The 8th annual Arkansas State Chili Championship will be held Saturday, April 20, at the Holiday Island Country Club. Numerous chili cooks from around the country will compete for $3,000 in prize money in four categories: Red Chili, Green Chili, Homestyle and People’s Choice.

The winners will get to compete in the World Chili Championship Cookoff in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in September, where the Red Chili Champion wins $15,000.

Spectators at the Arkansas State Chili Cookoff can taste as much chili as they want and vote for their favorite.

The chili cook with the most votes is crowned the People’s Choice Champion.

The event is sanctioned by the International Chili Society and the proceeds benefit The Purple Flower, a domestic violence and sexual assault resource and support center. In the past six years, the event has raised more than $25,000 for local charities.

The admission fee to the event is $8. The public tasting is from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Anyone with questions or who is interested in competing, contact Steve at 845-255-3073 or chiliskf@gmail.com.