NICOLE ALBERTSON
News Assistant
Malibu will be celebrating Labor Day this year with its 26th Annual Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off to be held Friday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 3. Tents, carnival rides and vendors are setting up for the event on Civic Center Drive.
Matthew Kalish, a Malibu resident and Coordinator of Intramural and Club Sports for Pepperdine, has attended the event every year since his move to Malibu in 1993.
“[I discovered the Cook-Off] through Malibu Presbyterian Church, where I have been attending since moving to Malibu,” Kalish said. “At that time [we] had both a competition booth and a fundraising booth.”
This Malibu tradition includes chili tasting, provided by contestants, live music from local bands and carnival rides.
Friday night is considered “Malibu Night” and Malibu residents will get the first opportunity to wander the grounds, turn upside down on the carnival rides and visit with old friends returning from summer vacations.
The real chili festivities begin Saturday, where so far 10 chili cooks have prepared to set out samplers of their prize-winning chili. In past years, Pepperdine Greek life has participated in the event and submitted chili samples for the competition. Last year Kathy Hipskind added to her chili accomplishments when she took home the $1,000 grand prize.
The winner of the Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off takes home a cash grand prize, title of Best Chili 2007 and bragging rights until next year’s competition. The chili tasting is concluded on Sunday as well as the raffle drawing for a new car. This year one very lucky person will drive away in a 2007 Porsche Cayman from Beverly Hills Porsche.
This Labor Day celebration is put on each year by the Malibu Kiwanis Club, a local charity group in Malibu, as part of Kiwanis International. Aside from supporting Kiwanis International in its global efforts, Malibu Kiwanis focuses on serving children.
“All proceeds are distributed to local children’s charities,” said Kristen Bradford, a Kiwanis spokeswoman.
The Chili Cook-Off offers activities for anyone looking for excitement over Labor Day weekend. Whether attending simply for chili tasting or carnival rides, between 10,000 and 15,000 people are expected to come for a weekend in the sun, according to Bradford.
But the traditional Chili Cook-Off site at Civic Center Way has been frequenting Malibu newspaper headlines. Since the site’s purchase in March 2006 for $25 million, the 20-acre Chili Cook-Off site was donned Legacy Park and became the new station for the Malibu Civic Center Stormwater Treatment Facility completed in February of this year.
“The facility will process up to 1,400 gallons per minute of stormwater runoff from the Civic Center Way/Cross Creek area,” according to the City of Malibu Web site.
The facility will treat and disinfect the runoff water to be used for irrigation. This $5.3 million project aims to “reduce the amount of bacteriological contamination entering Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach and to reduce the number of beach postings and closures,” according to the Web site.
Twenty-six years after the initial weekend opening, the Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off is going strong and building a reputation, all while benefiting children’s organizations.
“I love coming back each year and getting chili all over my clothes, shoes and apron,” Kalish said. “The atmosphere is so energetic and it is fun to meet so many people that may be in Malibu for the first time.”
For those short on money but still wanting to partake in the local festivity, Monday is a free day for all individuals wanting to spend Labor Day in the Malibu sun.
For more information visit www.malibukiawnis.com.
08-27-2007