craft Beer Sampling Tour Only (which promises 12 samples, must be 21+): $35
Chili & Craft Beer Sampling Combo (provides 10 chili samples and 12 craft beer samples:) $50
The Great Fire – Hot Chili Pepper Eating Challenge: $30

Anyone interested in enjoying spring weather in the high desert without chili or beer samplings can attend the event for free. For tickets and information, visit VisitVirginiaCityNV.com.

For a list of only-in-Virginia City overnight experiences and more hidden gems on the Comstock, click here. For more info on events, planning your trip to Virginia City and more, see VisitVirginiaCity.com or dial the Virginia City Tourism Commission directly at (775) 847-7500.

A short 30-minute drive from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport takes visitors to one of the largest historic districts in the state of Nevada, West, and country at Virginia City, Nevada. Discover the Comstock Lode, the world’s largest recorded silver discovery, and the Old West boomtown that supported it, which remains not much different today than when it originally boomed in the 1850s. Step back in time while exploring dozens of historic buildings, saloons, churches, and museums, or take a mine tour, ride a real steam train, and more. The Comstock Adventure Passes offer the best value with discounted attraction packages, suited to cater the interests of history lovers, silver and gold mines and museums, paranormal enthusiasts, providing the easiest and most enjoyable access Virginia City, NV in every season. For lodging, special events calendar, or Comstock Adventure Passes, visit online or call (775) 847-7500. The Visitor Information Center is located at 86 South C Street, Virginia City.

Historic Virginia City, Nevada, lays claim to many things. Hosting one of the best chili cook-offs in the region is one of them. The town’s annual Chili on the Comstock and Craft Beer Tour, set for May 21-22, 2022, brings some of the best chili cooks from around the region to compete. The 39^th annual event offers attendees tasty chili samples from award-winning cooks and refreshing beer samples with the Craft Beer Tour. Tasting packages are on sale now.

Tasting package options give attendees the option of sampling from more than 20 professional chili cooks, craft beer samples throughout the town, or a combination of the two. For those just wanting to come up and enjoy the atmosphere but no chili or beer, the event is free to attend.

Each Chili Sampling Only ticket gives purchasers access to 10 cooks. If that’s not enough chili for one day, additional packages can be purchased onsite. The Craft Beer Tour gives ticket holders the chance to sample craft beers at participating saloons and bars. The Chili & Craft Beer Sampling Combo gives ticket holders the best value with 10 chili samples and 12 craft beer samples to match.

ADVANCE-SALE TASTING PACKAGE PRICING

Chili Sampling Only (10 samples): $30
Craft Beer Sampling Tour Only (12 samples, must be 21+): $35
Chili & Craft Beer Sampling Combo (10 chili samples and 12 craft beer samples): $50

Tickets are valid for either day, May 21 or May 22. Purchase tickets here.

Check-in begins at 10 a.m. and the sampling tour ends at 4 p.m. For a list of lodging options in Virginia City, visit online.