Beloved Malibu Chili Cook-Off scheduled to return this Labor Day weekend

By Hayley Mattson · Sat May 30 2026

The iconic Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Chili Cook-Off is making its highly anticipated return this Labor Day weekend, bringing back carnival rides, live music, skate competitions and, of course, plenty of chili — along with a renewed sense of community following a year shaped by wildfire devastation, recovery and resilience.

For Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, Kasey Earnest, the return of the event means far more than reopening the gates to one of Malibu’s most beloved traditions — it represents healing, resilience and continued support for families still navigating the aftermath of the Palisades Fire.

“Personally, we’re really excited just to get back to the sense of community and fun and connection and gathering people together in a place that’s celebrated and familiar,” Earnest said during an interview with The Malibu Times. 

The annual fundraiser, which serves as the organization’s primary source of operational funding, was unable to take place last year after the Palisades Fire devastated parts of Malibu and neighboring communities. During that time, the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu shifted its focus entirely toward emergency response and long-term disaster recovery efforts. 

“We were really glad that we were able to focus our time, talent and energy on disaster relief,” Earnest said. “We took on about 3,000 clients through our disaster relief services that we’re providing ongoing long-term recovery plans for.” 

The organization’s efforts stretched far beyond traditional after-school programming. In the days and weeks following the fires, the club transformed into a vital resource hub for the community, offering disaster case management, wellness support, access to relief agencies and family assistance programs. 

Earnest said the organization continues to work with families displaced by the fires, many of whom were forced to relocate outside Malibu while still trying to keep their children connected to local schools and support systems.

“We have a strong percentage of families who’ve had to relocate outside of the community, but they so desperately want to be here and in our schools that they’re making the commute,” Earnest explained. “We have a bus that picks kids up closer to the 101 for kids that had to relocate and brings them to our schools here.” 

The club also welcomed children from Pacific Palisades whose families temporarily relocated to Malibu following the fires. To help ease the burden on impacted families, the organization continues to provide complimentary after-school care to those significantly affected by the disaster. 

“We’re trying to relieve one piece of the puzzle — whatever we can do,” Earnest said. 

This year’s Chili Cook-Off fundraiser will directly support not only the organization’s after-school programs, but also its growing wellness initiatives, long-term recovery services and a new focus on community preparedness and wildfire education. 

Earnest said the organization has increasingly recognized the importance of mental health services following the disaster. Requests for wellness services among students have risen dramatically over the past school year.

“One interesting statistic shared with me from our team is that requests for wellness services from students increased by 400% from September to April,” Earnest said. 

In response, the club recently opened a new wellness center at Malibu Middle School, adding to its existing wellness center at Malibu High School. 

“Post-disaster, mental health support is particularly important,” Earnest added. 

Alongside the traditional carnival atmosphere, this year’s event will also incorporate preparedness and resilience education, reflecting lessons learned from the fires. Families attending the event will have opportunities to engage with local preparedness resources and wildfire safety information aimed at helping children and families become more informed and resilient in future emergencies. 

“This is really about teaching kids how to be informed about wildfire safety with the goal of that translating into them influencing their families and neighborhoods,” Earnest said. 

The Labor Day weekend event will feature many of the longtime traditions Malibu residents have come to expect, including the chili contest, carnival rides, food vendors and the popular Johnny Strange Legacy Skate Competition, now entering its sixth year. 

A major addition this year will be the new Dreamland Music Stage, which organizers hope will provide live entertainment throughout the weekend. 

Molly Scott, VP of Philanthropy, said organizers are also excited about a growing partnership with Aviator Nation, which has already begun promoting the event.

“Having Aviator Nation on board as a partner is really fun and exciting and shows the strength of community partnership,” Scott said. 

Scott emphasized that while attendees come for the entertainment and tradition, the fundraiser’s impact reaches far beyond the event itself.

“Buying tickets, sponsorships, coming to the event and supporting the event — all of those things are supportive of us,” Scott said. “One hundred percent of net proceeds go to support these programs.” 

Tickets go on sale in mid-June. Early bird single-day tickets start at just $25, but quantities are limited — once this tier sells out, prices will increase.

A limited number of Locals Passes will also be available for $49, which includes access to all four days of the event. Locals Passes are available in person only at Aviator Nation Dreamland.While more announcements regarding music lineups, celebrity judges, and food vendors are expected in the coming weeks, organizers say the heart of the event remains unchanged.

“For every kid in Malibu, the Chili Cook-Off is the holiday,” Earnest said. “They look forward to it. They get excited about it. We’re thrilled we get to provide that experience again.”