FAQ

How to you pronounce "Czhilispiel" and what does it mean?

Czhilispiel is pronounced "Chili Spill"

Czhilispiel is a nod to Flatonia’s Czech and German heritage. First, the name comes from a play on the word “Chili.” The addition of the “z” is a play on a Czech spelling, and the German work “spiel” means play.

What can I expect at Czhilispiel?

Flatonia Czhilispiel is a 3-day street festival in the middle of Flatonia, Texas. We have a huge czhili and barbecue cook-off, giant biergarten, non-stop live music, carnival, parade, games, street market and more. To see everything, you'll just have to come Czech Us Out!

Where is Flatonia?

Flatonia is at the intersection of I-10 and Hwy. 95, about midway between Houston and San Antonio, and about an hour drive from Austin.

We're also only about 10-15 minutes north of a little town called Shiner. You may have heard of it.

Do I need a ticket?

Saturday is the only day we charge for admission. Presale tickets are available online. Gate admission is (cash only) and czech on line under the TICKETS tab for this year's pricing. Children aged 12 and under are free.

Friday and Sunday are free for everyone!

Are there places to stay nearby?

Yes! Flatonia has several options for lodging. Flatonia Chamber member businesses in that category can be found here. Additional accommodations may be found in surrounding communities such as Schulenburg, Moulton and Shiner - all are within about a 15 minute drive to Flatonia.

You can also do a search for "lodging near Flatonia" or look on sites like AirBnB, Homeaway or VRBO for privately owned properties.

Please know that nearby accommodations often book very quickly!

Where can I park?

Free street parking is available outside the festival gates. Much of the street parking is in residential areas, so please be courteous to our locals!

Is Czhilispiel dog-friendly?

Because much of the festival is centered around a cook-off and we have many vendors selling delicious food, we are unable to allow pets inside the festival gates due to health code regulations. This is also for your pet's safety and the safety of our guests. Service animals are permitted.

Are credit cards accepted?

Many of our arts & crafts vendors accept credit cards. Saturday gate admissions is CASH ONLY. To purchase Czhilispiel Food & Drinks & Beer, you have to purchase tokens by CASH ONLY at the token booth. Carnival tickets can be purchased with cash only.

There is an ATM available inside the gates for your convenience. ATMs can also be found just outside the festival at nearby banks or convenience stores.

Are coolers allowed?

Coolers and any outside food or drink are not permitted within the festival gates.

Cook-off teams may bring in coolers at their cooking site only. Please refer to the cook-off rules and regulations for details.

FAQ