Thousand oaks chili cook off 2022

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CHILI CRUSH—Throngs of people make their way around the 2022 Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off and Craft Brew Festival on May 1 at Conejo Creek Park North. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

If attendance at Sunday’s Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off and Car Show is any indication, the summer event circuit is shaping up to be one of the busiest on record.

Though organizers are still awaiting the final tabulation, event chair Marissa Buss of Thousand Oaks Rotary Club said initial estimates put attendance at north of 7,500—or about 2,000 more than an average year.

“It was definitely a way bigger turnout than normal,” Buss said.

While the Rotarians were happy to see their charitable fundraiser sell so many tickets, Buss said, they’re also aware that the unexpectedly large turnout had a negative impact on the experience for some attendees.

About half of the 32 booths serving chili ran out by 1:30 p.m. (gates opened at 11 a.m.), triggering long lines for the remaining options—and consternation among some festival goers.

Though she heard some griping about wait times, complaints were few and far between and there were no major incidences stemming from the crowds, Buss said.

Mike Donabedian and Tyler Miller scoop up chili at the Ventura County Fire Department booth. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

“Most people I heard from told me what an amazing time they had,” she said. “One guy called (Monday) asking for a refund because he didn’t get to taste a lot of chili, but once I told him the event was for charity he didn’t want his money back.”

Buss said what many people don’t realize about the chili cookoff is that it is an International Chili Society-sanctioned contest, with winners advancing toward a grand prize.

Under ICS rules, participants are only required to bring 8 gallons of chili, and many bring the minimum.

“These people come and all they’re focused on is winning,” she said.

Buss said when she toured the Conejo Creek Park North grounds around 2 p.m. May 1 there were still 10 booths serving chili, including the Ventura County fire and sheriff’s department booths.

Easton Baseball, which took home the people’s choice award for best chili, was also still dishing out samples.

Juliette Marcus, 2, of Westlake Village enjoys a cup of cold ice cream while in a fresh pair of shades. An estimated 7,500 people attended the event. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

Buss encourages people who want to avoid the lines and try every chili to buy one of the 500 VIP passes they make available before the event.

For $40, passholders can enter the cook-off early before the crowds arrive.

“You can have no lines and get all the chili you want,” she said.

While the final numbers are still being tabulated, Buss, who took over as chili cook-off chair five years ago, said she’s cautiously optimistic about hitting her goal of $100,000.

In addition to the Rotary Club, other nonprofits that will get a piece of the record pie: Ascension Lutheran Church, the CLU football team and the Thousand Oaks High School Associated Student Body.

“That’s the biggest thing people need to keep in mind—this is for charity. It’s about managing expectations,” Buss said. “We are all volunteers. This isn’t a professionally ran event. Not one penny goes anywhere but back into the community and back into charity, which is huge.”