If you had plans for Sunday February 20, go ahead and call in sick. You might want to call for Monday too.

Cedar Creek Brewery and Restaurant (1390 Bee Street) at Farmers Branch is hosting its eighth annual North Texas Craft Beer Chili Challenge. Over 30 North Texas breweries will come together to create their finest chili pot using one of their own beers as the anchor ingredient.

Attendees can donate $10 for 10 tasting cups and a spoon; every $10 donation also allows you to vote for your favorite chili. Proceeds from the event will benefit Metrocrest Services, a local organization that helps individuals, families and seniors going through crisis stabilize their lives for a better future. Last year’s event raised $12,000, according to event officials.

Notable breweries in attendance include Bitter Sisters Brewery, Funky Picnic Brewery, Oak Highlands Brewery, Peticolas, Rahr, In rotation, mermaid rock, Vector Brewing and more. Martin House is on the role and it will be interesting to see what they come up with. Maybe the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Beer Chilli? Or the Best Maid Sour Pickle Chili? The list of breweries will continue to be updated on Preignition Event Page where you can also take a ticket.

Chili beer makes perfect sense. Certainly much more sensible than cinnamon, which we hear too much about lately. The depth of flavor comes from adding bitter or sour flavors to offset the sweetness of the other ingredients. Too much sweetness would be sickly and sweet; too bitter/sour would be unpleasant. Beer is a perfect source of bitterness.

In addition to the chili contest, there will also be a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Cedar Creek’s membership in the Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce, as well as live music and screen printing by PINT Services.

The Chili Challenge will take place from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 20 in the east parking lot of Mustang Station.