Malibu's Chili Cook-Off's Winning Ingredient? Community

Malibu CA

19 August, 2021

4:54 PM

Description

MALIBU, CA — Are you a person with a passion for cooking? Do you have a legendary family recipe for a legendary pot of chili? There's a place for you. The 39th Annual Malibu Chili-Cook Off returns Labor Day weekend and features carnival rides, a skateboarding competition — oh, and a lot of chili. On hiatus last year due to the pandemic, Malibu's biggest annual event returns this year with a winning ingredient: community. After a year-and-a-half of the pandemic, many are as hungry for community as they are for world-class chili. The event is one of the community's longest-running traditions, and for the last three years, it has been hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu. With the help of sponsors Barefoot Dreams and Alphapals, the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu was able to bring the tradition back to life. "We're really excited because it's been so long [since the last cook-off], and I think people are ready to have a good time," said Ashlen Kearnes, special events and marketing associate for the Boys & Girls Club. "Safety is our number one priority, we wanna make it as safe as possible but we want people to enjoy." Some of the new safety measures include: health pre-screens for attendees.masks encouraged and available upon request.increased sanitization for high-touch surfaces such as bathrooms.hand sanitizer stations located throughout the grounds. Kearnes, who has been working with the Boys & Girls Club for about three-and-a-half years, said that over the four-day weekend, chili cook-off grounds will see roughly 20,000 people. Their busiest day is Friday, Kearnes said, while Saturday, Sunday and Monday tend to be a little bit slower. On the second day of the event, a judge's panel will select the best traditional and vegan chili for two separate categories. Attendees are able to buy samples of the homemade chilis and vote for their favorite for the People's Choice Award. All of the proceeds raised from the chili cook-off will go toward funding the many services such as mental wellness and academic tutoring offered to the community by the Boys & Girls Club. Kearnes said the event is really about bringing the surrounding community together, especially in light of the hardship and isolation brought on by the pandemic. "It's such a community-based event. We look to support local businesses and vendors and community partners," Kearnes said. "It really is a staple in the Malibu community, it's such a tradition... It's a way for people to come together and enjoy good music, community and carnival rides." And chili. We can't forget that part. The event will be held at 23575 Civic Center Way in Malibu. Tickets for the 39th Annual Malibu Chili Cook-Off are available for online purchase only, and tickets for the carnival must be purchased separately. More information and ticketing prices can be found on the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu's website.