Wabash Valley Pepper Fest & Hot Sauce Expo
2026 Festival Schedule
Saturday, September 19, 2026 • 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
The Meadows Shopping Center Complex • Terre Haute, Indiana
Main stage & contests
10:00 AM
Gates Open and Festival Welcome
Opening announcements and daily overview
11:00 AM
Los Tres Caminos Taco Takedown
Hot taco eating contest
11:30 AM
Guinness World Record Attempt
Stephen “Fiery Redd” Curgan
12:00 PM
Champion of Fire Hot Wing Eating Contest
Hot wing eating contest
12:30 PM
Linneweber Sauce Company Bloody Mary Hot Shots
Spicy Bloody Mary contest
1:00–2:00 PM
League of Fire: Road to the Americas Belt Match
Professional pepper-eating championship
2:30 PM
Flaming Tweety Burger Challenge
Charlie’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; Dry Fork sauce
3:00 PM
Cajun & Chili Cook-Offs — Public Tasting and Judging
Cajun Cook-Off presented by Jumbo’s; separate Chili Cook-Off held next to it.
3:30–3:45 PM
League of Fire 7 Pot Primo Record Attempt
Most 7 Pot Primo peppers eaten in one minute
4:30–5:30 PM
Amateur Hot Pepper Eating Competition
Presented by Dry Fork and League of Fire
5:30 PM
CAPS Winners and Contest Award Ceremony
CAPS winners announced; contest and Jeep Show awards presented
5:45 PM
Hank Ruff Introduction and Stage Turnover
Final announcements; contest stage closes
6:00–8:00 PM
Hank Ruff Live Music
Two-hour acoustic performance and festival finale
Around the festival
10:00 AM–8:00 PM
Festival Marketplace and Food
Sauce vendors, food vendors, tastings and shopping
10:00 AM–8:00 PM
Coins for CODA
Fundraising activity open throughout the festival
10:00 AM–8:00 PM
Kids Zone
Family-friendly activities open throughout the festival
10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Jeep Show
Display and judging; awards presented at 5:30 PM
10:00 AM–3:30 PM
Cajun Cook-Off — presented by Jumbo’s
Cooking begins at opening; public tasting and judging at 3:00 PM
10:00 AM–3:30 PM
Chili Cook-Off
Separate competition coordinated with and located next to the Cajun Cook-Off. Cooking begins at opening; public tasting and judging at 3:00 PM.
12:00 PM registration / 1:00 PM start
Cliff Cornell Memorial Cornhole Tournament
Registration opens at 12:00 PM; bags fly at 1:00 PM EDT. Set teams; double elimination; no handicap. $30 per team; combined SPR cap 125 per team. $10 knockout at 1:00 PM. 50% payout plus $500 in added money. Hosted by Sullivan Baggers. End time to be confirmed.
Contestant check-in
Contestant check-in closes 30 minutes before each scheduled contest.