BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Things are heating up on the Southside with the return of ChiliFest on Saturday.

Chili lovers from across the Lehigh Valley spent the afternoon sampling bold and creative recipes from local restaurants and bars.

The event featured live music, local makers, and plenty of spice.

Organizers explain why they decided to change the time of year for the festival.

“The Southside has been running this for 29 years. It used to be in the spring but we moved it to the fall because people tend to like chili when it’s chilly outside,” said Erin Zebertavage, downtown manager of the Southside Arts District. 

Guests got a tasting pass and a commemorative 2025 ChiliFest spoon to use along the chili trail.