BELLEVILLE, Ill. – A good crowd already showed up Friday in Belleville, Illinois, for the annual chili cook-off.

Many are taking advantage of the weather to taste some award-winning chili. Belleville police worked with organizers of this chili cookoff as well as Oktoberfest a few weeks ago. 

The two-day festival features lots of samples to be tried for a dollar. About 45 food vendors and 34 individuals are entering the contest.

The result, the same delicious chili with a few new security measures in place.

Organizers and Belleville police met after incidents at festivals in Fairview heights and O’Fallon resulted in 100’s of unsupervised juveniles showing up and starting fights, with gunshots fired behind a business at O’Fallon Cityfest.

“No facemasks or full face covering,” said Maribeth Bendick, president & CEO Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce. “Basically, nothing that can cover your identity. We are also prohibiting large backpacks or bags. They have to be 9 by 12 or smaller and we are closing at 8 p.m. tonight.”

With increased patrols, new bag policies and changing hours, a solution was found to continue the fan’s favorite festival in Belleville.

“It’s a major event,” said Erick Lemenski, Chili chef. “The sun goes down and the band comes on stage and it’s just a whole vibe out here.” 

The Belleville Chili Cookoff runs until 8pm tonight and from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday night. Belleville bars and restaurants will remain open after the cookoff.