Chilli fest to heat up Durban North this weekend
Chilli fest to heat up Durban North this weekend
The Great East Coast Chilli Festival, presented by Titanium Media South Africa (TMSA) take places on April 26 at the Northwood Crusaders Sports Club in Durban North.
Also read: Counting down to the Highland Gathering
Backed by title sponsor TMSA and partners Kadipore and Ultibro Farms, the festival promises another red-hot experience from 09:00 to 16:00. At the heart of the event is the adrenaline-pumping Chilli Pod Eating Championship, drawing fearless contenders from across South Africa.
In 2023, competitors battled through 16 intense rounds — starting with mild jalapeños and ending with the feared Carolina Reaper, once crowned the world's hottest chilli. Last year's contest peaked at 12 rounds, and 2025's showdown is expected to be even spicier.
Now firmly established as Durban's premier culinary attraction, the festival is set to welcome spice lovers, foodies, thrill-seekers, and families from all corners of the region.
'We're thrilled to present a festival that showcases Durban's vibrant culinary scene while uniting food lovers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders,' said festival founder Nick Papadopoulos.
'This event goes beyond just flavour — it's a celebration of culture, tourism, and community spirit, made possible through our partnerships with TMSA and East Coast Radio.'
Guests will also enjoy award-winning entries from the Artisanal Sauce Tasting Competition, held earlier in the week, showcasing the talents of KZN's finest chilli artisans.
Festival highlights include:
The Fastest Bunny Chow Eating Contest
Live Chilli Cooking Demos
A Dedicated Kids Zone
Chill Zone for Relaxation
Celebrity Appearances and Influencer Meetups
High-Energy Stage Performances
TMSA Director Sheetal Cross said the festival is more than just heat — it's a journey through our rich culinary heritage and a powerful driver of economic empowerment.
'By spotlighting small-scale producers and innovators, we're honouring tradition while fuelling growth across key industries like tourism, agribusiness, and hospitality.'
Tickets for The Great East Coast Chilli Festival are available via Quicket, with options ranging from individual passes to family packages.
For media inquiries, sponsorships, vendor applications, or competition entries, contact Nick Papadopoulos at 084 505 0113, hello@thegreateastcoastchillifest.co.za or visit www.thegreateastcoastchillifest.co.za.
For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
02-05-2025
- The Citizen
One day to go for the Highland Gathering
ARE YOU ready for the Highland Gathering? Have you brushed up on your Highland fling? Iron your kilts, brush up on your bag-piping and bring your family to Hutchison Park for the event of the year on May 3. Also read: What to expect at the Highland Gathering this year Local visitors and those from far and wide get a wee break from the regular day-to-day for a full day of whims and wonders of Scottish heritage, mixed in with Amanzimtoti charm. For the great Highland bagpipe, there can be no rest between notes, and as such it takes passion and fierce pride to echo the power of the pipes. The Amanzimtoti Lions Club introduced some of the pipe bands whose dynamic performances underscore the Highland Gathering. The Johannesburg-based African Skye Pipe Band returns to the greens of Hutchison Park, competing as not one, but two powerful units in both Grades Three and Four. Their dynamic performances bridge the gap between African roots and Scottish tradition. If you hear thunder on the horizon, it's probably African Skye warming up. With roots dating back to 1943, the Jeppe Pipe Band holds the title of Johannesburg's oldest school pipe band. The band plays formal parades, moving memorials, live concerts and community events, each echoing the power of pipes that echo through generations. Also read: This year's Highland Gathering promises family fun South Africa's oldest pipe band, the Drums and Pipes of the Cape Town Highlanders, was founded in 1889, with a legacy rooted in military tradition, much like those of the Highland Games in Scotland's rich history. The band is made up of South African Reserve Force volunteers and civilians. Most notably, the band has played for Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday. Durban Caledonian Society Pipe Band is a relatively new band, however, they have been a regular sight and sound at concerts, events and competitions across the country. Their Grade Four band will be collaborating with the Pietermaritzburg Pipe Band under the banner of the KZN Callies Pipe Band, making their debut performance at this year's gathering. If you'd like to listen to the powerful tunes of the bands and be a part of the spectacle, tickets for adults are R60, pensioners and learners pay R40 and entrance is free for six years and younger. Parking tickets are R30. For more information on how to purchase tickets, sponsor the event, updates or for an opportunity to win entry tickets, visit the Lions Club of Amanzimtoti – Home of the Highlands Gathering Facebook page, contact 072 767 7833 or email info@ For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
01-05-2025
- IOL News
PMB man conquers chilli bites
