DC101 CHILI COOK-OFF Tickets

Good music, but only Hard Times providing chili? What gives? I was actually looking forward to tasting different kinds of chili. Got there around 2:45 for Capitol Cities so it wasn't as if i showed up for the last band to grab food. Hope they change the event title next year, or give the chili-people a heads up to make enough and not run out by 3PM. Otherwise, change the name DC101 so you aren't giving folks like me false hope. Thanks.

Well, I learned the secret...there is no chili at the chili cook-off. But not a problem, Soundgarden rocked it about as hard as I've ever seen 'em. Almost killed by crowd surfers but that just made it more fun. I am still grinning ear to ear. And, speaking of ears, they are still ringing!

I have been attending cook off for years and can say this will be my last one. The biggest shocker was NO CHILI; people were pissed! The whole thing was a disaster... sound issues, outrageous beer lines, food pricing and quality, and overall lack of concern by event staff.

Had high hopes for this event--spring weather, good chili, good beer, great bands. The first and last came through, but the in-between got lost. While I love Hard Times, a "chili cook-off" implies more than one chili vendor. And when copious amounts of different chili is your selling point to convince friends from 100+ miles to drop their hard-earned cash on a weekend to DC for this even, it's kind of a major let down when there is only one vendor. Another HUGE bummer: $8 beer?! Correction: $8 Bud?! Listen, I get that you had some headliners. Fine. But we all already paid between $35 and $65 for a ticket...now you want $8 for a single, less-than-craft-quality beer. Cripes. And that's before you shell out for for a $16 fair food. I really hadn't realized I was going to nearly bankrupt myself to have a decent time at this event. They've announced a fall chili event, but unless ppl who attended this fiasco get in free (maybe with a complimentary beer ticket or two), I will pass on any future events put on by these organizers.

Things started off bad when we first walked into the event. We got there around noon so we could walk around and have some chili while drinking some beer to get ready for the bands. Unfortunately, there was no chili at the chili cookoff. The only chili you could get was the horrible pre-packaged stuff put on top of potato chips. No bulk discount for beer tickets (Last year was 4 tickets for $25, this year it was flat $8 a beer). The only food available was carnival foods, all massively overpriced and with the equivalent taste of Styrofoam. Since there was no re-entry, this left us sitting on our asses for 2 hours before the first act, who did nothing but play covers. It wasn't until AWOLnation got onstage at 6pm that things got better, but by that point we were tired and pissed off. The final moment we realized 'this place sucks' was the event staff. When questioned WHY there was no chili, their response was 'Well, you wouldn't expect to go to a Sunoco show and get free gas would you?'. No, but I wouldn't go to a *chili cookoff* and not expect there to be any chili! The other question I have is that last year the money paid to the chili cookoff booths was given to charity. DC101 was more than happy to advertise the charity, but near as we could tell there was no money going to them at all.

Horrible event. No chili at a chili cook-off? Needless to say, event was a real let down for me after waiting several years to attend. Advanced tickets were priced OK but my god, look out when you get in the gate. Any attending should be prepared to give their left arm for concessions and beer. The sponsors and vendors were meager to say the least and there wasn't much to do if you didn't like a particular band. I'll be saving my money this time next year and will not attend.

Music was fantastic, Awolnation stole the show! Actually had enough porto-potties for the crowd :) But Hard Times was the only chili vendor?? What happened to the chili??

This is my second year attending the DC101 Chili Cookoff. Here are a few things to consider on top of your ticket price: $20 parking, $9 Beers, $18 meals, no chili, rude event staff. The only great things about the event was the awesome music and the people attending.

This is my second time at this event. In the past the best part was the chili. This time there was no actual chili cookoff. That was very disappointing! Hard times cafe was the only place to get any chili. The other food was WAY over priced! $12 for a sausage! I had fun but next time I really hope to see the chili tents back--or they need to rename the event!

It was absolutely worth the music & that's really the only reason I went. But if I had paid more than the initial price of $35 I would have been pissed. They need to change the name considering it is no longer a chili cookoff, I mean how absurd to turn it into a concert only & continue false representation of the event!!!

I've been to many all day music events and this was by far the worst I've been to. The only thing saving the day was actually good music from the bands. Would not go back again next year. Lines were too long, the parking lot was like a warzone, and people crowdsurfing between songs. I also thought there would be chili other than the HARD TIMES chili... Did I miss something? Not our best DC...

How can you have a chili cook off without any chili or any cooking off? Ridiculous. Hugely disappointing. Only recommend in the future if they deliver on the chili that is promised.