Mars VFW Post 7505's chili cook-off event returns Sunday afternoon.

Admission to the event is $5 for both voters and chili cooks. The event will be held at the Mars VFW, located at 331 Mars Valencia Road.

Those interested in entering the competition should have their chili at the VFW by 3 p.m. Sunday.

Chili aficionados interested in sampling community members' dishes can start voting at 5 p.m.

The competition is returning for its third year after a hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-19.

All proceeds from the competition will benefit the Mars Memorial Cancer Fund.

“We have a little fund here that we try to help out people in the community who have cancer or whose families have cancer — we try and pay some bills for them and do things like that,” said Marlene Dolin, co-manager of the Mars VFW.

“It was started about six years back,” she said. “People can call us within the community and present us with a heating bill, or medical bills, or anything like that, and we try to do what we can for them.”

Dolin said that in past years, the competition has seen about 20 to 25 different chilis entered into the running.

“This year, I think we have 17 signed up right now, but that will grow,” she said.

Chilis can be entered by talking to a bartender or manager at the Mars VFW before Sunday, and can also be registered on the day of the event.

First, second and third place winners in the competition will receive a cash prize.