A Public Safety Chili Cook-Off is scheduled for McMinnville this Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event pairs a chili cook-off with a public-safety theme rather than a crime-response activity.
The cook-off is scheduled at the North American Aerospace Museum, located at 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way in McMinnville. Admission is free to the public, according to the North American Aerospace Museum.
Tasting, Voting and a People's Choice Winner
Visitors who show up Saturday can attend the chili cook-off. The museum notes that several teams from across the county are expected to compete, though the exact lineup of departments has not been detailed. Beyond the chili itself, the sheriff's office says the day doubles as an opportunity for residents to meet local police and firefighters face to face in a low-pressure, family-friendly setting.
The cook-off has a public-safety theme. Because the event is hosted at an aviation museum, attendees will also get the rare chance to see the Spruce Goose, the museum's signature aircraft, while they're there for the cook-off.
Other Regional Chili Cook-Offs
Comparable public-safety chili cook-offs take place elsewhere in the region. The Benton County Sheriff's Office, for instance, bills its own version as a community event that's fun for the whole family. Nearby Philomath has run a similar cook-off that has grown considerably in scale, pairing competition with public-safety outreach.
Ahead of its Sept. 13, 2026, event, Philomath had 24 registered teams, a figure organizer Gurski called the biggest turnout he could recall, according to DiningAndCooking.com. That same report noted attendance hit 1,133 the previous year, with tickets priced at $10 for ages 12 and up and $5 for younger kids. Teams in Philomath were required to prepare 10-gallon batches of chili, competing across three divisions for placing honors along with a crowd-favorite People's Choice Award and a Golden Spoon Award, as reported by Philomath News. That outlet also noted the cook-off included an emergency preparedness fair and that proceeds were split among three beneficiaries.
The McMinnville cook-off is open to the public.
