The Chilympiad had been held in San Marcos since 1970. The chili cookoff event lost money in 2001 and 2002 and was cancelled in 2003.
 
 
Handbook of Texas
CHILYMPIAD. The annual Chilympiad celebration, a custom that began in 1970 at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, attracts thousands of onlookers and hundreds of contestants. The contest is a chili cookoff held the second week of September. In 1974 the Chilympiad was moved to the Hays County Civic Center in San Marcos. Winners automatically qualify for the world championship chili cookoff in Terlingua. The rules for entry require that all chili be made from scratch at the site of the contest and bar women from entering. In response to the latter rule, a separate cookoff was established in Luckenbach called Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned. Its winners also qualify for the world championship contest. Some participants in the cookoff are serious, some come for the party, and not all aspects of the contest relate to the state championship. There are several smaller cookoffs for media representatives, college students, and local business people. There is an award for best showmanship, and many contestants use costumes, decorations, and themes to win. The Chilympiad also offers country and western dancing, arts and crafts, food booths, and a parade.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Vertical Files, Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas at Austin.

Robin Dutton
 
Schliefkevision.com
2003 CHILYMPIAD CANCELLED.
WOMEN OR TERRORISTS TO BLAME???

20 FEBRUARY, SAN MARCOS, TX, 2003- Thirty-four years of tradition screeched to a halt this month, as organizers of the North American Open Chili Championship cancelled the event, previously scheduled for the third week of September, 2003.

And who is to blame for the end of a central Texas tradition? Women. Or terrorists. Really, is there a difference? Women were allowed to compete for the first time in the Chilympiad’s history in 2001, just weeks after the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. “When women started cooking, they quit spearheading so many of these large show-teams that provided a lot of the on-grounds entertainment,” Pat Murdock of the Chilympiad Executive Committee said.

The event had always turned a profit. In 2001, it lost $30,000, and lost another $19,000 in 2002. An unidentified man seen with a terrorist hunting license on his camper was quoted as saying, “I’m not quite sure what to think anymore. I was learned growin’ up that a woman’s place is in the kitchen. It’s funny to think on one hand that a woman cookin’ could end the Chilympiad, but it’s not so funny on the other hand ‘cause the chili was always good. I sure am gonna miss that chili though.”

There’s no word on alternative chili events planned in the San Marcos/Austin area that will soothe tortured souls come the third week of September, 2003
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark CHILYMPIAD
Goods and Services IC 041. US 107. G & S: ORGANIZING AND CONDUCTING CHILI MAKING CONTESTS. FIRST USE: 19700901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19700901
Mark Drawing Code (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Design Search Code
Serial Number 73641350
Filing Date January 27, 1987
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition June 16, 1987
Registration Number 1456913
Registration Date September 8, 1987
Owner (REGISTRANT) REPUBLIC OF TEXAS CHILI APPRECIATION SOCIETY, INC. DBA CHILYMPIAD CORPORATION TEXAS P. O. BOX 188 SAN MARCOS TEXAS 78667
Attorney of Record ANN LIVINGSTON
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark CHILYMPIAD REPUBLIC OF TEXAS MEN’S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CHILI COOK-OFF
Goods and Services IC 041. US 107. G & S: ORGANIZING AND CONDUCTING CHILI MAKING CONTESTS. FIRST USE: 19700901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19700901
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 02.01.07 - Cowboys; Men, cowboys, and westerners; Westerners
02.09.07 - Humans, including men, women and children, depicted cooking
11.03.13 - Cookers, pressure; Frying pans, non-electric; Pans, frying, non-electric; Pots, cooking; Pressure cookers; Sauce pans (non-electric); Skillets, non-electric
26.01.08 - Circles having letters or numerals as a border; Circles having punctuation as a border; Letters, numerals or punctuation forming or bordering the perimeter of a circle
26.11.27 - Oblongs
Serial Number 73646577
Filing Date February 26, 1987
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition July 28, 1987
Registration Number 1462314
Registration Date October 20, 1987
Owner (REGISTRANT) REPUBLIC OF TEXAS CHILI APPRECIATION SOCIETY, INC. DBA CHILYMPIAD CORPORATION TEXAS P.O. BOX 188 SAN MARCOS TEXAS 78667
Attorney of Record ANN LIVINGSTON
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “REPUBLIC OF TEXAS” AND “MEN’S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CHILI COOK-OFF” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE