Waves & Flames Pepper Fest 2026

06/16/2026

04/25/2026

From Sacramento, Eric ‘Midge’ Welbaum has carved out a reputation as one of the bravest and most respected figures in the world of competitive chilli eating. A true veteran of the League Of Fire circuit, Midge already holds two coveted Road Match Belts - the Sacramento Belt and the Stockton Belt - placing him firmly among the higher tier of Chilli Heads who have proven themselves on the global stage.

Within the League Of Fire’s competitive hierarchy, a Road Match victory represents a monumental achievement. Sitting just below the prestige of a Regional Title, these contests serve as the proving ground where competitive chilli-eaters demonstrate resilience, control, and sheer mental fortitude. From Amateur contests through to Road Matches, Regional Continental Titles, Intercontinental clashes and ultimately the World Title duels, the path is unforgiving - and Midge has risen to compete.

Now, in 2026, he sets his sights on uncharted territory. Entering the inaugural Huntington Beach Road Match at Waves & Flames Pepper Fest 2026,, Midge stands on the brink of history. Should he emerge victorious, he will become the first competitor ever to hold three American Road Match Belts simultaneously (at the time of writing nobody has 3 American Road Belts) - an achievement that would further cement his legacy in this rapidly growing extreme sport.

The stakes could not be higher. Victory would not only secure this historic milestone but also guarantee his place at the Americas Title Match at Blaze for the Brave this September, where the continent’s fiercest competitors will collide.
Yet beyond the accolades and the belts, Midge represents something even greater. A long-standing supporter of the League Of Fire since its formative years, he has helped shape the culture, spirit, and credibility of competitive chilli eating as it has evolved into a bona fide global sport. With increasing mainstream recognition and a passionate international community, the rise of chilli eating owes much to 'Chilli Heads' like Midge.

As the League Of Fire looks ahead to an even bigger 2027, starting next week at the Pinellas Pepper Fest with the Tampa Belt Road Match, one thing remains certain - figures like Midge are not just competing in history… they are writing it.

🧡🔥💫✨️

04/10/2026

***Attention West Coast Craft Hot Sauce and Spicy Commodity Vendors!!! Waves & Flames Pepper Fest 2026 (August 15th in Huntington Beach, CA) is now taking vendor applications!!
🔥🌊🌶️🏖️

Please apply using the link attached.

If you’re interested in discussing collaborative sponsorship opportunities please email [email protected] or send a DM!🔥❣️

Best Buddies is a 501(c)(3) charity.

If you live in the area or are looking to visit…please come hang out!!!❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

https://forms.gle/sY9MSshAiVFrQvEq9

Thank you for your interest in vending at the 1st Annual Waves & Flames Pepper Fest!! The 2026 event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 11am-7pm at My Place Sports Bar and Grill in Huntington Beach, California, USA. This exciting event held in beautiful Southern California....

04/08/2026

Shout out to our sponsor My Place Sports Bar & Grill!!! The venue for Waves & Flames Pepper Festival!!! A family friendly location with a festive atmosphere!! Thank you My Place and thank you Jimmy for your support of our event spicy event to raise funds for Best Buddies Citizens~Southern California!!!
🔥🌊🌶️🏖️❣️🙌🏼🎉

https://myplacesportsbar.com/

04/05/2026

ABOUT League Of Fire (LOF):🔥

LOF is the official global entity for ranking the sport of pepper and spicy eating. They are based in London, England, UK. They hold professional chilli pepper eating belt matches across the United States and around the globe. Not only are the belt matches challenging but they are entertaining to watch. LOF sets the standard for pepper eating match protocol. Professional pepper athletes are ranked by LOF based on a points system combining points assigned for 1st-3rd at in-person pepper competitions differing by level (amateur or professional) and LOF approved spicy challenges worth varying points completed live or submitted virtually.🌶️🔥🌶️

They will be here to host the first LOF HUNTINGTON BEACH BELT MATCH at the first annual Waves and Flames Pepper Fest!!!🔥🌊🌶️🏖️

03/13/2026

🗣📣 𝙇𝙊𝙁 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 - HUNTINGTON BEACH BELT 2026 🇺🇸🔥

We are thrilled to launch the official League of Fire Road Match Poster for Huntington Beach! 🎉

The 24th Official Road to the Americas Title Belt Match - Huntington Beach Champion Title will be held at the 1st Annual Waves & Flames Pepper Fest in Huntington Beach, California, USA. 🌶️

🔥 Waves & Flames Pepper Fest
🗓 15 August 2026
🕙 11 AM - 7 PM
📍 My Place Bar & Grill
5452 Commercial Dr
Huntington Beach, CA 92649

3 Seats Remain.

⚠️ Important: Any unclaimed seats will be opened to walk-ons at the festival, so if you thrive under pressure and love the heat, there is always a chance to jump in!

