Get spicy: SoNo Fest and Chili Cook-off heats up

The seventh annual SoNo Fest and Chili Cook-off will take over the streets of North Park on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with more chili, more beer and even more live music than previous years.

There will be more than 40 local restaurants competing in this year’s event including Big Front Door, Kindred, Kensington Cafe, Starlite, Toronado, West Coast Tavern, Encontro, Beerfish, Panama 66, Hamilton’s Tavern, Small Bar, Tostadas, Waypoint Public and more.

The competitors will go face-to-face for the title of best chili in four different categories: best overall, best vegetarian, most unique and people’s choice.

While tasting North Park and South Park’s chili stars, sip on stellar craft beers in the beer garden, provided by Second Chance Beer Co., Acoustic Ales, Monkey Paw Brewing, Latitude 33, Modern Times, Societe Brewing Co., North Park Beer Co., Ballast Point, Stone Brewing Co., Thorn Street Brewery and several others.

Two live music stages will be set up at the fest, with artists like Le Chateau, The Phantoms, The Creepy Creeps, Bit Maps, The Downs Family, Sara Petite and more, jamming away.

Attendance to the fest is free. A ceramic souvenir bowl and five two-ounce chili tastes are $20. Attendees can also opt to bring their own bowl and purchase the five chili tastes for $15. All taster tickets can be purchased at entry.

For those craving something other than chili, various food trucks will also be on-site including Devilicious, Haadsai Thai, Two For The Road, Eat Your Heart Out and Tacos La Mezcla.

For more information, visit sonofestchilicookoff.com.

Intersection of 32nd & Thorn Streets, North Park