For many Malibu residents and Pepperdine students there is no better way to cap off an eventful summer than a day of good food rides and games. For 28 successful years the Malibu Chili Cook-Off and Carnival has offered the community all of the fixins’ for a day in the sun at the Civic Center.
On Sept. 4 the Kiwanis Club of Malibu hosted the annual event which primarily serves as a fundraiser for the community. Organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and Pepperdine’s Volunteer Center performed tasks each of the four days to make the event run smoothly. “There is never a shortage of help we have hundreds of residents volunteer said John Paola, president of the Kiwanis Club. It’s a long tradition that kids and families look forward to all summer. Keeping the tradition running is a long process to say the least; over three weeks of preparation were devoted to the building of the Carnival and Cook Off areas.”
Carnival-goers of all ages took advantage of some of the more intense Ferris wheel style rides such as the Zipper and parents were spotted riding along-side their children on the Bumper Cars. “We have come every year since we moved to Santa Monica said Karen, a mother of two who rode the Gravitron with her oldest son. It’s a chance to spend quality time with the kids one last time before school starts Thursday.”
Those less fond of dizzying rides tried their luck at the carnival games which varied from the typical dart-balloon popping game to the “One Shot Wins” basketball booths.
People who were in attendance on Saturday and Sunday were treated to different samples of homemade chili made by cooks who entered into the Chili Cook-Off competition. If chili and the carnival didn’t draw the crowd there was one other attraction that one could expect in Malibu: celebrity sightings including Kelsey Grammer (NBC’s Frasier) Pamela Anderson Cher and Malibu’s ever-popular Adam Sandler. Paparazzi were spotted throughout the parking lot as were some Pepperdine students.
“I heard from a friend that Mel Gibson was here on Friday so I came to see who would show up said sophomore Reese Shull. Plus I haven’t gone to a carnival since junior high so I didn’t know what to expect.”
Although the Chili Cook-Off and Carnival has been a success for both the community of Malibu and the Kiwanis club this was the last time it will be held at its current location. Construction on the new Legacy Park will take over later this fall no further details were disclosed by the city all talks were tentative] and will force the Kiwanis to look for a new home for the annual event. Despite a year of speculation there have been no formal meetings or talks of a permanent location change.
“We intend to continue to provide a safe and unique environment for families and charities for years to come Paola said.
Admission was free on Labor Day, but were asked to give a donation to the Fireman’s Fund. We felt that this would be a great opportunity to give back to the firemen who have been battling the recent fires in the area” said Sal Cirnigliaro. “How they will use the money for charity is up to them but we just would like to help.”