CHRIS Morton is officially the hottest man in the province after proving that he definitely can take the heat by conquering capsicums with courage. Last week the 48-year old fire-eater from Pietermaritzburg left a trail of scorched tongues in his wake, surviving 14 jaw-dropping rounds of the Chilli Pod Eating Contest at the Great East Coast Chilli Festival. When the flames settled Morton was crowned the 2025 Chilli Pod Eating Champion and his name will be emblazoned on the coveted championship belt. 'You've got to be a bit strange, you've got to be a bit crazy to do this,' he told the Independent on Saturday this week. By no means a chilli rookie, he has taken on some of the country's most fiery chilli competitions. 'This is my fifth time entering and my second win,' he said. 'I've been competing since 2021, at different venues and under different organisers. I missed 2024 because I was overseas, but I came back ready.' Organisers say that as sweat, tears and noses ran uncontrollably, paramedics were on standby to douse any chilli-induced flames. However, Morton was never in danger and didn't even have smoke wafting out of his ears. In the run up to the competition, he followed a tough three week chilling conditioning routine, working his way up from mild habaneros to 'superhots' all while gardening, painting and tilling through the tongue tingling torture. ' I only need three weeks because I can start off on the hot stuff. But if you're just a normal person you'll probably need a bit longer, let's say two months. During those three weeks I start off on something that's really hot for most people, like a habanero, and I just keep on getting hotter and hotter and hotter until I get to the superhots. And then, when I can eat at least four of them in a row without suffering too much, I eat them and I go work in the garden.' He says it's all about distracting the brain. 'The pain is real, but if your mind knows what's coming, you can override it.' And he has a dire warning for future chilli champions, ' Don't do it while you're driving. It's too dangerous. Most people will crash their car.' However, it's not just about having the toughest tummy in town. Morton's way of life had turned him into a chilli ninja. His karate-trained body, clean eating, zero alcohol, obsessive attention to gut health puts him a burn above the rest. 'Your gut is your second brain,' he said, 'and mine's in top form. I'm probably fitter than most 25-year-olds—actually, make that 18-year-olds,' he said. However, blazing a trail to the chili championship has not been without heat. To test his tolerance for a previous competition he ate a ghost chilli on an empty stomach and it burnt like hell. 'I was down for two or three hours, rolling on the floor in total agony. I ran a bath of ice-cold water. I put ice in it and just lay there for two hours,' he said. Organisers of The Great East Coast Chilli Festival say that apart from the chilli eating contest, they also held an 'Awesome Sauce' Competition, the Crazy Korean 'Speed Wings and Ramen Challenge', and the 'Kadipore Farms Hot Pani Puri Challenge'. And in partnership with Titanium Media South Africa (TMSA), they'll be launching an e-commerce store for vendors and chilli entrepreneurs to provide resources that support a local and international distribution platform for local chilli products.
IOL News
01-05-2025
- IOL News
PMB man conquers chilli bites
CHRIS Morton is officially the hottest man in the province after proving that he definitely can take the heat by conquering capsicums with courage. Last week the 48-year old fire-eater from Pietermaritzburg left a trail of scorched tongues in his wake, surviving 14 jaw-dropping rounds of the Chilli Pod Eating Contest at the Great East Coast Chilli Festival. When the flames settled Morton was crowned the 2025 Chilli Pod Eating Champion and his name will be emblazoned on the coveted championship belt. 'You've got to be a bit strange, you've got to be a bit crazy to do this,' he told the Independent on Saturday this week. By no means a chilli rookie, he has taken on some of the country's most fiery chilli competitions. 'This is my fifth time entering and my second win,' he said. 'I've been competing since 2021, at different venues and under different organisers. I missed 2024 because I was overseas, but I came back ready.' Organisers say that as sweat, tears and noses ran uncontrollably, paramedics were on standby to douse any chilli-induced flames. However, Morton was never in danger and didn't even have smoke wafting out of his ears. In the run up to the competition, he followed a tough three week chilling conditioning routine, working his way up from mild habaneros to 'superhots' all while gardening, painting and tilling through the tongue tingling torture. ' I only need three weeks because I can start off on the hot stuff. But if you're just a normal person you'll probably need a bit longer, let's say two months. During those three weeks I start off on something that's really hot for most people, like a habanero, and I just keep on getting hotter and hotter and hotter until I get to the superhots. And then, when I can eat at least four of them in a row without suffering too much, I eat them and I go work in the garden.' He says it's all about distracting the brain. 'The pain is real, but if your mind knows what's coming, you can override it.' And he has a dire warning for future chilli champions, ' Don't do it while you're driving. It's too dangerous. Most people will crash their car.' However, it's not just about having the toughest tummy in town. Morton's way of life had turned him into a chilli ninja. His karate-trained body, clean eating, zero alcohol, obsessive attention to gut health puts him a burn above the rest. 'Your gut is your second brain,' he said, 'and mine's in top form. I'm probably fitter than most 25-year-olds—actually, make that 18-year-olds,' he said. However, blazing a trail to the chili championship has not been without heat. To test his tolerance for a previous competition he ate a ghost chilli on an empty stomach and it burnt like hell. 'I was down for two or three hours, rolling on the floor in total agony. I ran a bath of ice-cold water. I put ice in it and just lay there for two hours,' he said. Organisers of The Great East Coast Chilli Festival say that apart from the chilli eating contest, they also held an 'Awesome Sauce' Competition, the Crazy Korean 'Speed Wings and Ramen Challenge', and the 'Kadipore Farms Hot Pani Puri Challenge'. And in partnership with Titanium Media South Africa (TMSA), they'll be launching an e-commerce store for vendors and chilli entrepreneurs to provide resources that support a local and international distribution platform for local chilli products.
