Red Gold Chili Cook-Off And Red Gold Run to Crush Hunger

The Red Gold Chili Cook-Off and Red Gold Run to Crush Hunger is an annual one-day event held in downtown Elwood, Indiana. The 2025 edition is scheduled for October 11 and features a vibrant mix of food, entertainment, and community charity activities.

The event atmosphere is festive and family-friendly, centered around the historic downtown square near the Elwood Municipal Building at South B and Anderson Streets. It includes a large gathering of chili cooks showcasing over 30 unique chili recipes ranging from mild to spicy, each using Red Gold tomato products. Visitors can taste these chilis for a fee, enjoying a variety of flavors while browsing local arts and crafts booths, fall products, homemade goods, specialty handmade items, and an Indiana craft beer and wine garden. Live music and entertainment add to the lively, communal vibe throughout the day.

The Red Gold Run to Crush Hunger complements the cook-off with a 10K/5K run and a 1-mile family walk, all aimed at raising funds and awareness to fight hunger in central Indiana. Proceeds from the race benefit local food banks such as the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Morrisett Center Food Pantry. This run typically draws strong community support, helping provide thousands of meals to families in need.

Event Activities and Schedule (approximate)

• 8:30 AM: Vendor booths open, featuring arts & crafts, baked goods, specialty items, and local products.
• 10:00 AM: Chili tasting begins — visitors sample chili recipes created by competing teams.
• Throughout the Day: Live entertainment including music and family fun activities such as airbrush tattoos, hair coloring, balloon twisters, and caricatures.
• Indiana Beer & Wine Garden: Available for adult visitors to enjoy local craft beverages.
• Red Gold Run to Crush Hunger: 10K, 5K runs, and 1-mile family walk occur concurrently, providing an active, community fundraising effort.
• Special appearances by local celebrities or groups including Indianapolis Colts representatives.

Background and History

The festival is co-sponsored by Red Gold, a family-owned tomato processing company founded in 1942 and based in Indiana, and the Elwood Chamber of Commerce. It began as a local chili cook-off and has evolved into a major community event with wide participation in both food tasting and charitable runs. Over the years, the event has raised substantial amounts to combat hunger, highlighting Red Gold’s commitment to community support and sustainability. The cook-off has been held annually for over 35 years, continually expanding its impact and entertainment offerings.

In recent years, the event has also featured craft vendors and live entertainment, transforming the cook-off into a comprehensive fall festival experience for all ages. The Red Gold Run to Crush Hunger itself has raised millions of meals for local food insecurity programs since inception.

Overall, the event offers a warm, celebratory, and charitable atmosphere appealing to families, food lovers, athletes, and community supporters alike. It reflects Elwood’s small-town charm combined with broad community engagement around food, fitness, and philanthropy.