Chili will be simmering on Sept 2 at Flinchy's restaurant in Lower Allen Township for Flinchypalooza.

For the 39th year, both amateur and professional cooks will compete in the Keystone Regional Chili Cook-off.

Chili cooks come from all over the country to compete in three categories of the International Chili Society-sanctioned event. The categories include red chili, green "verde" chili and salsa.

More than $2,000 in prizes will be awarded. Winners will advance to the World Chili Championships in Reno, Nevada.

The competition is wild and fun with chili cooks dressing up and competing for the title of best booth.

"Chili is the only true American food. It's born and raised in Texas and everyone thinks it's Mexican but it's not. It's strictly a pure American food and it's fun and everyone likes it," said Dawson Flinchbaugh, one of the cook-off's founders and a co-owner of Flinchy's.

The cook-off is known for contests such as hands-free chili eating, jalapeno eating and a wing eating. Flinchbaugh and his son, Matt Flinchbaugh, rolled the cook-off into Flinchypalooza to create a one-day fundraiser.

The event will benefit the Lower Allen Township Police department's youth programs and the Marine Corps League Foundation.

The cook-off will start at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. when awards are announced. Following the cook-off, there will be a Kunzler Kornhole Tournament and live music until 11 p.m.