The Kiwanis Club’s third annual Chili Palooza drew residents to Library Park in El Segundo City on Saturday, featuring nearly a dozen tasting tents, three prize categories and a focus on sustainable event practices.

Tully Anderson, a reporter for El Segundo Media, said the event featured local sponsors and three awards: a judges’ award, a people’s choice award and a plant-based award. An announcer at the event described the people’s choice process as ticket-based voting at each sample booth.

Organizers emphasized green practices. An event organizer said, “We want this event to be a shining example of how to conduct and how to implement a green citywide event,” and described the use of compostable chili cups and spoons, compostable beer and vodka cups, a ban on plastic water bottles and the use of rope instead of plastic zip ties where possible.

The festival combined community fundraising and friendly competition. An attendee noted the Kiwanis Club is raising money for children through the event. Tasting participants described a range of chili styles; one past winner, who identified herself only as last year’s first-place judges’ winner and second-place people’s choice finisher, said of her entry, “What makes it unique is it’s all beef, no beans, and there is a special thickening agent in there that is not normal.”

Event logistics included nearly a dozen booths and three judging categories; the people’s choice award was decided by tickets collected in voting boxes at each chili station. Multiple speakers and attendees praised the weather and turnout. Organizers and participants highlighted the local-sponsor model and community atmosphere as central to the festival’s purpose.

Organizers announced one winner before the event concluded. Tully Anderson reported from Library Park for El Segundo Media.