Fundraiser

Event Details

• Mini Market free to enter. 
• Chili Tasting Tickets available online before the event, and a limited amount will be available at the door the day of the event. 
• Springdale Food Park is a great space but space is limited. 
• Event capacity at one time is 150. 
• 10×10 Vendor Space is limited to 20 spaces, including contestants.
• Please limit your pets. As this venue is much smaller than FIesta Gardens, we are anticipating the venue to be crowded. Please use extreme caution to prevent any discomfort for your pet while at the event due to the small, loud, and crowded space. 
• This is an alcohol free event. 
• There may be a line at the entry. We are close to the railroad tracks so be aware of crossing. 

EVENT SCHEDULE

7am Sponsor, Contestant, & Vendor Check-In/Set-up

10am Vendor Check-in gate closes

10:30am Booth Inspections

11am Event Begins

12pm Tasting Tickets Available and Tasting Begins

3pm Tasting ends; Tallying Begins

4pm Winners Announced

5pm Event Ends

9pm Venue closed

Cook-Off Details

We’re in search of the best vegan chili in Texas!

All Contestants

• $55 Fee (to cover food permit/booth responsibility form – must abide by all A/TC/TX health rules)
• Entry of 300 samples of a single type of chili in 3oz containers (provided); About 7 gallons of chili)
• Receive 10×10 Space (BYO Tent, table, chairs) 
• Able to vend items along with competing as long as chili is focus
• Promotions on our website, socials, and printed materials
• Listed on our event shirt
• Certificate Award and listing on all our medias
• 15% Discount for Texas VegFest 2026 Participation

Newcomers

• May sell up to 3 items at their space as long as chili remains the focus

Professionals

• Professional Contestants are those who have their own business with multiple employees
• Able to use space for additional vending
• Logo on printed materials and event shirt
• Special award calculated after the event from a percent of the ticket sales placed into a pool for contestants to split.

Contest Rules 

1. All chili must be cooked on site using basic raw ingredients (no premixes or preseasoned items)
2. All contestants must label ingredients and any food allergens contained in their chili (nuts, gluten, soy, etc.)
3. 1 submission of a single type of chili per contestant 
4. Reserve 5 servings for judges, 10 for other contestants, and 45 for volunteers/vip 
5. Chili submissions and all items being sold at booth MUST be 100 vegan – no exceptions
6. All balances must be paid before check-in
7. Confirmation to participate only after payment, agreement, and permit submitted
8. Must accept cash and cards at your booth
9. Must stay in designated space
10. Use compostable cups provided at check-in
11. Must display food permit in prominent location in booth
12. Food Permit provided at check-in
13. Must follow the A/TC/TX food booth set-up guide and check list 
14. Must have fire extinguishes, handwashing station, dish sanitization station, ground cover, waste and wastewater bins
15. Set up between 7am and 10am (Gates close at 10am)
16. Load in ONLY at designated vendor load-in space, NO Parking in vendor load-in space
17. Be ready for booth inspection at 10.30am
18. Be ready for gates to open at 11am
19. Judging begins at 3pm
20. Winners announced at 4pm
21. Event ends at 5pm, breakdown between 5 and 9pm.
22. No refunds available after November 7th, 2025
23. Cancel before November 7th, 2025 
24. Disqualification for anyone not following the contest rules

Judging

Judging is conducted by a panel of judges, chili tasters, and volunteers. Judges taste at 1pm. Chili Tasters begin tasting at 12pm. All tickets must be turned in by 3pm to count for judging. Winners announced at 4pm.

Categories for judging are Best Tasting, Spiciest, Best Vegan Protein, Best Bean, Best Budget, and Most Local (contestants must send ingredient receipts for Best Budget and Most Local). 

Judges are testing for color, aroma, consistency, taste, and aftertaste.  

Chili to account for all guest judges, chili tasters, and volunteers. 

Confirm Your Space

To confirm your participation as a contestant at the Texas VegFest Chili Cook-Off and Mini Market, please:

1. Complete agreement
2. Complete booth responsibility form
3. Submit payment
4. Submit ingredients and receipts
5. Submit and logos or branding

PARTICIPATE

Market Details

Join or Mini-Market during our fundraiser! Our mini-market is free to the public so that attendees can focus on our vendors. Space is limited, so sign-up today!

Sponsors, In-Kind Partners, and Vendors Receive 

• Name listed on all printed materials, social media, website, and event shirt
• 15% Discount for Texas VegFest 2026 Participation
• Includes Space ONLY 
• BYO tent, table, chairs
• Space can be used to sell, sample,  promote, for nonprofits and CSAs
• Does not include entry to cook-off
• Limited vendor space available, confirmation only available after payment and forms submitted

Market Fees

• Chili Partner Sponsor 10×10 Space $300 (includes food permit)
• 10×10 Vendor Space $125 (includes food permit)
• 5×10 Vendor Space $95 (includes food permit)
• 5×5 Vendor Space $65

Vendor Rules

1. Must label ingredients and any food allergens contained in products (nuts, gluten, soy, etc.)
2. All items being sold at booth MUST be 100 vegan – no exceptions
3. All balances must be paid before check-in
4. Confirmation to participate only after payment, agreement, and permit submitted
5. Must accept cash and cards at your booth
6. Must stay in designated space
7. Use compostable cups for food vending (no styrofoam, no glass)
8. Must display food permit in prominent location in booth
9. Food Permit provided at check-in
10. Must follow the A/TC/TX food booth set-up guide and checklist 
11. Must have fire extinguishers, handwashing station, dish sanitizing station, ground cover, waste and wastewater bins
12. Set up between 7am and 10am (Gates close at 10am)
13. Load in ONLY at designated vendor load-in space, NO Parking in vendor load-in space
14. Be ready for booth inspection at 10.30am
15. Be ready for gates to open at 11am
16. Event ends at 5pm, breakdown between 5 and 9pm.
17. No refunds available after November 7th, 2025
18. Cancel before November 7th, 2025 
19. Booth removal for anyone not following the vendor rules

Confirm Your Space

To confirm your participation as a Sponsor, In-Kind Partner, or Vendor at the Texas VegFest Chili Cook-Off and Mini Market, please:

1. Complete agreement
2. Complete booth responsibility form
3. Submit payment
4. Submit logos or branding

PARTICIPATE

Discount Pricing for Texas VegFest

Our Texas VegFest 2026 Planning Season has begun!

We a currently accepting a variety of participants for Texas VegFest in April 2026 at Fiesta Gardens in Austin, TX.

Sign-up to participate as a sponsor, vendor, nonprofit, presenter, musician or volunteer at: TexasVegFest.com/SignUp. 

Special discount pricing is available to those participating at the Texas VegFest Fundraiser and in Texas 2026, as well as those who participated at one of the Vegan Coalition events.

 Sign-up to learn more about discount pricing! 

About Texas VegFest & Texas Veg Foundation

Fundraising Purpose & Goal