Competitive eaters are judged according to how much they eat, much like how Olympic curlers are judged by how many ringlets they have. Cheer on gastro-athletics with today’s deal: for $8, you get one afternoon admission to see the World Chili Eating Championship and a performance from Ed Kowalczyk of the band Live at Taste of DC on Sunday, October 9 (a $16 value).

Local amateurs and professional eaters gear up for stomach-to-stomach combat, competing for cash prizes and spooning up plates from Ben’s Chili Bowl in front of a crowd of up to 6,000 spectators. At 12:35 p.m., major-league eaters Joey Chestnut and Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas will face the field armed only with a standard-issue plastic spoon to fight for the right to add extra notches onto their championship belts. Fans can stick around for the rest of the afternoon session to see Ed Kowalczyk of Live take the stage and belt out an alt-rock soundtrack for festival-goers savoring choice recipes from area kitchens.

The Taste of DC once again sets Pennsylvania Avenue abuzz with the festive hubbub of more than 60 local restaurants and vendors offering tastes of signature dishes, including Ping Pong Dim Sum, Medium Rare, BGR, Sushi Rock, Lincoln, Cafe Bonaparte, Luke’s Lobster, and Amsterdam Falafelshop. Attendees can purchases booklets of tickets ($15 for 10 tickets, not included in this deal) to sample Co. Co. Sala’s four-cheese bacon mac ‘n’ cheese, striped with chocolate-covered bacon (two tickets), or the chocolate-onyx parfait’s stratified layers of dark-chocolate mousse, vanilla crème brûlée, salted caramel, and crumbly dark-chocolate brownies (two tickets). Pours from more than 60 wineries and craft breweries complement every entree, dessert, and impromptu recitation of the Gettysburg Address.

Taste of DC has many more Groupon-featured acts scheduled this weekend, including Rusted Root, Styx, and Big & Rich.