It is HEATING UP in New Hampshire!

The fall is really heating up with all the chili cook-offs that have boiled up left and right. All of the cook-off events sound worth the visit (I do love a good bowl of chili!), so here are a few cook-offs to take note of:

World Championship Chili Cook-Off

The mother of all chili cook-offs in New Hampshire for 2010, the World Championship Chili Cook-Off went through a stringent selection process and chose to have their much celebrated annual world championship in Manchester, NH. The World Championship Chili Cook-Off is organized each year by the International Chili Society (ICS), a non-profit organization that sanctions chili cook-offs with judging and cooking rules and regulations. Winners from sanctioned events are eligible to participate in the World Championship, which is scheduled from October 1-3, 2010. Tickets are only $5.00 and include five chili sampling

tickets. Or if you feel lucky, enter NH.com's World Championship Chili Cook-Off Ticket Giveaway

(you must enter by 9/26 to be eligible). Finally, if you would like to receive updates as they become available, you can visit the World Championship Chili Cook-Off on Facebook and show them how much you "like" them!

Claremont Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off

With this family-oriented, high-quality area attraction, Claremont

comes to life with

this city-wide event

produced by the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce. During the day, the festival includes a chili cook-off, live music, apple pie auction, 5k certified race, hothead contest, classic car display, art walk, kid zone, lots of vendors, and more! Transitioning into the night, the festival will be offering a pub crawl and a family movie night under the stars.

With major event sponsor Eastern Propane & Oil, this day and evening will be one for the books! The chili cook-off starts at 11am, and tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 18. The Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce is currently redesigning their website, so all Claremont Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off details can be found on the Fall Festival Facebook page.

21^st Annual WHEB Chili Cook-Off

The longest running cook-off I was able to find in NH, the WHEB Chili Cook-Off has the details all squared away! This year's cook-off is scheduled for Saturday, October 9th from 11:30pm until the chili is gone. Adult tickets are $15.00, children tickets are $6.00 and Prescott Park Arts Festival members receive free admission. For this year's event, WHEB has partnered with Strawbery Banke Museum, and the Chili Cook-Off will be offered in tandem with their Fall Festival. Both events will take place on the grounds of Strawbery Banke. In addition, my sources announced that this year's attendees will be able to pair their chili with Redhook beer!

8th Annual Chilly Chili Cook-Off

This annual event has actually outgrown the venue used in years past so are in negotiations to create a "Chilly Chili Cook-Off Stroll" which will stretch through the Village of North Conway. Although a specific date has not been announced, this cook-off is typically held during winter so you have a bit of time to schedule this one on your social calendar. Check the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce website for details in early October. For me, a stroll through crisp winter air with a steaming bowl of chili sounds like a winter wonderland!

Who says the fall isn't hot hot hot in New Hampshire? :-)