The 3rd Annual Estes Park Winter Festival runs Friday, January 13 through Sunday, January 15, 2012.
Last year, my husband and I decided to randomly check out this event without really knowing what to expect, and we had so much fun! In addition to the interactive ice castle, which is really great for kids, we loved the chili cook off. I think we sampled over forty green and red chilis. The hot green chilis are always my favorite and there were some memorable ones with a good kick.
The event starts on Friday night with a Céilidh Barn dance and outdoor bonfire that includes cowboy poetry and ghost stories, hot chocolate and s’mores. This event is free and sponsored by Estes Park Weddings.
The next day is Winter Trails day at Rocky Mountain National Park and the two days of live music, chili, beer and wine tasting commence at the Estes Park Winter Festival. This event has become so popular it has been moved from Bond Park to the heated, enclosed pavilion at the Fairgrounds at Stanley Park. This has allowed the festival organizers to increase the size and scope of this event and I can’t wait to attend again this year! To read the entire schedule of events planned for Winter Festival, go here.
Admission to Estes Park Winter Festival is just $5, and this includes chili tasting. For $25 you can purchase festival admission that includes chili tasting and the extensive beer and wine tasting. Purchase tickets here.
And now for the really, really good part”¦ you can enter here to win admission for two to this event. One luck winner will receive two $25 full admission tickets that include beer and wine tasting. ID required at the door.
Just leave a comment below telling me if you prefer green or red chili and you’ll be entered to win a pair of tickets to this fantastic Estes Park event. Feel free to tell us who makes your favorite chili, whether it be a restaurant, family member or friend.
I think I make a darn good red chili, but my friend Lara, of Fly By Chili, makes my favorite green chili.
A winner will be chosen at random this Friday, January 6, at approximately 3 p.m.
Join the Estes Park Winter Festival on Facebook and check out more photos from last year’s Estes Park Winter Festival on HeidiTown’s Facebook page.
Good luck!
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Red chili !! And hot!
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Green chili
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RED Chili reaches me best!
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I prefer red chili but nothing too spicy. It’s all about flavor. Happy New Year!
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Green Chili, all the way. Made by my husband.
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Green chili is the best!!!
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I like Red Chile the best! Thank you and wish me luck!
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Green chili! Yum!
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I love me some green!
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Green!
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Awwww Mayor! I prefer Green Chile – Hot, but flavorful, and I like my own if I do say so myself.
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Green Chili! Gravity 1020 at FCB makes some amazing green chili even though it is not a full time thing.
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As a transplanted Texan, I prefer red, and thick, chewy bits of meat! Honestly, this is nuts, but my ex-husband made the best chili I have ever had – and it may be that it’s been two decades since I have enjoyed it…but it gets better in my head, and I try to replicate it yearly!
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Mmmm…. Green Chili!
A friend of mine makes the best authentic kind!
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Red!
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Green!
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Green pork chili ade by me!
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Super spicy green chili!!! Pick me, I only had 28 days off in 2011, I need a break! haha
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Green! I’m pretty wimpy but still like to eat it!
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I love red chili.
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Green Chili, but only vegetarian for ME.
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Green! No wait, Red! No, wait…green, for sure green. But i love Red!!! Ok, Red. No, really, green, definitely green. With a side of red.
=)
Thanks Heiditown!
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I love green!
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Mix’em together, or give them to me separate…I will dominate all chili! Love them both.
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Red Chili All the way!!
Unless i’m having burritos then it has to be green!!
Do I really have to choose Heidi?
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I love them both! My man makes a really good pork green chili! 🙂
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Definitely green.
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I prefer RED! The hotter the better 🙂
Thanks again for another Give Away! Heiditown is the BEST!!!!!!!
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I definitely prefer the green!
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definitely green! =)
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Red Hot Chili Peppers…
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My husband makes the best red chili! It’s my favorite! Love being married to man who is a fabulous cook : )
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hmmm….tough choice! I love MY green chile, but its not for the purists really. Red chile made with chunks of beef (not hamburger) is also delish. Spicy is good as long as you can still TASTE it.
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Red Chili, my favorite
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Red chile, but mild!
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That’s not the husband in the sombrero is it???? 🙂
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No, no, no Geoff! My husband has a much, much larger sombrero! 🙂
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red chile….on a good cold ski day at a ski lodge
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I love both red chile and green chile just depends on what the weather is like and if i want the hubby to have gas or not. lol
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I like my chili mixed, a little red and a little green…… not too hot and not to mild. You could call it the Goldilocks chili!!!!!!
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Green Chili all the way!
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Hello There. It’s Green 🙂
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red HOT chili!
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Green – Preferably from the Roaring Fork in Scottsdale, but I have their recipe!!
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This sounds fantastic! I just moved out to the Rockies from Florida, so I had never heard of green chili until recently. I need to continue sampling before I can make a solid statement on my favorite – but Bull & Bush in Denver makes a mean green chili served over mashed potatoes, yum.
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Green chili is amazing, especially in this part of the country. The spicier, the better!
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Green chili is my fave. I used to make a decent one but it’s been a while.
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Green chili, especially in a pork green chili stew. Hmmm, now I need to go shopping.
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Green chili most of the time, red chili on burritos though
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green chili must definitely!
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Hands down GREEN CHILI made with fresh roasted Hatch chili’s. Yumm Yummmmm.
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Green Chili!!! It holds my heart without question!!
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Gr33n!
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I l.o.v.e. green chile. love. My dad makes the best green chile ever, but alas, I did not inherit his wonderful cooking skills. Good thing he’ll still make it for me.
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Green is my fave, but I haven’t found a favorite yet, though Annie’s in Denver is a darn good start.
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crud, I meant little anita’s
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I love love love green chili! Best I ever had was in Santa Fe. Pick me and I’ll make your wildest dreams come true. I just moved to CO in June and free tickets to an event is just what I need…trying to do everything, go everywhere and explore this beautiful state! Thanks! Muah!
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Red for sure; verde never strikes my fancy. How many vendors are represented at the festival?
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Cory,
There were around 40 chiili cooks, but also about 8 other vendors selling homemade salsas and jewelry and such. They have moved the venue this year, so I think they will be able to accommodate even more of everything this year!
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Green chili!!!! With amazing powerful flavor… Ooooh nothing beats it! I’ve been waiting for a good chili cook off and this looks like my kind of time!
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Green Chili. Love it on Adelitas in Lovelands enchiladas.
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I would say green.
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Love, love, love me some chili cook-offs. One of my family’s random traditions would be to head up to the Chugwater Chili Cookoff to bear not only the sizzling temperatures, but often plenty of sizzling chili submissions as well.
I’d have to say my favorite local green chili has to be from Santiago’s…it goes on just about anything. 🙂
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Red!
I don’t have a favorite local place… but I keep tryin’
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I’m a fan or red and my husband loves green!
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Green chili!!! My favorite chili is made by my mother in law! Thanks for the opportunity!!
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I love green chili!! We love Estes park and don’t get up there often enough!! Crossing my fingers to win!
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Mild, mild, and milder. Whichever fits that qualification is my kind of chili!
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The WINNER is Shannon Hein!!! She has been notified via email.
Thank you to everyone who entered. This was a very popular giveaway!!! In case you were wondering, I pick a winner by using this website: http://www.random.org/.
For those of you who didn’t win, remember, to get into this festival and taste chili it’s just $5!!! If you want to taste wine and beer, tickets are $25.
Tickets will be available at the door, but you can pre-purchase tickets here: http://www.estesparkwinterfestival.com/
I hope to see you there!!!
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Missed this last year, looks like fun! I prefer green : )