10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The Joplin Empire Market and the Downtown Joplin Alliance will be hosting the 7th Annual Empire Market Chili Cookoff at the Market on January 17!
Awards will be given for 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place, as well as People's Choice.
Judging begins at 10:00am and public tasting is from 10:30am-2pm (or when the chili runs out!). Hear what the judges have to say and then cast your vote for whose chili is best in the People’s Choice Award!
Admission into the tasting hall will be $5 - this grants access to taste all chili and vote in the People's Choice. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at the ticket link above. All proceeds will support Downtown Joplin Alliance and the Empire Market!
To register as a participant, fill out this form:
https://www.eventeny.com/events/vendor/?id=39242
Registrations are due no later than January 11, 2026.
The Empire Market is a growing food-centric public market. You might have been to something similar in other cities including Kansas City’s River Market, Soulard Market in St. Louis or Pike Place Market in Seattle. Opened in late April of 2018, the Empire Market has 30-35 vendors each week, all selling items they have made or grown themselves. You won’t find any veggies with stickers here!
The Empire Market is an economic and community centerpiece that strengthens and engages the entire city. A vibrant four-season market where you can find the best of what this area has to offer; produce, meats, cheeses, wine, beer, crafters, artisans and any number of other vendors, set up in a collection of permanent and rotating stalls. Starting in late winter of 2023, visitors can also enjoy freshly prepared gourmet food from the Newton Kitchen.
In December of 2016, the Empire District Electric Company donated to the Downtown Joplin Alliance over 33,000 square feet of buildings on 3.34 acres in the center of Joplin. The primary structure, built in 1907, is located at 4th and Railroad. Downtown Joplin Alliance has re-purposed this historic building and its attached 11,000 sqft. garage as the newest “third-place” in Joplin.
The Empire Market is located at 931 E. 4th Street in Joplin, Missouri. It is open from 10am-2pm every Saturday. We have a convenient parking located in the lot directly east of the Market.
