For the 36th Labor Day Weekend in as many years, the Malibu Kiwanis Club is once again kicking off its fundraising annual chili cook-off and carnival beginning this Friday at 6 p.m., bigger and better than ever.
There will be dozens of rides for all ages, games of chance and skill, booths selling merchandise, and arts and crafts, a beer and wine garden, a variety of food vendors, a raffle for a brand new car, live music, and of course the chili cook-off on Saturday and Sunday.
Last year, opening night at the carnival, which is billed informally as “Local’s Night,” proved to be one of the biggest community parties the town had seen all year.
“We had 4,000 people come on Friday in four hours,” John Paola, Kiwanis Club president, said.
The adults-only beer and wine area, labeled “Parent Drop off Zone!” near the live music stage, was standing-room only.
“It was totally insane—the whole place was packed and spilling out,” Nancy Hoffman, an employee of Hoyt Family Vineyards, said. “We estimate there were about 1,000 people here (in the Hoyt Wine Garden) at one point.”
Carol Hoyt, owner of the winery, concurred.
“We had to run over to Ralph’s and buy more cups,” she laughed. “This was our sixth year at the chili cook-off, and our space has gotten exponentially bigger every year … A lot of people have such a good time on Friday night, that they decide to come back again over the weekend.”
Hoyt will be back for its seventh year with plenty of cups.
Resident Maggie Luckerath is again producing the chili cook-off portion of the event, with a new twist. For the first time in 36 years, vegan/vegetarian chilies will be judged separately from chilies with meat. There will be 13 chili booth contestants vying for prizes in the meat and/or vegan/vegetarian categories.
Cups or bowls of chili will be for sale to the public from each of the 13 chili booths on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Only some of the booths will be open on Monday.
Judging of the meat, or “traditional,” chilies will take place on Saturday at noon, and be decided by local volunteer judges Diane Peterson, Yvonne Gelbman, Scott Tallal, Margott Rifenbark, David Olan, Maggie Luckerath, Heidi Cunningham and Cathie Frey.
Judging of the vegan/vegetarian chilies will take place on Sunday at noon with local volunteer judges Denise Kautter, David Kautter, Denise Peak, Jim Marsh, Matt Diamond, John Johannessen, Rod Summers and Stasey Summers.
The chili contestants include Derek Bart, chef for French Quarter Fire House Chili and fire captain for LA County; Alex Rylance, representing the Malibu Rugby Club; sports entertainment company owner James Soubasis, who frequently travels from New Jersey just for the Chili Cook-Off, and has won previously with his “Jersey Jimmy’s Chili;” and Peter Tulaney, former owner of the Malibu Art Barn, owner of WeHo Sausage and Catering, and four-time winner.
Additional chili chefs include Darrell Gillcrese, owner/chef at Mestico Afro Latin Cuisine, back for his third year; and chefs Ian Martin and Cynthia Chea with their “Diaspora Afrique” booth with African- and Jamaican-inspired chili. Kousha Harirchia from the Cross Creek Starbucks, a recent graduate of the Academy of Culinary Education, will be offering Persian-influenced chili; and Russell Harvey, co-owner of Casa Escobar, will also be a contestant.
At press time, descriptions were not available for the remaining contestants.
The beneficiary of this year’s fundraising carnival will be The Gary Sinise Foundation, which offers a variety of programs to help military veterans and first responders.
This year’s grand prize raffle is a 2017 Chevrolet Volt, with the odds of winning 1:700 or less. Secondary prizes are trips to Costa Rica or Palm Springs. Raffle winners will be chosen on Sunday, Sept. 4, at the cook-off, but winners do not have to be present to win.
This year’s sponsors are Bed/Stu and Barefoot Dreams.
The carnival location is 23789 Stuart Ranch Road, the same location where the event has been held since 2010. Tickets can be purchased at the main gate. Admission is $10 per person, with toddlers and infants free. Carnival hours are Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking is available across the street on Civic Center Way at the La Paz property.