👉 Apply to compete:
https://leagueoffire.com/

🎖️ Will You Claim the Inaugural Huntington Beach Champion 2026 Title?

🔥 The heat is on, and the stakes are higher than ever.

💥 What’s at Stake?

🏅 Huntington Beach Champion Belt
The winner takes home the prestigious League of Fire Belt, a true mark of chilli-eating greatness, to keep forever.

🎟️ Guaranteed Seat at the 7th Americas Title Belt Match

📍 26 September 2026
📍 Blaze for the Brave - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA 🌎🔥

🚨 Once the Lineup is Fully Set…

We will launch our high-energy promotional campaign, featuring YOU as one of the fiery warriors competing in this legendary event. 🔥💪

🔥 Special Thanks

A huge thank you to Annee Boyer - The Reaper Teacher - for teaming up with League of Fire to make this much-anticipated event possible. 🙌

🎉 What to Expect at the Festival

🏆🔥 LOF Huntington Beach Belt Match - Main Event
🧒🌶️ Children’s contest and children’s activity area
🎧🎶 Live DJ and music throughout the day
🍗🌶️ Hot Wings Contest
🌮🔥 Spicy Taco Contest
🌍🥊 International appearance by Carmelo “Gladiatore” Francavilla
🤝🎉 Best Buddies Citizens - Southern California members joining the festivities
🏕️❤️ Best Buddies booth
🔨🎁 Charity auction benefiting BBCSC
💪🌶️ LOF professional athletes competing from across the country
👑🌶️ UK Chilli Queen appearing as guest hostess and for meet & greet
🍔🍻 Food and drinks available onsite from My Place Bar & Grill

🔥 Professional LOF Athletes
Well-recognized and decorated LOF competitors including:
Notty
Corky
Eric
Miguel - who will be making a comeback

🚒 Jif the Fireman LOF US Ambassador will also be making a special guest appearance.

🤩 Popular LA blogger Britney Amber will be seeing how far she fares in a LOF Belt Match.

👉 More updates coming soon!

❤️ CHARITY FOCUS

All profits from the event will go to Best Buddies Citizens – Southern California, which provides inclusive community opportunities for people aged 18+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

🌶 Hot Sauce Round Sponsor

We are thrilled to welcome Bean’s Hot Sauce Co as one of the hot sauce round sponsors.

🔥 Hot Sauce Round Sponsor - Bean’s Hot Sauce Co

👉 Check out Bean’s full range of heat:
https://beanshotsauceco.com

💰 SpiceQuest Prize Fund

SpiceQuest - LOF’s exclusive prize sponsor - is supporting this festival with an incredible $555 prize fund, awarded to all 10 competitors:

🥇 Winner: $200
🥈 Runner-up: $75
🔥 All other competitors: $35 each

👉 Check out SpiceQuest's full range of heat:
https://spicequestlabs.com/

🔥 Sponsor Opportunities

Want to sponsor the remaining Hot Sauce Round in the competition and be featured on the poster, website, and all promotions leading up to the event?

Email us at:
📧 [email protected]

🌶 ABOUT WAVES & FLAMES PEPPER FEST

This brand-new festival is the brainchild of a much-loved and well-known personality within the global chilli community, who is bringing her long-held dream to life in her hometown of Huntington Beach.

Her vision is to unite the chilli community, showcase outstanding vendors, and create a vibrant Southern California pepper festival, all while supporting a charity very close to her heart, where she proudly serves as an advisor: Best Buddies – Southern California.

For festival sponsorship opportunities, please message Waves & Flames Pepper Fest

My Place Sports Bar & Grill
UK Chilli Queen
Jif the Fireman
Britney Amber

#2026

03/12/2026

About BBCSC:

The BBCSC program promotes inclusion for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) providing inclusive events and hangouts in the community for all members.

BBCSC supports the
development of one-to-one
friendships between adults with
and without IDD
in corporate and civic
communities.

Many people with
IDD have limited opportunities
for social interactions after they
leave the school environment.
This program helps people with
IDD become part of mainstream
society and creates an inclusive
and diverse community for all.

