MANCHESTER - Bill Clendennin didn't worry about limiting his chili options since his admission ticket meant he could only pick five samples from among the 26 restaurants serving up their best at the annual New England Chili Classic on Saturday.

“Eat as many as I can as fast as I can and then wash it down with beer,” the Merrimack resident said while downing his 10th different chili at Veterans Memorial Park in about a half hour.

“We're going to hit 'em all,” he said as he used up his second admission ticket. (Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the event.)

The two-day event wraps up today and could draw 20,000 people, said Kelly Jarvis, who was coordinating the restaurants. She said she didn't detect any heartburn-inducing offerings.

“I didn't see anything that was real, real hot,” she said.

But just in case, volunteers planned to pass out Pepto-Bismol to chili eaters.

And yes, there was a beer tent serving $4 and $5 brews.

Amanda Young said she was picking restaurants she frequents to test their chili.

“I go where she goes,” said her Hooksett hubby, Jon. “I like the spicy stuff — at least until the next day.”

Kevin Moore of Manchester was on his own search mission.

“The hot ones,” he said. “You've got to guess.”

He wasn't worried about repercussions. “Iron gut. Years and years of drinking beer,” Moore said.

Added his wife Joanne: “There's not enough to do damage. It's a tease to want more.”

The event runs from noon until 6 p.m. today with admission tickets providing five smaller tickets to sample the food.

“If we each pick five (chilis) and share, we can pick out 10 and decide,” Jennifer Williams said.

She and her husband, Jim, were trying some restaurants they knew.

“If we like the chili, we know where we can get it,” he said.

Amber Caplette of Manchester had her clear goal.

“Getting as much chili as possible,” she said. “Enjoying the day because it's nice and sunny.”

Caplette said some vendors last year provided a sample without a ticket because they are trying to win her vote for best chili.

And when that didn't happen, she said, “I was sharing with my boyfriend.”

She and her friend, Eric Ford of Boston, said their young bodies could survive any gastronomical offensive.

“Our hearts can take it,” he said.

At the Thousand Crane restaurant booth, manager Jenny Yeung said she hoped people tasting the tofu chili would convince them to try her restaurant later.

Clendennin was among those digging into the tofu chili, but he said the offering wasn't really spicy and had a different texture.

“It's definitely different,” he said. “I'm a meat guy.”