Princeton Community Chili Cook-Off

Princeton is full of home cooks and professional chefs, and the Community Chili Cook-Off, hosted by the Arts Council of Princeton and the Historical Society of Princeton, puts them to a vote at Updike Farmstead on Quaker Road. Contestants serve samples through the afternoon, with 15 or more chilis, and the crowd names the Princeton Chili Champion before awards are handed out. A string band plays bluegrass, lawn games fill the grass, and a lemonade stand and Triumph Brewery pours are on offer. A picnic blanket fits the lawn once you have tasted through the pots.

Our take: Taste across the chilis before the awards, then cast your vote for the Princeton Chili Champion.