All proceeds for Waves & Flames Pepper Fest 2026 will benefit Best Buddies Citizens~Southern California (BBCSC)!!!
🔥❤️‍🔥

02/24/2026

🗣📣 HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT

🔥🔥 Brand New Huntington Beach Belt Match 🔥🔥

The 25th Road to the Americas Belt Match - Huntington Beach Champion Title is officially launching at the inaugural 𝗪𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 & 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁 on August 15, 2026, in Huntington Beach, California, USA 🌶️💪

🌊🔥 𝙒𝒂𝙫𝒆𝙨 & 𝙁𝒍𝙖𝒎𝙚𝒔 𝑷𝙚𝒑𝙥𝒆𝙧 𝙁𝒆𝙨𝒕

This brand-new festival is the brainchild of a much-loved and well-known personality within the global chilli community, who is bringing her long-held dream to life in her hometown of Huntington Beach. Her vision is to unite the chilli community, showcase outstanding vendors, and create a vibrant Southern California pepper festival - all while supporting a charity very close to her heart, where she proudly serves as an advisor: Best Buddies - Southern California.

📍My Place Sports Bar & Grill - 5452 Commercial Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
📅 Date: August 15, 2026
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

🎉 What to Expect:

🌶️Family-friendly atmosphere

🌶️Children’s corner

🌶️Top-tier vendors

🌶️Charity auction

🌶️Live music

🌶️LOF Professional Road to the Americas Belt Match

🌶️Hot Wings Contest

🌶️LOF Challenge Stage competitions

Serious heat and spicy fun for everyone

👉 More updates coming soon!

❤️ Ｃｈａｒｉｔｙ Ｆｏｃｕｓ

All profits from the event will go to Best Buddies Citizens - Southern California, which provides inclusive community opportunities for people aged 18+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

🏆 What’s at Stake?

The Huntington Beach Road Champion will:

Take home a Championship Belt (yours to keep forever 🏅)

Secure a guaranteed seat at the 7th Americas Title Belt Match
📍 September 26, 2026
📍 Blaze for the Brave, Gettysburg, PA 🌎🔥

💥 CALLING ALL LOF PLAYERS FROM THE AMERICAS!

We have 10 open competitor spots for players from the USA, Canada, and beyond.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Drop a “Yes, I’m in!” in the comments to claim your spot.

⚠️ Important: Any unclaimed seats will be opened to walk-ons at the festival, so if you thrive under pressure and love the heat, there’s always a chance to jump in!

Once the lineup is confirmed, we’ll launch our high-energy promotional campaign - featuring YOU as part of this explosive event 🎉🔥

🌟 Special Thanks

A huge thank-you to Annee “The Reaper Teacher” Boyer for partnering with League of Fire to bring this incredible new festival and belt match to life.

💰 Mystery Prize Fund

LOF’s Mystery Prize Sponsor will be supporting this festival with an incredible $555 prize fund, awarded to all 10 competitors:

🥇 Winner: $200

🥈 Runner-up: $75

🔥 All other competitors: $35 each

This represents the first step in our long-term vision to provide a financial reward to every competitor who steps onto a League of Fire stage. While we may not be the WWF just yet - and $35 may seem modest - it helps cover meals, drinks, or small festival expenses during the festival. Every journey starts somewhere, and this is ours.

Together with accommodation assistance, transport, food, and other support where applicable and where we are able to secure such concessions as we have in the past - we hope it all adds up to make each contestant’s experience smoother and more enjoyable.

🎉 We can’t wait to reveal our official 2026 prize sponsor in the new year!

🔥 Mark your calendars - the spice is real, the competition is fierce, and the glory is waiting! 🌶️🏆

Annee Boyer
My Place Sports Bar & Grill

&FlamesPepperFest
#2026

02/24/2026

The First Annual Waves & Flames Pepper Fest at My place Sports Bar Grill in Huntington Beach, CA, USA; a fundraiser for Best Buddies Citizens~Southern California!!🔥🌶️❣️🌶️

Orchestrated by The Reaper Teacher®️!!!🌶️👩🏼‍🏫

Come witness the professional League Of Fire Pepper Eating HUNTINGTON BEACH Road to the America’s Belt Match!! Hosted by the UK Chilli Queen!!!🔥🇬🇧👑

Hot contests, Spicy Celebrities, Music, Vendors, Craft Hot Sauce Samples! Family Freindly…Food and Drinks available…an amazing super spicy event!!!🔥❤️‍🔥🔥

August 15th-11am-7pm. FREE ENTRY!

Currently seeking sponsors and vendors for this phenominal event. Message for information!!

Please follow this event…more details to come!!!🔥🎉