The DC101 Chili Cook-Off was an annual rock concert sponsored by Washington, D.C. / Baltimore, Maryland radio station WWDC (FM). Proceeds from the concert, traditionally held in Washington, D.C., in mid-to-late May, were donated to the National Capital Area chapter of the National Kidney Foundation. The name originates from the chili competition that used to occur during the event. Unlike what the name implies, some later events did not actually offer any chili, though in 2013 chili was offered in three different booths.

The main features of the event were a rock music concert, although vendors and sponsors also set up booths to form a temporary marketplace.

In its earlier years, the Cook-Off was often held at the intersection of K St. and Wisconsin Ave. in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., but later moved to the intersection of 12th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. After 9/11, security concerns forced the event to move to a series of nearby locations over the next several years. In 2007 and 2008, the Cook-Off was held at the Center City Lot, formerly the location of the Washington Convention Center. In 2009, for the first time, the Cook-Off was held at RFK Stadium.NBCWashington.comWashington Business Journal, March 31, 2009

The 2009 Chili Cook-Off attracted the largest crowd in the event's history, with 35,000Click Click: 2009 DC101 Chili Cookoff: DCist attendees.

Music

The concert portion showcased the music of several modern rock acts, all performing on a single stage erected in the RFK stadium parking lot. Lineups for the concert were usually announced in late March or early April. In later years, a "Last Band Standing" competition was held to select a local group to open the show.

Some bands have performed at the festival during more than one year, including Downtown, Bird Dog Wheeler, Child's Play, emmet swimming, Seven Mary Three, Sponge, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Finger Eleven, Puddle of Mudd, Carbon Leaf, Third Eye Blind, Rude Buddha, Switchfoot, Chevelle, Papa Roach, Cake, and Seether.

DC101 announced the Kerfuffle for 2014 at Merriweather Post Pavilion, but there was no mention of a 2014 Chili Cook-Off. The date of the DC101 Kerfuffle was May 3, around the time the Cook-Off is usually held. As of May 2024, no further Chili Cook-Offs have been announced or hosted.

History

Date Location Musical acts October 4, 1980 Rosecroft RacewayRosecroft Raceway / Fort Washington, MD May 3, 1981 Rosecroft Raceway / Fort Washington, MD May 16, 1982 Prince George's Equestrian CenterPrince George's Equestrian Center / Upper Marlboro, MDThe Silver Band, Largo High School Band May 14, 1983 Prince George's Equestrian Center / Upper Marlboro, MD May 13, 1984 Rash Field / Baltimore, MD June 8, 1985 Hopkins Plaza / Baltimore, MD May 10, 1986 K St. and Wisconsin Ave. / Georgetown, Washington, D.C.Lone Justice, DowntownMay 23, 1987 Broadway Square / Baltimore, MD May 20, 1989 K St. and Wisconsin Ave. / Georgetown, Washington, D.C.The T-Birds, New Potato Caboose, Bird Dog Wheeler May 19, 1990 K St. and Wisconsin Ave. / Georgetown, Washington, D.C.The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Steve Smith and The Nakeds, Bird Dog Wheeler May 18, 1991 K St. and Wisconsin Ave. / Georgetown, Washington, D.C.Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, Downtown, Child's Play May 22, 1993 K St. and Wisconsin Ave. / Georgetown, Washington, D.C.Blue Öyster Cult, Child's Play, Y-Not? May 21, 1994 K St. and Wisconsin Ave. / Georgetown, Washington, D.C.Kansas May 20, 1995 K St. and Wisconsin Ave. / Georgetown, Washington, D.C.Collective Soul, Eddie From Ohio, Sorry About Your Daughter May 18, 1996 K St. and Wisconsin Ave. / Georgetown, Washington, D.C.Spin Doctors, Dog's Eye View, Seven Mary Three, Toadies, The Badlees, The Emptys May 17, 1997 12th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. / Washington, D.C.Cracker, Cowboy Mouth, Sponge, Chalk FarM, Patti Rothberg, emmet swimming, Silverjet May 30, 1998 12th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. / Washington, D.C.Blink182, Everclear, Smash Mouth, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Brother Cane, Mighty Joe Plum, Foam May 22, 1999 12th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. / Washington, D.C.Fuel, Sponge, Finger Eleven, The Flys, Virgos Merlot, Bare, Jr., emmet swimming May 20, 2000 12th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. / Washington, D.C.Goo Goo Dolls, Vertical Horizon, Our Lady Peace, Stroke 9, 8 Stops 7, Ebo May 19, 2001 12th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. / Washington, D.C.Train, Eve6, The Go-Go's, Seven Mary Three, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Smartbomb May 18, 2002 12th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. / Washington, D.C.Soul Asylum, Puddle of Mudd, Something Corporate, Remy Zero, Sugarcult, Carbon Leaf, Pete Yorn, 2 Skinnee J's, Welbilt May 17, 2003 12th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. / Washington, D.C.Third Eye Blind, 3 Doors Down, Saliva, The Exies, Cold, Theory of a Deadman, Stage, Agents of the Sun October 16, 2004 12th St. and Independence Ave. / Washington, D.C.Cake, Jimmy Eat World, Switchfoot, The Donnas, Chevelle, Thousand Foot Krutch, The Speaks May 14, 2005 12th St. and Independence Ave. / Washington, D.C.Papa Roach, Chevelle, Trust Company, Carbon Leaf, Tony C. and the Truth, The Dan Band, Rude Buddha May 20, 2006 12th St. and C St. / Washington, D.C.Better Than Ezra, Hoobastank, Bloodhound Gang, Tonic, Smash-Up Derby, Rude Buddha, Everyone But Pete May 12, 2007 Center City Lot / Washington, D.C.Jet, Three Days Grace, Buckcherry, Breaking Benjamin, Silversun Pickups, The Bravery, Minus-One May 10, 2008 Center City Lot / Washington, D.C.Staind, Live, Seether, Finger Eleven, Chevelle, Deaf Pedestrians, The Blackjacks May 16, 2009 RFK Stadium / Washington, D.C.The Offspring, Third Eye Blind, Shinedown, Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Niki Barr Band May 22, 2010 RFK Stadium / Washington, D.C.Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Cage The Elephant, Switchfoot, Anberlin, Tears of Mars May 21, 2011 RFK Stadium / Washington, D.C. Weezer, Panic! at the Disco, Papa Roach, Seether, Neon Trees, Paper Tongues, Middle Class RutMay 12, 2012 RFK Stadium / Washington, D.C. Incubus, Cake, The Airborne Toxic Event, Awolnation, Neon Trees, Civil Twilight, Twin AtlanticMay 4, 2013 RFK Stadium / Washington, D.C. Soundgarden, Awolnation, Silversun Pickups, Capital cities, Beware of Darkness, RDGLDGRN

References