Rapid City SD – Somewhere in Rapid City, a crockpot is about to come down off a high shelf.
City of Rapid City employees will host their second annual community chili cook-off Tuesday, Oct. 27, raising money for City Utility Assist, a program that helps local households keep their water, sewer and garbage service on during a rough stretch.
The event runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Dahl Arts Center. Admission is a free-will donation, and no registration is needed to attend.
How the voting works
Attendees are the judges. Every $5 donated earns one token, and each token is one vote for a favorite chili. Voters can spread their tokens across several pots or put them all behind one cook. The chili that collects the most tokens wins.
There are two People’s Choice categories, Traditional and Non-Traditional. Last year’s Non-Traditional winner is returning to defend the title. Last year’s Traditional champion won’t be back to defend, organizers said, so that category is open for a new winner.
Chris Graves will perform live music, and yard games such as cornhole will be set up for families.
Where the money goes
City Utility Assist is a staff-driven initiative funded entirely by voluntary donations, according to the City. Every dollar raised goes toward City utility bills for local households facing short-term hardship. The City partners with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to administer the assistance.
This year, donations stretch further. The Rapid City Council approved matching money raised at the cookoff dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, after a recommendation from its Legal and Finance Committee. That means each $5 token could put $10 toward a neighbor’s utility bill.
City employees already contribute to the fund, and the City is inviting residents, businesses and civic groups to join them. Last year’s cookoff raised $1,600, and the program also held a soup dinner this spring.
“For some households, an unexpected expense or temporary setback can make it difficult to keep up with essential bills,” Shannon Truax, the City’s Public Works administration operations manager, said in a news release. “A relatively small amount of assistance at the right time can help someone regain their footing.”
How to compete
Cooks who want to enter should bring a crockpot of their favorite recipe and register at forms.rcgov.org/chilicookoff2026. The registration deadline is noon on Oct. 27.
For more information about participating, contact Truax at 605-394-4165 or sh***********@***ov.org.
Everyone else can simply show up hungry.
Sourcing
This story is based on a City of Rapid City news release dated Oct. 7, 2026, email correspondence with Shannon Truax, Public Works administration operations manager, and Rapid City Council action on the matching funds.
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