Belleville’s Chili Cook-Off returns this weekend. Here’s the schedule

Belleville celebrates the 40th annual Chili Cook-Off this weekend, featuring more than 40 vendors, some of which will dial the heat up to 11 with their flavorful offerings.

Taking place Friday and Saturday on Belleville’s Public Square, the event will also include a few non-chili concessions, refreshing beverages and plenty of live entertainment.

Before the festival resumes on Saturday, the Chili Chase 5K Run takes place. The run starts and ends at East Main and Church streets with a route in the area southeast of the Public Square.

The race starts at 9 a.m. sharp and will be followed by the Kids Pepper Dash at 10 a.m. with kids ages 12 and under dashing down East Main Street from Church Street to Charles Street and back.

Registration for the Chili Chase – available online through the Belleville Chamber website – ends Saturday at 8:30 a.m., and the Kids Pepper Dash sign-up ends at 9 a.m.

Here’s the Chili Cook-off schedule:

Friday, Oct. 11

• 11 a.m. Festival opens

• Noon The Nitpickers on the Main Stage

• 3:15 p.m. Chili Judging at St. Clair County Annex Building

• 5:45-9:45 p.m. SuperJam (classic rock) on the Main Stage

• 9:15 p.m. Souvenir stand and token booths close

• 9:30 p.m. Beer stands close

• 10 p.m. Festival closes

Saturday, Oct. 12

• 9 a.m. Chili Chase 5K Run (rain or shine)

• 10 a.m. Kids Pepper Dash

• 11 a.m. Festival opens

• 11 a.m. Stompbox & The Mixtapes (rock cover band) on the Main Stage

• 2 p.m. Fanfare on the Main Stage

• 5 p.m. Chili Cook-Off Awards on the Main Stage

• 5:30 p.m. The RetroNerds (‘80s tribute band) on the Main Stage

• 8:15 p.m. Souvenir stand and token booths close

• 8:30 p.m. Beer stands close

• 9 p.m. Festival closes

Who’s Cooking?

Here are the event’s participating vendors:

• BEAST Craft BBQ Co.

• Gaslight Vinyl

• Ehret, Inc.

• BOS (Bank of Springfield)

• Emmanuel Church

• The Spud Shack

• Keller Williams Pinnacle

• Dahm & Schell Inc., dba The Edge

• Washington Kettle Corn

• Dizon’s Food

• Truman’s Best

• Cold Stone Creamery

• Filipino Sari-Sari Store

• Beaver’s Den

• Ellis Grove Fire Department

• BEckett’s Kick Chili

• Roy-el Catering, Inc.

• St. Clair County F.O.P. Lodge #148

• MO Roasted Corn

• St. Clair County Bar Foundation

• MiHungry BBQ LLC

• Troop 53

• Kona Ice

• Medicine Express Pharmacy

• Rosie Bell Catering

• Boy Scouts - Troop 553

• Serendipity Food & Beverage Concessions

• Keisha Taylor

• Chaos Sushi Bar & Grill

• Lincoln Theatre

• St. George’s Episcopal Church

• Tivanov Catering

• Cros and Mos BBQ-BBC Sherrie Crogier

• Romero Concession

• Nothing Bundt Cake

• Jobs Daughter’s Bethel #24

• Belleville Running Club

• Belleville Fire Fighters Local 53

• Diana’s Concessions

• Southern Smoke

• Oates Associates

• Ragan Gourmet Popcorn

• MRB Development, LLC - Copper Fire

• AllStar Carpet

• Mica Cox Signature Events

• Grimm & Gorly

• Grüv

• Soul Burgers

About the Belleville Chili Cook-Off

Belleville Chili Cook-Off was first held in 1983 and is hosted by the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce.

The 40th annual Belleville Chili Cook-Off takes place 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12.

The event is free to attend and open to the public.

Tokens for beer will be available at booths located on the north side of the fountain and at the corner of East Main and Jackson streets.

Cash is needed for chili, other food items and non-alcoholic beverages. Prices will vary by vendor. ATMs will be available near the token stands.

For more information, visit bellevillechili.com or check out the Facebook page.